2023
Topology recapitulates morphogenesis of neuronal dendrites
Liao M, Bird A, Cuntz H, Howard J. Topology recapitulates morphogenesis of neuronal dendrites. Cell Reports 2023, 42: 113268. PMID: 38007691, PMCID: PMC10756852, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113268.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDynamic microtubules slow down during their shrinkage phase
Luchniak A, Kuo Y, McGuinness C, Sutradhar S, Orbach R, Mahamdeh M, Howard J. Dynamic microtubules slow down during their shrinkage phase. Biophysical Journal 2023, 122: 616-623. PMID: 36659852, PMCID: PMC9989939, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.01.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCilia function as calcium-mediated mechanosensors that instruct left-right asymmetry
Djenoune L, Mahamdeh M, Truong T, Nguyen C, Fraser S, Brueckner M, Howard J, Yuan S. Cilia function as calcium-mediated mechanosensors that instruct left-right asymmetry. Science 2023, 379: 71-78. PMID: 36603098, PMCID: PMC9939240, DOI: 10.1126/science.abq7317.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2022
Predicting the locations of force-generating dyneins in beating cilia and flagella
Howard J, Chasteen A, Ouyang X, Geyer VF, Sartori P. Predicting the locations of force-generating dyneins in beating cilia and flagella. Frontiers In Cell And Developmental Biology 2022, 10: 995847. PMID: 36303602, PMCID: PMC9592896, DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.995847.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDynein motorsDynein motor proteinsCryogenic electron microscopyMotor proteinsCylindrical organellesDyneinSperm flagellaConformational statesFlagellaAxonemeMotile structuresCiliaThree-dimensional architectureSingle pairOrganellesATPasesIndividual motor activityProteinMolecular mechanics approachActivity changesLarge numberCellsKey questionsDynamic instability of dendrite tips generates the highly branched morphologies of sensory neurons
Shree S, Sutradhar S, Trottier O, Tu Y, Liang X, Howard J. Dynamic instability of dendrite tips generates the highly branched morphologies of sensory neurons. Science Advances 2022, 8: eabn0080. PMID: 35767611, PMCID: PMC9242452, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn0080.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe force required to remove tubulin from the microtubule lattice by pulling on its α-tubulin C-terminal tail
Kuo YW, Mahamdeh M, Tuna Y, Howard J. The force required to remove tubulin from the microtubule lattice by pulling on its α-tubulin C-terminal tail. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 3651. PMID: 35752623, PMCID: PMC9233703, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31069-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCounting fluorescently labeled proteins in tissues in the spinning–disk microscope using single–molecule calibrations
Liao M, Kuo Y, Howard J. Counting fluorescently labeled proteins in tissues in the spinning–disk microscope using single–molecule calibrations. Molecular Biology Of The Cell 2022, 33: ar48. PMID: 35323029, PMCID: PMC9265152, DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e21-12-0618.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEnd-binding protein 1Spinning-disk confocal microscopyConfocal microscopySingle-molecule imagingComplex biological phenomenaFly larvaeLiving cellsCell surfaceMicrotubule endsBiological phenomenaProtein 1Brightness of fluorophoresCytoplasmic concentrationEpifluorescence microscopeBiological systemsSensory neuronsCellsSingle moleculesAbsolute numberMolecular numberTissueLarvaeMicrotubulesEGFPProteinCiliary beating patterns map onto a low-dimensional behavioural space
Geyer V, Howard J, Sartori P. Ciliary beating patterns map onto a low-dimensional behavioural space. Nature Physics 2022, 18: 332-337. DOI: 10.1038/s41567-021-01446-2.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
Structures of outer-arm dynein array on microtubule doublet reveal a motor coordination mechanism
Rao Q, Han L, Wang Y, Chai P, Kuo YW, Yang R, Hu F, Yang Y, Howard J, Zhang K. Structures of outer-arm dynein array on microtubule doublet reveal a motor coordination mechanism. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2021, 28: 799-810. PMID: 34556869, PMCID: PMC8500839, DOI: 10.1038/s41594-021-00656-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOuter arm dyneinMicrotubule doubletsDistinct microtubule-binding domainsHigh-resolution structuresAction of dyneinsMicrotubule-binding domainNative tracksATP hydrolysisDynein motorsHydrolyze ATPConformational changesNucleotide cycleMotor coordination mechanismATP turnoverDyneinHead interactionsMechanical forcesThe narrowing of dendrite branches across nodes follows a well-defined scaling law
Liao M, Liang X, Howard J. The narrowing of dendrite branches across nodes follows a well-defined scaling law. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2022395118. PMID: 34215693, PMCID: PMC8271565, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022395118.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
Cutting, Amplifying, and Aligning Microtubules with Severing Enzymes
Kuo YW, Howard J. Cutting, Amplifying, and Aligning Microtubules with Severing Enzymes. Trends In Cell Biology 2020, 31: 50-61. PMID: 33183955, PMCID: PMC7749064, DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.10.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAAA ATPasesTissue morphogenesisCellular processesMicrotubule cytoskeletonCell divisionGrowth promotionBiophysical advancesSevering enzymesMicrotubule networkMolecular mechanismsStrong promoterMicrotubule growthNeuronal developmentShort filamentsMicrotubulesSpastinEnzymeSeveringFidgetinKataninCytoskeletonMorphogenesisPromoterProteinRecent workHeat Oscillations Driven by the Embryonic Cell Cycle Reveal the Energetic Costs of Signaling
Rodenfels J, Neugebauer KM, Howard J. Heat Oscillations Driven by the Embryonic Cell Cycle Reveal the Energetic Costs of Signaling. Developmental Cell 2020, 53: 492. PMID: 32428456, PMCID: PMC7374639, DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.04.023.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2019
Spastin is a dual-function enzyme that severs microtubules and promotes their regrowth to increase the number and mass of microtubules
Kuo YW, Trottier O, Mahamdeh M, Howard J. Spastin is a dual-function enzyme that severs microtubules and promotes their regrowth to increase the number and mass of microtubules. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2019, 116: 5533-5541. PMID: 30837315, PMCID: PMC6431158, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1818824116.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDual-function enzymeMicrotubule dynamicsMass of microtubulesMicrotubule cytoskeletonDynamic cellular processesCellular processesMicrotubule regrowthNeuronal morphogenesisSevering activityVivo phenotypeMicrotubule assaysMicrotubulesNumber of microtubulesSpastinMicrotubule fragmentsRescue frequencyShort fragmentsCytoskeletonMicrotubule massObserved exponential increaseEnzymeRemodelersFidgetinKataninCiliogenesis
2018
Label‐free high‐speed wide‐field imaging of single microtubules using interference reflection microscopy
MAHAMDEH M, SIMMERT S, LUCHNIAK A, SCHÄFFER E, HOWARD J. Label‐free high‐speed wide‐field imaging of single microtubules using interference reflection microscopy. Journal Of Microscopy 2018, 272: 60-66. PMID: 30044498, PMCID: PMC6486835, DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12744.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDifferential interference contrastReflection microscopyInterference contrastCostly optical componentsWide-field imagingLabel-free imagingHollow cylindrical beamsDark-field condenserInterference contrast imagesDifferential interference contrast (DIC) imagesEfficient fluorescent labelingOptical componentsInterference reflection microscopyOptical misalignmentMicroscope modificationsProtein building blocksNomarski prismOptical qualityHigh-speed imagingNumber of drawbacksFree imagingLight interferenceCylindrical beamsContrast imagesHigh contrast
2016
A force-generating machinery maintains the spindle at the cell center during mitosis
Garzon-Coral C, Fantana HA, Howard J. A force-generating machinery maintains the spindle at the cell center during mitosis. Science 2016, 352: 1124-1127. PMID: 27230381, PMCID: PMC6535051, DOI: 10.1126/science.aad9745.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsForce-generating machineryMitotic spindleAsymmetric divisionDaughter cellsCell centerIntact cellsMagnetic tweezersCorrect localizationNumber of microtubulesMachinerySpindleForce generatorCellsCaenorhabditisAnaphaseLocalizationAccurate partitionsMitosisEmbryosMicrotubulesCytoplasmMetaphasePrecise localizationSmall cellsDivisionDynamic curvature regulation accounts for the symmetric and asymmetric beats of Chlamydomonas flagella
Sartori P, Geyer VF, Scholich A, Jülicher F, Howard J. Dynamic curvature regulation accounts for the symmetric and asymmetric beats of Chlamydomonas flagella. ELife 2016, 5: e13258. PMID: 27166516, PMCID: PMC4924999, DOI: 10.7554/elife.13258.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2008
XMAP215 Is a Processive Microtubule Polymerase
Brouhard GJ, Stear JH, Noetzel TL, Al-Bassam J, Kinoshita K, Harrison SC, Howard J, Hyman AA. XMAP215 Is a Processive Microtubule Polymerase. Cell 2008, 132: 79-88. PMID: 18191222, PMCID: PMC2311386, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2007.11.043.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBinding SitesBiological AssayCatalytic DomainCell DifferentiationCell EnlargementCell LineCytoskeletonDiffusionDimerizationFetal ProteinsForminsGreen Fluorescent ProteinsMicrofilament ProteinsMicroscopy, FluorescenceMicrotubule-Associated ProteinsMicrotubulesNuclear ProteinsPolymersProtein BindingProtein Structure, TertiaryProtein TransportSpodopteraSus scrofaTubulinXenopus laevisXenopus ProteinsConceptsFamily of proteinsSingle-molecule assaysActin polymerasesMicrotubule cytoskeletonProcessive polymeraseTubulin subunit additionDynamic microtubulesMicrotubule polymeraseMicrotubule growthCytoskeletal polymersXMAP215Plus endsMicrotubule latticePolymeraseSubunit additionCell proliferationFree tubulinTubulin dimersMicrotubulesCommon mechanismFast growthTip trackingGrowthCytoskeletonRapid assembly
2006
Yeast kinesin-8 depolymerizes microtubules in a length-dependent manner
Varga V, Helenius J, Tanaka K, Hyman AA, Tanaka TU, Howard J. Yeast kinesin-8 depolymerizes microtubules in a length-dependent manner. Nature Cell Biology 2006, 8: 957-962. PMID: 16906145, DOI: 10.1038/ncb1462.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKinesin-8 proteinsLength-dependent depolymerizationYeast kinesin-8Length-dependent mannerMetazoan cellsMicrotubule cytoskeletonMitotic spindleDisassemble microtubulesSpindle lengthKinesin-8Kinesin-13Kip3pPlus endsMicrotubulesConstituent microtubulesLong microtubulesNew mechanismCytoskeletonFungiKinesinProteinSpindleCellsThe depolymerizing kinesin MCAK uses lattice diffusion to rapidly target microtubule ends
Helenius J, Brouhard G, Kalaidzidis Y, Diez S, Howard J. The depolymerizing kinesin MCAK uses lattice diffusion to rapidly target microtubule ends. Nature 2006, 441: 115-119. PMID: 16672973, DOI: 10.1038/nature04736.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2005
A Self-Organized Vortex Array of Hydrodynamically Entrained Sperm Cells
Riedel IH, Kruse K, Howard J. A Self-Organized Vortex Array of Hydrodynamically Entrained Sperm Cells. Science 2005, 309: 300-303. PMID: 16002619, DOI: 10.1126/science.1110329.Peer-Reviewed Original Research