Articles tagged with Cilia
A new study identifies astrocytes in the brain's fear center as a key player in stress response and anxiety. The research found that restoring the antenna-like structure on these cells can ease stress behaviors, and a potential treatment target has been identified.
A $2.1 million NIH grant will support research into the primary cilium's functions in protein synthesis and energy production, with implications for neurological disease. The study will investigate the role of primary cilia in embryonic brain development and connect fundamental cell biology with neurological disorders.
A team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen has discovered a crucial communication system on cell surfaces that plays a significant role in heart development. Alterations in three key proteins can disrupt this system, leading to congenital heart defects.
Researchers at University of California - Riverside discovered that the primary cilium, a microscopic structure inside nearly every cell, plays a critical role in brain development. The study found that proteins associated with the cilium are directly linked to human developmental disorders and that protein production occurs directly w...
Apusomonads display a clear avoidance response to blue light by asymmetrizing their posterior flagellum and contracting their cell body. This primitive mechanism provides clues to the evolution of high-speed flagellar movements in opisthokonts.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen discovered two new ciliary proteins that regulate cell communication and may lead to the development of new treatments for chronic diseases. The study found that defective cilia can disrupt signaling in almost all tissues and organs, leading to various diseases.
Researchers at the Wyss Institute have identified vorinostat as a promising treatment for Rett Syndrome using an AI-driven drug discovery process and innovative disease modeling. The findings demonstrate disease-modifying abilities across multiple tissues, offering hope for a potentially curative treatment.
Researchers have identified a key protein associated with Meckel-Gruber syndrome that is cut in half to perform two separate functions, both fundamental to healthy cilia development. The findings shed new light on how cilia formation and cell signaling are finetuned by external forces.
Scientists have discovered a link between autism spectrum disorders and congenital heart disease, finding that tiny hair-like structures called cilia underlie the shared biology of both conditions. This study offers hope for early diagnosis and intervention, with potential benefits for children with autism.
The study reveals that the glycocalyx's main components are glycoproteins FMG1B and FMG1A, which regulate cilia adhesiveness without directly transmitting force for gliding motility. The findings expand knowledge of cellular regulation and protective mechanisms in other organisms.
Researchers created a 'Hyperelastic Torque Reversal Mechanism' that enables fast and powerful movements in soft robots made from rubber-like materials. The mechanism leverages the characteristics of soft hyperelastic materials to rapidly stiffen as they compress, allowing for rapid and efficient movement.
Researchers used super high-resolution 3D electron microscopy images to study primary cilia in mouse brain tissue, revealing new information about their organization and function. The findings provide insights into how cilia behave in their natural environment and could help scientists understand their role in disease.
A team of researchers at Vanderbilt University has developed robotic sensory cilia that can monitor mucus conditions in human airways, detecting infection, obstruction, and disease severity. The technology leverages external magnetic fields to sense mucus viscosity and layer thickness, paving the way for real-time monitoring and early ...
Scientists discover that multiciliated cells use cell division to control hair-like projections called cilia. This adaptation breaks the cancer-preventing rule of making only four centrioles per cell, producing hundreds instead.
Researchers have developed a method to create and repurpose artificial hairs with magnetic properties, enabling the control of motion at room temperature. The technique involves programming and reprogramming the magnetization of the magnetic particles in the cilia, allowing for changes in their behavior.
Marine plankton sense external water pressure through the same cells that detect light, triggering them to swim upwards. The larvae respond to increased pressure by swimming faster and in a straighter trajectory.
Chicken sperm can retain fertility and viability for up to three weeks after refrigeration, making it unsuitable for traditional cryopreservation methods. The study found that removing calcium ions impacts energy metabolism dynamics, inducing a physiological dormancy-like state in the sperm cells.
Researchers developed a new OCT approach to directly image coordination of tiny hair-like structures in live organisms, giving a powerful tool to investigate cilia's role in the female reproductive system. The technique revealed unexpected behaviors that contradict current views and suggested new roles for cilia.
Cilia synchronize their beating pattern by leveraging the fluid surrounding them and the border region. This observation reveals that border regions play a critical role in self-organization of living matter, similar to macroscopic mechanisms.
A new study reveals that flow-sensing cilia activate BICC1 to regulate organ laterality, with a complex network involving ANKS3 and ANKS6. The discovery provides fundamental insights into gene expression and opens avenues for therapies of genetic disorders.
Two species of hairworms are missing genes responsible for producing cilia, a feature present in all other known animals. This loss likely occurred early in the evolution of the group and may impact their parasitic behavior, but its exact effects remain unclear.
Researchers used cryo-electron tomography to study the dynein motor protein, revealing new details about how it generates force and coordinates with other proteins. This knowledge may help develop treatments for diseases related to cilia dysfunction, such as fertility issues and lung disease.
Researchers created a detailed snapshot of the structure of human cilia using advanced microscopy and artificial intelligence techniques. The study found that key elements of the axoneme structure are missing in people with primary ciliary dyskinesia, leading to defective cilia and breathing difficulties.
A team of researchers has created an acoustic microfluidic method to study swimming cells and microorganisms, including the single-cell alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The device uses ultrasonic waves to trap cells in place without affecting their swimming behavior, enabling controlled experiments on cilia motion and cell motility.
Researchers have identified a new cell state in embryonic airway development, which may lead to new approaches for treating chronic respiratory diseases. The discovery highlights the crucial role of cellular heterogeneity in shaping airway biology.
The study reveals new details about the intraflagellar transport (IFT) complexes, including previously unknown zinc-binding sites in IFT-A. The high-resolution structures of IFT-A and Tubby-related protein 3 (TULP3) can now be used to investigate developmental diseases involving cilia.
Research reveals that cilia function as creators and sensors of biomechanical forces in the developing embryo, shaping the left-right body plan. Cilia sense flow forces and translate them into calcium signals controlling left-right development.
New expansion microscopy methods, dubbed Magnify, allow researchers to observe nanoscale biological structures with standard microscopes. The protocol retains biomolecules intact, enabling simultaneous imaging of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates.
Researchers at UCI discovered that removing cilia from the striatum region impairs time perception and judgment, affecting motor responses and decision-making. This finding may lead to new therapeutic targets for schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions.
The study reveals the structure of the 15-subunit IFT-B complex, a crucial component in cilia formation and maintenance. The complex's elongated and flexible nature is consistent with previous low-resolution reconstructions, and two configurations are identified that may drive bi-directional movement.
Researchers have developed a continuum theory of micro-hairs, allowing for the study of collective movements and fluid flows. The theory reveals that even random movement is unstable and leads to synchronisation, while perfect unison is also unstable, resulting in specific patterns of movement.
The study reveals a specialized transport hub at the base of cilia, where trains assemble and load cargo for transport. This discovery provides new insights into molecular basis for various diseases, including cystic kidneys and blindness.
Researchers developed a mathematical model of cilia beating due to mechanical instability caused by the cilium motor protein dynein. This knowledge will aid in understanding and treating cilia-related diseases.
A team from UNIGE has identified a molecular mechanism that causes degeneration of photoreceptors in retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease leading to blindness. The discovery could lead to therapeutic treatments targeting this mechanism.
Cornell researchers have designed a micro-sized artificial cilial system using platinum-based components that can control the movement of fluids at a scale similar to biological cilia. The technology could enable low-cost diagnostic devices for testing blood samples, manipulating cells or assisting in microfabrication processes.
Researchers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a single-material, single-stimuli microstructure that can outmaneuver even living cilia. These programmable structures could be used for soft robotics, biocompatible medical devices, and dynamic information encryption.
Scientists have created cilia-free human pluripotent stem cells that exhibit symptoms of ciliopathy, such as polycystic kidney disease. These cells can be used to study the cause of these diseases and guide therapy development.
Sea urchin larvae exhibit a cilia-based response and swim backward when exposed to strong irradiation, revealing a subtle yet crucial mechanism in the evolution of light-responsive tissues. This finding provides insights into the diversification of light-response systems and may have implications for understanding human behavior or fee...
Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute have developed a microfluidic Organ Chip device that accurately models cystic fibrosis lung airway pathology. The model replicates key pathological hallmarks, including mucus layer changes and inflammatory responses, providing a comprehensive preclinical human model for investigating new therapies.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have identified γTuRC as a centriole stabilizer, revealing its role in maintaining centriole stability and preventing microcephaly. The study's findings suggest that defects in γTuRC may contribute to various human diseases, including adolescent scoliosis and male infertility.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's grow functional biliary organoids to reveal previously unknown cell defects and a potential repair approach. The study identifies structural defects in cells that form bile ducts, which can lead to liver fibrosis and failure.
Researchers at The Lundquist Institute have solved the long-standing debate on gamete and embryo transport within the Fallopian tube. Motile cilia are essential for oocyte pickup, while disruptions lead to female infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Artificial cilia powered by a rotating magnetic field move liquids around cells or propel soft robots with unprecedented efficiency. The researchers developed microscale cilia that mimic natural wave-like movements, producing faster pumping speeds and better control over flow rates.
Researchers created living organisms that self-assemble, move faster, and demonstrate recordable memory. These 'Xenobots' can work together in groups, heal themselves, and perform tasks like garbage collection.
Researchers have discovered that abnormal skeletal differentiation and remodelling are key causes of ciliopathic micrognathia in a chick model. The study sheds light on the etiology of human ciliopathic micrognathia, highlighting distinct cellular processes impaired during its onset.
Researchers developed a template-free technique to fabricate flexible cilia mimicking biological functions, with applications in transporting substances into cells or directing fluids. The cilia's motion can be controlled by a magnet, and their length can be varied from 10 to 100 microns.
Cilia, tiny hairlike organelles, coordinate to push particles and fluid along, ensuring reproduction and defense against pathogens. Researchers identified mechanisms for effective cilia movement, which can inform diagnosis of diseases such as lung disease.
A NOAA study shows that elevated carbon dioxide concentrations slow down shellfish gill cilia, reducing feeding and filtration rates in blue mussels. This affects ecosystem services like energy and growth in marine ecosystems.
Scientists discovered a cell signaling pathway that could lead to new treatments for tuberous sclerosis complex, a neurological disorder causing non-cancerous tumors and epilepsy. The heat shock protein cascade restored normal mTOR activity in TSC cells, offering potential drug targets.
Scientists from North Carolina State University have developed artificial cilia that can be controlled using magnetic fields and light. The research builds on earlier work in designing soft robots for magnet and light control. The new findings demonstrate the potential applications of shape memory magnetic cilia in various fields.
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have identified two critical microRNAs driving ventricular enlargement in models of schizophrenia. Reduced expression of these microRNAs leads to increased motile cilia movement and brain ventricle enlargement, highlighting a potential target for future treatments.
Scientists studied the behavior of viscoelastic fluids interacting with tiny structures called cilia. They found that fluid elasticity drives patterned movement of cilia, but only under specific conditions. Future research aims to develop new biological models and understand the dynamic movements within cells.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that specialized cells use a process more common in non-mammalian species to create hundreds of cilia, challenging the long-held assumption that deuterosomes play a central role. This discovery could lead to new treatments for cilia-related disorders.
Researchers confirm what Herbert Spencer Jennings described over 100 years ago: single-celled organisms like S. roeseli can make decisions that allow them to 'change their mind.' The findings suggest a hierarchy of avoidance behaviors determined by previous experience, with protists exhibiting complex problem-solving behaviors in respo...
Researchers developed new imaging methods to study retinal cilia, discovering previously unknown compartments and pinpointing protein locations in diseased cilia. These findings contribute to a better understanding of structural defects leading to cilia-related blindness.
A team of researchers identified a critical protein component essential for coordinated motion in comb jellies. The study found that this protein, CTENO64, plays a vital role in maintaining harmony among the tiny surface organelles on comb plates, which propel these marine animals through the ocean.
A new method uses sound waves to trap and release single-cell green algae cells, allowing for rapid measurement of their movement. This technique accelerates the analysis of hundreds of cells in minutes, enabling researchers to study cilia dysfunction more efficiently.
Researchers have identified DZIP1 gene mutation as a potential cause of MVP, which leads to congenital defects and abnormal heart rhythm. The study's findings may facilitate drug-based interventions for the condition.
A team of researchers found that cilia's most efficient beating occurs at a natural length of 10-12 microns, but surprisingly lacks synchronization. The study provides insight into human cilia and defects leading to diseases such as primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Two common e-cigarette chemical flavorings, diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, have been linked to impaired lung function by altering gene expression related to cilia production. This study suggests that even low levels of these chemicals can be hazardous, highlighting the need for stricter safety standards.