Phase separation of insulin receptor substrate 1 drives the formation of insulin/IGF-1 signalosomes.

As a critical node for insulin/IGF signaling, insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) is essential for metabolic regulation. A long and unstructured C-terminal region of IRS-1 recruits downstream effectors for promoting insulin/IGF signals. However, the underlying molecular basis for this remains elusive.

[Improvement and application of a fast labeling system for bulk internalized vesicles].

To study trafficking of bulk internalized vesicles such as macropinosome and lysosome in live cells, an efficient and convenient assay was established according to the axon turning assay. By injecting indicator or fluorescent dyes through a micropipette with air pressure into cell cultures to create a stable gradient around the micropipette tip, vesicles were indicated and labeled. With live cell imaging, the whole process was recorded.

A novel size-based sorting mechanism of pinocytic luminal cargoes in microglia.

Microglia are the resident immune cells in the CNS and play diverse roles in the maintenance of CNS homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that microglia continually survey the CNS microenvironment and scavenge cell debris and aberrant proteins by phagocytosis and pinocytosis, and that reactive microglia are capable to present antigens to T cells and initiate immune responses. However, how microglia process the endocytosed contents and evoke an immune response remain unclear.

[Preparation and up-conversion luminescence properties of Yb3+/Tm3+ co-doped Sb2O4 powder].

The Sb2O4:Yb3+, Tm3+ up-conversion luminescence powder with excellent physical, chemical stability and relative low phonon energy was synthesized by the high temperature solid-state reaction and its up-conversion luminescence property was investigated. Under the 980 nm excitation, infrared and blue up-conversion emissions centered at 800 and 480 nm were observed, which were assigned to the 1G4-->3H6 and 3H4-->3 He transitions of Tm2+, respectively. The influence of Yb3+ and Tm3+ concentration on the up-conversion emission property was also obtained.

P2Y4 receptor-mediated pinocytosis contributes to amyloid beta-induced self-uptake by microglia.

Brain disturbances, like injuries or aberrant protein deposits, evoke nucleotide release or leakage from cells, leading to microglial chemotaxis and ingestion. Recent studies have identified P2Y12 purinergic receptors as triggers for microglial chemotaxis and P2Y6 receptors as mediators for phagocytosis. However, pinocytosis, known as the internalization of fluid-phase materials, has received much less attention.