Adjustable and Versatile 3D Tumor Spheroid Culture Platform with Interfacial Elastomeric Wells.

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture platforms have recently received a great deal of attention, as these systems are able to recapitulate the in vivo microenvironment of tissues or tumors. Herein, we describe adjustable and versatile elastomeric well structures for spheroid formation and their use for in situ analyses as a tunable 3D cell culture platform. Elastomeric spherical wells are fabricated using a one-step interfacial reaction between aqueous droplets on immiscible liquid polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) without any template or expensive equipment.

On-chip plasmonic immunoassay based on targeted assembly of gold nanoplasmonic particles.

Developing a sensitive and selective detection platform of disease-related biomarkers is important for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases at an early stage. Among clinically meaningful biomarkers, proteins are the most commonly used indicators, and they are generally detected via immunoassays. However, the use of conventional immunoassays in early diagnosis is hindered by the time required, complex steps, high-cost, and insufficient sensitivity and selectivity.

Cdk1-cyclin B1-mediated phosphorylation of tumor-associated microtubule-associated protein/cytoskeleton-associated protein 2 in mitosis.

During mitosis, establishment of structurally and functionally sound bipolar spindles is necessary for maintaining the fidelity of chromosome segregation. Tumor-associated microtubule-associated protein (TMAP), also known as cytoskeleton-associated protein 2 (CKAP2), is a mitotic spindle-associated protein whose level is frequently up-regulated in various malignancies. Previous reports have suggested that TMAP is a potential regulator of mitotic spindle assembly and dynamics and that it is required for chromosome segregation to occur properly.

SuPr-1-mediated desumoylation regulates the repressor activity of DeltaNp63alpha.

DeltaNp63alpha is exclusively expressed in stem cells and progenitor cells of the stratified epithelia. It promotes cell proliferation by antagonizing p53 and related TAp63/TAp73. Here, we report that specific desumoylation by SUMO protease SuPr-1 provides a fine-tuning mechanism for DeltaNp63alpha repressor activity.