Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
Published: December 2024
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Protein liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is driven by intrinsically disordered regions and multivalent binding domains, both of which are common features of diverse microtubule (MT) regulators. Many in vitro studies have dissected the mechanisms by which MT-binding proteins (MBPs) regulate MT nucleation, stabilization and dynamics, and investigated whether LLPS plays a role in these processes. However, more recent in vivo studies have focused on how MBP LLPS affects biological functions throughout neuronal development. Dysregulation of MBP LLPS can lead to formation of aggregates - an underlying feature in many neurodegenerative diseases - such as the tau neurofibrillary tangles present in Alzheimer's disease. In this Review, we highlight progress towards understanding the regulation of MT dynamics through the lens of phase separation of MBPs and associated cytoskeletal regulators, from both in vitro and in vivo studies. We also discuss how LLPS of MBPs regulates neuronal development and maintains homeostasis in mature neurons.
Alloy nanocatalysts exhibit enhanced activity, selectivity, and stability mainly due to their versatile phases and atomic structures. However, nanocatalysts' "real" functional structures may vary from their as-synthesized status due to the structural and chemical changes during the activation and reaction conditions. Herein, we studied the activated CuPd/CeO nanocatalysts under the CO oxidation reaction featuring an atomic-scale phase separation process, resulting in a notable "hysteresis" in catalyst performance.
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Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) is often employed to characterize gas-phase compounds in both indoor and outdoor environments. PTR-MS measurements are usually made without upstream chromatographic separation, so it can be challenging to differentiate between an ion of interest, its isomers, and fragmentation products from other species all detected at the same mass-to-charge ratio. These isomeric contributions and fragmentation interferences can confound the determination of accurate compound mixing ratios, the assignment of accurate chemical properties, and corresponding analyses of chemical fate.
The ability of particles to transform absorbed energy into translational movements brings peculiar order into nonequilibrium matter. Connected together into a chain, these particles collectively behave completely differently from well-known equilibrium polymers. Examples of such systems vary from nanoscale to macroscopic objects.
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved impressive efficiency, but their commercialization is limited by issues like chemical homogeneity within the perovskite films, leading to defects and phase segregation, which severely compromise the stability and performance of PSCs. This study presents a novel approach to overcoming these barriers by employing N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a multifunctional crosslinking agent within the perovskite structure. MBA enhances chemical uniformity both laterally and vertically, improves crystallinity, and boosts overall film stability by forming a robust crosslinked network that regulates nucleation and growth dynamics during the pre-seeding process.
