Physical Models of Living Matters - The 3rd Symposium of Physical Biology and Biological Physics

Contribution List

4. The resilience and diversification of mechanical stress management during morphogenesis

Prof. Yu-chiun Wang (RIKEN)

30/08/2024, 13:30

Session I

The separation of yolk from the embryonic cytoplasm characterizes the initial phase of embryonic development in oviparous animals, including fish, frogs and flies. While yolk-cytoplasm separation is known for allocation of energy resources and partitioning of maternally deposited patterning elements critical for cell fate specification, it remains unknown whether such separation changes the...

5. Mechanosensitive regulation of integrin beta6 mediated adhesion

Cheng-han Yu (The University of Hong Kong)

30/08/2024, 14:00

Session I

The interplay between inside-out and outside-in activation of integrin receptor orchestrates cell motility and tissue regeneration. While such mechanisms of RGD-binding integrin, including integrin beta1 and beta3, are well documented, mechano-sensitive regulations of integrin beta6 remain largely unknown. Using the viscous RGD-membrane as the model system, we find that integrin beta6 and...

6. Phase separation promotes receptor clustering and downstream signaling

Prof. Lindsay Case (MIT)

30/08/2024, 14:20

Session I

In many signaling pathways, receptors are spatially organized at the plasma membrane into signaling clusters with a specific composition. Phase separation driven by protein interactions can promote clustering of many types of receptors, including the LAT receptor, Nephrin receptor, and integrin receptor. We use biochemical reconstitutions and cellular experiments to study compositionally...

35. Wavy Morphology Regulates Cell Structure, Migration, and Phenotype

Prof. Grace Pen-hsiu Chao (NTU)

30/08/2024, 14:50

Session I

Elastic tissues such as arteries and tendons have dense extracellular matrices with wavy structures that allow high strain. The resident cells follow the wavy structures that change with load, disease, and aging. Few studies, however, study the impacts of this wavy morphology on cell behavior and mechanotransduction. Using microfabrication techniques, we precisely control single cell shape and...

19. Probing the Nanoscale Membrane Topography in Cells

Prof. Wenting Zhao (Nanyang Technological Unviersity)

30/08/2024, 15:40

Session II

Cell membranes serve as a central platform to host a variety of proteins essential for cellular activities such as cell signaling, morphogenesis, and membrane trafficking. At the same time, the membranes also undergo drastic morphological changes in a number of essential processes, such as endocytosis, intracellular trafficking, and cytokinesis, etc. An intriguing yet challenging question to...

8. Dynamics of force-regulated branched actin network density

Prof. Tai-de Li (CUNY)

30/08/2024, 16:10

Session II

The assembly of branched actin networks provides the driving force for numerous cell motilities of all eukaryotic cells. While pushing the cytoplasm membrane moving forward, the networks are also polymerizing under a counter force. At the leading edge of the cell motilities, such as Lamellipodium, the pushing force and network formation are dynamically regulated by nucleation, elongation, and...

37. To repair or regenerate, it is a matter of matrix stiffness

Prof. Ming Jer Tang (National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine)

30/08/2024, 16:30

Session II

We have worked on the influence of matrix stiffness on cellular physiology in epithelial cells and fibroblasts as well, which plays a very important role in pathophysiology of organ and tissue fibrosis. The current research theme of my research has been to unveil the mechanobiological mechanism of converting wound repair into regeneration. We have discovered that breaking symmetry of cell...

33. Characterization of Megadalton MALDI Ions with Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

Prof. Wen Ping Peng (NDHU)

30/08/2024, 16:50

Session II

Detecting megadalton matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) ions with linear ion trap mass spectrometer (LIT-MS) is a technical challenge. In this talk, we employ MALDI LIT- MS to successfully analyze megadalton protein, polymer, and proteasome ions. A homebuilt linear ion trap mass spectrometer (LIT-MS) equipped with a charge sensing particle detector (CSPD) is used for high mass...

34. Self-organized cellular patterns direct waves of cell death

Prof. Sheng-hong Chen (Academia Sinica)

30/08/2024, 17:10

Session II

Large-scale cell death is widely observed during embryonic development and various human pathological conditions. However, a systems-level understanding for how large-scale cell death emerges had been lacking. Harnessing time-lapse imaging, chemical/genetic perturbations and mathematical modeling, we show how metabolic stress quantitatively modulate cellular state for the emergence of redox...

1. Flash talk by the poster presenter

Yu-chiun Wang

30/08/2024, 17:40

Flash talk from poster

29. Poster Sessions (II)

30/08/2024, 20:00

Flash talk from poster

10. Collective chiral behaviors in single cells and a multicellular system

Prof. Tatsuo Shibata (RIKEN)

31/08/2024, 09:00

Session III

Most animals have systematic left-right asymmetry in their bodies and organs. Their chiral property should be originated from the organization of the chirality of their constituents. However, the mechanisms of how chiral information is brought from the molecular to the cell, tissue and organ scales are largely unresolved. In my talk, I will present our recent study combining experiment and...

12. Mechanical waves decode positional information to calibrate wound healing response in zebrafish

Prof. Fu-lai Wen (NCU)

31/08/2024, 09:30

Session III

Highly regenerative animals, such as salamander and zebrafish, can regrow lost appendages and the rate of regrowth is proportional to the amount of appendage loss. This century-old phenomenon prompted us to investigate whether the mechanism of wound healing, as the first stage of regeneration, is responsible for discerning the amputation position. In vitro studies have revealed great insights...

11. Detecting and analyzing dynamic interferometric light scattering signals of chromatin in live cell nuclei

Yi-deng Hsiao (Academia Sinica)

31/08/2024, 10:00

Session III

Advancements in interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT) enable label-free detection of nanoscale structures and dynamics with high sensitivity and fast acquisition rates. This technology overcomes fluorescence imaging limitations, such as photobleaching, facilitating long-term or high-speed measurements. However, analyzing label-free signals to extract specific target information remains...

31. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondrial junctions (EMJs) reduce intracellular Ca2+ storage by suppressing store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE)

Prof. Feng-chiao Tsai (NTU)

31/08/2024, 10:20

Session III

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondrial junctions (EMJs) reduce intracellular Ca2+ storage by suppressing store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE)

18. Transcription factor dynamics in gene expression: the long and short of it

Prof. Arpita Upadhyaya (University of Maryland, College Park)

31/08/2024, 11:10

Session IV

The organization and dynamics of chromatin is essential for the regulation of gene expression. Transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression by binding to specific consensus motifs within enhancers or promoter-proximal regions. The mechanism by which TFs bind to their cognate chromatin targets within a complex nuclear environment to assemble transcriptional machinery at specific genomic...

14. An optogenetic toolbox for spatio-temporal control of integrin adhesion complexes.

Prof. Heath Johnson (The University of Hong Kong)

31/08/2024, 11:40

Session IV

The activation of integrins and the subsequent formation of focal complexes is a critical function in cellular sensing of ECM substrates and cell migration. Integrin adhesion complexes (IACs) allow for cell adhesion, transduce force, and signal through several pathways. While much work has been done to uncover the components and regulators involved in adhesion formation and dynamics, we have...

16. Chromatin organization and dynamics resolved by label-free iSCAT microscopy

Prof. Chia-lung Hsieh (Academia Sinica)

31/08/2024, 12:00

Session IV

The study of chromatin nanostructures in living cells is complex due to their constant motion. In this talk, I will introduce a novel correlation spectroscopy approach using interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy, which allows for the spatial mapping of chromatin configurations and dynamics in live, unlabeled cell nuclei. This innovative label-free method detects linear scattering...

13. Replication-dependent histone (Repli-Histo) labeling specifically visualizes the physical properties of euchromatin/heterochromatin in living human cells

Prof. Kazuhiro Maeshima (National Institute of Genetics)

31/08/2024, 14:00

Session V

"Replication-dependent histone (Repli-Histo) labeling specifically visualizes physical properties of euchromatin/heterochromatin in living human cells.
Katsuhiko Minami1, 2, Satoru Ide1, 2, Sachiko Tamura1, and Kazuhiro Maeshima1, 2
1 Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics
2 Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI

Abstract
Recent advanced imaging studies...

17. Tubulin isotypes harness the mechano-sensitive lattice breathing for microtubule luminal accessibility

Prof. Jeff Shih-Chieh Ti (The University of Hong Kong)

31/08/2024, 14:30

Session V

Microtubules are hollow cylindrical cytoskeletal polymers of laterally associated protofilaments that contain head-to-tail aligned ɑ/β-tubulin heterodimers. While the exposed exterior is within reach for proteins, the mechanism regulating the accessibility of the confined micrometer-long microtubule lumen for the long-observed luminal particles remains unknown. Here, we employed structural...

15. Epigenetic Mechanisms in Cardiomyocyte Maturation

Prof. Cheng-fu Kao (Academia Sinica)

31/08/2024, 14:50

Session V

Differentiated cardiomyocytes (CMs) must undergo diverse morphological and functional changes during postnatal development. However, the initiation and coordination of these processes remain unclear. We reveal an integrated, time-ordered transcriptional network that begins with expression of genes for cell-cell connections and leads to a sequence of structural, cell cycle, functional, and...

21. Numerical studies on the influence of mechanical perturbations due to actions of subnuclear molecules on chromatin organization and dynamics

Prof. Tetsuya Hiraiwa (Academia Sinica)

31/08/2024, 15:20

Session V

Physical spacing of chromatin is critical in regulating bio-chemical and transcriptional abilities of genes, and proper functionality of the genomic content depends on the nonrandom organization of chromatin. Meanwhile, in a living cell, other subnuclear molecules, such as enzymes like polymerase and topoisomerase, act to facilitate cellular functions. Mechanical perturbation due to actions of...

7. Assembly at Aqueous Phase-separating Systems

Prof. Anderson Shum (The University of Hong Kong)

31/08/2024, 16:30

Session VI

In Nature, many dynamic processes take place in purely aqueous environments within relatively narrow range of environmental conditions, such as temperature. How such sophisticated processes across hierarchical lengthscales in the natural biological world remains fascinating to materials scientists. One of the key phenomena that drives the formation of a diverse range of structures is aqueous...

20. BAR protein SNX9 mediates actin assembly at saddle-shaped membranes

Feng-ching Tsai (Curie Institute)

31/08/2024, 17:00

Session VI

Biological membranes undergo dynamic remodeling that is essential for cellular homeostasis. BAR protein SNX9 is known to play a key role in actin-driven membrane remodeling, for example at saddle-shaped or tubular membrane necks connecting vesicular buds to the plasma membrane during endocytosis, and in the more complex membrane remodeling of membrane ruffling during macropinocytosis. SNX9 has...

32. Through the Computational Lens: Exploring Abeta42 Monomer Diffusion on Diverse Fibril Structures

Prof. Min-yeh Tsai

31/08/2024, 17:20

Session VI

This study delves into the molecular dynamics that underpin critical biological processes in neurodegeneration. We use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interactions of Abeta42 monomers with fibrillar surfaces, a pivotal factor in Alzheimer's disease progression. Employing coarse-grained simulations, we focus on the diffusion behaviors of freely diffusing Abeta42 monomers...

24. Membrane curvature induces integrin activation and mechanotransduction

Prof. Bianxiao Cui (Stanford University)

31/08/2024, 17:40

Session VI

Membrane curvature in the range of tens to hundreds of nanometers is involved in many essential cellular processes. Membrane curvatures in living cells are often below optical resolution and are highly dynamic, making it a technical challenge to explore curvature-initiated signaling events. We use nanofabrication to engineer vertical nanostructures to precisely manipulate the location, degree,...

40. Characterization of Megadalton Maldi ions with linear ion trap mass spectrometer

Prof. Wen Ping Peng (NDHU)

31/08/2024, 18:10

Session VI

22. One-dimensional complex cell motility patterns induced by mechanosensitive adhesion complexes

Prof. Hsuan-yi Chen (NCU)

01/09/2024, 08:30

Session VII

The complex one-dimensional crawling moving patterns of a cell on a substrate are studied in this theoretical study. A simple model of cell motility, which assumes that the cell-substrate adhesion sites are localized at the cell ends, and the cell crawling dynamics are controlled by the evolution of the myosin density and the number of adhesion complexes at the cell ends, is discussed first....

39. How do active particles diffuse in polymer networks: from simulations to theory

Prof. Jae-Hyung Jeon (POSTECH)

01/09/2024, 09:00

Session VII

The diffusion of tracer particles within a polymer environment is a promising topic connected with numerous biological and industrial applications, including intracellular macromolecule transport and nanoparticle diffusion. Despite extensive studies, the study of self-propelled particles within a polymer network has received attention recently and poorly understood. Here we study the...

23. Contributed talk

Marie Cutiogco

01/09/2024, 09:30

Session VII

38. The Interplay of Carotenoids and Reactive Oxygen Species in a Regenerating invertebrate

Prof. Chia-liang Cheng (NDHU)

01/09/2024, 09:50

Session VII

In this work, we address the participation of primary and secondary “Carotenoids” in the life activity of the regenerating anterior region of A. viride. A. viride is tasked with building entire body segments out of their single starting cell at their amputated region and undergoing epimorphic regeneration, therefore, these annelids are the most suitable for the study of regeneration. In...

9. Dynamics of densifying cell monolayers: turbulence enhanced by cancer cell aggregation, void closure, and two-stage percolating transitions

Prof. Lin I (NCU)

01/09/2024, 10:50

Session VIII

"Dynamics of densifying cell monolayers: turbulence enhanced by cancer cell aggregation, void closure, and two-stage percolating transitions

Yi-Teng Hsiao, Hsiang-Ying Chen, Jun-Yu Liu, Yuan-Xuan Zhang, and Lin I
Department of Physics, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan 32001

The cell system is an extended active system exhibiting heterogeneous structure and motion over a wide...

30. Collective dynamics of spindle-shaped cells on defect topography

Hsiang-ying Chen (NCU)

01/09/2024, 11:20

Session VIII

Cell collective motion underlies many biological processes such as embryogenesis, morphogenesis, and cancer invasion. Cells can organize into diverse patterns across various spatiotemporal scales through the interplay of self-propulsion and mutual coupling. Topological defects, where the orientational order is undefined, are reported to govern many biological functions. In particular, integer...

25. Cells can adhere at fluid interfaces

Jun Nakanishi (National Institute for Materials Science)

01/09/2024, 11:40

Session VIII

"Conventionally, mammalian cells are cultured on stiff plastic or glass dishes. This is because cells have intrinsic contractility and exert mechanical forces to their substrates. It is critical for the cells to receive sufficient mechanical feedback, therefore stiff materials have been chosen for the cell culturing scaffolds, otherwise the cells undergo apoptosis, cellular suicide. On the...

26. Spherical Microwells for High-throughput 3D Cell Culture and Mechanobiology Investigations

Keng-hui Lin

01/09/2024, 12:10

Session VIII

3. Concluding remark. Poster award announcement

01/09/2024, 12:40

27. Poster award announcement

Session VIII

2. Poster session (II)