D. A. Weitz

Vimentin Intermediate Filaments and Filamentous Actin Form Unexpected Interpenetrating Networks That Redefine the Cell Cortex

This study reveals that vimentin intermediate filaments and F-actin form an interpenetrating network in the cell cortex, enhancing contractile forces and influencing actin dynamics.

Multiphase condensates from a kinetically arrested phase transition

This paper shows that multiphase biomolecular condensates form due to kinetic trapping during phase transitions, not thermodynamic stability, and explains how this leads to internal sub-compartments.

Synthesis of cell-laden alginate microgels with tunable compositions based on microfluidic pico-injection technique

The paper describes a microfluidic method to create cell-laden alginate microgels with tunable compositions by adjusting cross-linker concentration.

High-throughput direct screening of restriction endonuclease using microfluidic fluorescence-activated drop sorter based on SOS response in E. coli

The paper develops a high-throughput method to screen restriction endonucleases using microfluidics and bacterial SOS response, achieving 30-fold enrichment of target genes in one hour.

PCR-free, label-free detection of sequence-specific DNA with single-molecule sensitivity using in vitro N-hybrid system in microfluidic drops

This paper introduces a PCR-free, label-free method for single-molecule DNA detection using an in vitro N-hybrid system in microfluidic drops, achieving high specificity through protein interactions.

Microbe-seq: high-throughput, single-microbe genomics with strain resolution, applied to a human gut microbiome

Microbe-seq enables strain-resolved genome reconstruction from complex microbial communities, revealing intra-phylum horizontal gene transfer and bacteriophage-bacterial associations in the human gut.

Tumorigenic epithelial clusters are less sensitive to moderate osmotic stresses due to low amounts of junctional E-cadherin

This study shows that tumorigenic epithelial clusters are less sensitive to moderate osmotic stress due to reduced E-cadherin levels, affecting their mechanical properties and migration behavior.

Effect of the divalent cations zinc and calcium on the structure and mechanics of reconstituted vimentin intermediate filaments

This study examines how zinc and calcium ions affect the structure and mechanics of vimentin intermediate filaments, showing that zinc is more effective at lower concentrations and that ion binding can compete.

Probe Sensitivity to Cortical versus Intracellular Cytoskeletal Network Stiffness

The paper compares the sensitivity of four probe technologies to measure biomechanical properties of different cellular regions in two cell types under various perturbations.