F. Julicher

On the relationship between concentration buffering and noise reduction in phase separating systems

This paper shows that concentration buffering and noise reduction in phase separating systems are distinct concepts, neither of which is required or sufficient for the other.

Active shape programming drives Drosophila wing disc eversion

The paper shows active cellular behaviors drive 3D shape changes in Drosophila wing disc pouch through spontaneous strains, validated by MyoVI knockdown.

Liquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state

The paper studies chemically fueled phase separation, showing that spherical droplets can transition into stable liquid spherical shells sustained by continuous energy conversion.

A condensate dynamic instability orchestrates oocyte actomyosin cortex activation

The paper identifies a dynamic instability in protein condensates that drives actomyosin cortex activation in C. elegans oocytes.

Topological morphogenesis of neuroepithelial organoids

This study shows that trans and cis epithelial fusion regulate tissue topology and shape in neuroepithelial organoids, and identifies a pharmacologically accessible pathway to control organoid topology.

Stochastic dynamics of single molecules across phase boundaries

The paper derives a stochastic Langevin equation for molecular trajectories in phase-separated liquids and shows how non-equilibrium conditions lead to uphill drift in concentration gradients.

Co-condensation of proteins with single- and double-stranded DNA

This study uses optical tweezers to show FUS protein forms liquid-like co-condensates with DNA by adsorbing on single and double-stranded DNA, revealing phase separation mechanisms in nuclear compartments.

Local thermodynamics governs the formation and dissolution of protein condensates in living cells

The paper investigates how temperature changes affect P granule condensates in C. elegans, showing their reversible dissolution and recondensation, which can be modeled by thermodynamic equilibrium principles.

A gelation transition enables the self-organization of bipolar metaphase spindles

This study shows that a gelation transition enables bipolar metaphase spindles to self-organize through long-ranged microtubule transport and active stress propagation.

Surface condensation of a pioneer transcription factor on DNA

This study uses optical tweezers to observe Klf4 condensation on DNA, showing surface-mediated microphases that reconcile phase separation with nuclear organization.

Force generation by protein-DNA co-condensation

The paper shows DNA condensation mediated by transcription factors generates forces that bring distant DNA regions together, suggesting a physical mechanism for chromatin organization.

Theory of genetic oscillations with external noisy regulation

The paper develops a theory for genetic oscillations under external noisy regulation, showing its applicability to circadian and segmentation clock systems.

Active force generation shapes the metaphase spindle through a mechanical instability

The paper shows that active force generation through molecular motors shapes the metaphase spindle via a mechanical instability, influenced by surface tension and nematic elasticity.

Apico-basal cell compression regulates Lamin A/C levels in Epithelial tissues

This study shows that Lamin A/C concentration in epithelial tissues scales with apico-basal cell compression, independent of ECM, and is regulated by nuclear deformation.

Soluble tubulin is locally enriched at mitotic centrosomes in C. elegans

The paper measures tubulin concentrations at mitotic centrosomes in C. elegans embryos, showing localized enrichment of soluble β-tubulin.

Phase separation provides a mechanism to reduce noise in cells

The paper shows that phase separation can buffer gene expression noise by forming liquid droplets in mammalian cells, providing a fast mechanism for noise reduction.

Liquid-crystal organization of liver tissue

The paper reveals that hepatocytes in liver tissue follow a long-range liquid-crystal order, challenging the traditional view of random organization and highlighting bi-directional communication between hepatocytes and sinusoids.

Field induced cell proliferation and death in a thick epithelium

The paper investigates how electric and flow fields affect cell proliferation and death in a thick epithelium using a hydrodynamic model.

Body size-dependent energy storage causes Kleiber’s law scaling of the metabolic rate in planarians

This study shows Kleiber’s law in planarians arises from size-dependent energy storage, not cellular metabolic rate changes.