J. W. Shaevitz

Macromolecular interactions and geometrical confinement determine the 3D diffusion of ribosome-sized particles in live Escherichia coli cells

This study tracks ribosome-sized particles in E. coli to show that their 3D diffusion is influenced by macromolecular interactions and geometrical confinement, revealing sub-diffusive motion due to nucleoid and cell boundary constraints.

Integrin-like adhesin CglD confers traction and stabilizes bacterial focal adhesions involved in myxobacterial gliding motility

The paper identifies CglD as a β-integrin-like adhesin in Myxococcus xanthus that stabilizes bacterial focal adhesions and enables gliding motility through mechanosensory and mechanotransductory functions.

NAPS: Integrating pose estimation and tag-based tracking

NAPS integrates pose estimation and tag-based tracking to study social dynamics in bumblebees, enabling detailed behavioral analysis while maintaining individual identity.

Acentrosomal spindles assemble from branching microtubule nucleation near chromosomes

The paper shows that chromosomes can nucleate microtubules to form spindles without centrosomes, using branching nucleation near kinetochores.

Isolation disrupts social interactions and destabilizes brain development in bumblebees

This study shows that social isolation in early life disrupts brain development and gene expression in bumblebees, while limited social experience preserves typical patterns.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa differentiates substrate rigidity using retraction of type IV pili

This study shows Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses type IV pili retraction to sense substrate stiffness, with PilA concentration dynamics linked to transcriptional responses.

Measuring the repertoire of age-related behavioral changes in Drosophila melanogaster

This study measures age-related behavioral changes in Drosophila melanogaster and finds sexually dimorphic patterns linked to metabolic shifts.

Acinetobacter baylyi regulates type IV pilus synthesis by employing two extension motors and a motor protein inhibitor

This study identifies two extension motors and an inhibitor for type IV pilus synthesis in Acinetobacter baylyi, challenging the previous belief that only one motor is involved.

SLEAP: Multi-animal pose tracking

SLEAP is a deep learning framework for multi-animal pose tracking that enables accurate and efficient tracking of social interactions across various species and experimental conditions.

CglB adhesins secreted at bacterial focal adhesions mediate gliding motility

The paper identifies CglB as a substratum-coupling protein secreted by the gliding complex in Myxococcus xanthus, revealing a mechanism for force transduction and a novel secretion process.

The transition state and regulation of γ-TuRC-mediated microtubule nucleation revealed by single molecule microscopy

This study uses single molecule microscopy to reveal how γ-TuRC nucleates microtubules, showing a cooperative mechanism involving 4 β-tubulin dimers and the role of XMAP215 in enhancing nucleation efficiency.

Competitive binding of independent extension and retraction motors explains the quantitative dynamics of type IV pili

The paper quantifies type IV pili dynamics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and shows that extension and retraction are governed by competitive motor binding, with retraction motor unbinding limiting production.

Spatiotemporal organization of branched microtubule networks

The paper studies branched microtubule network formation in Xenopus egg extracts, showing that TPX2, augmin, and γ-TuRC regulate nucleation through a sequential reaction pathway.

Distinct cytoskeletal proteins define zones of enhanced cell wall synthesis in Helicobacter pylori

The paper identifies cytoskeletal proteins that regulate cell wall synthesis in Helicobacter pylori, linking their distribution to specific Gaussian curvatures that maintain helical shape.

Interacting fruit flies synchronize behavior

This study quantifies social behaviors in fruit flies by analyzing individual and paired interactions in a controlled environment, revealing context-dependent behavioral preferences and synchronization.

Fast animal pose estimation using deep neural networks

The paper introduces LEAP, a deep learning method for fast animal pose estimation, validated on fruit flies and mice with high accuracy and speed.

RodZ promotes MreB polymer formation and curvature localization to determine the cylindrical uniformity of E. coli shape

This study shows RodZ regulates MreB polymer number and curvature preference to control E. coli cylindrical uniformity, with quantitative measurements showing strong predictive power for cell shape changes.

A gated relaxation oscillator controls morphogenetic movements in bacteria

The paper identifies a gated relaxation oscillator mechanism in Myxococcus xanthus that controls polarity reversals through FrzX and RomR, enabling tunable motility responses.