S. W. Grill

Actin polymerization counteracts prewetting of N-WASP on supported lipid bilayers

The paper shows that actin polymerization counteracts N-WASP prewetting on lipid bilayers, revealing a balance between condensate formation and dissolution in cortical condensates.

Assembly of tight junction belts by surface condensation and actin elongation

The paper investigates how surface phase transitions control protein condensation to form tight junction belts through ZO-scaffold proteins and actin polymerization.

Axis convergence in C. elegans embryos

The paper identifies two physical mechanisms for AP axis convergence in C. elegans embryos, with the pseudocleavage furrow-dependent mechanism being key.

GTPase-dependent cyclic flexibility transitions drive the two-component EEA1-Rab5 molecular motor

This study shows that Rab5 and EEA1 form a two-component molecular motor using GTP hydrolysis to drive cyclic flexibility transitions that perform mechanical work.

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.

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.

HP1 proteins compact DNA into mechanically and positionally stable phase separated domains

This study shows HP1 proteins form phase-separated DNA condensates that are mechanically stable but can be dissolved by HP1β, with differences in DNA compaction linked to their disordered regions.

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.

Thermal fluctuations assist mechanical signal propagation in coiled-coil proteins

The paper shows thermal fluctuations enable mechanical signal propagation in coiled-coil proteins through numerical simulations of a simplified Frenkel-Kontorova chain model.

Cell lineage-dependent chiral actomyosin flows drive cellular rearrangements in early development

The paper investigates chiral actomyosin flows in early C. elegans development and finds they drive lineage-specific cellular rearrangements.

Aurora A depletion reveals centrosome-independent polarization mechanism in C. elegans

The paper shows that C. elegans zygotes can form two posterior PAR-2 domains without centrosomes, revealing a centrosome-independent polarization mechanism.