We present a single-cell motility assay, which allows the quantification of bacterial swimming in a well-controlled environment, for durations of up to an hour and with a temporal resolution greater than the flagellar rotation rates of ∼100 Hz. The assay is based on an instrument combining optical tweezers, light and fluorescence microscopy, and a microfluidic chamber. Using this device we characterized the long-term statistics of the run-tumble time series in individual Escherichia coli cells. We also quantified higher-order features of bacterial swimming, such as changes in velocity and reversals of swimming direction.

http://absimage.aps.org/image/MAR10/MWS_MAR10-2009-001016.pdf

High-resolution, long-term characterization of bacterial motility using optical tweezers

FUS and TDP-43 Phases in Health and Disease.

Biomolecular condensates are cellular compartments that can form by phase separation in the absence of limiting membranes. Studying the P granules of Caenorhabditis elegans, we find that condensate...

Regulation of biomolecular condensates by interfacial protein clusters.

Combating deleterious phase transitions in neurodegenerative disease.

Sequence Determinants of the Aggregation of Proteins Within Condensates Generated by Liquid-liquid Phase Separation.

ALS/FTLD-Linked Mutations in FUS Glycine Residues Cause Accelerated Gelation and Reduced Interactions with Wild-Type FUS.

Single-molecule and ensemble methods to probe RNP nucleation and condensate properties

Erratum: ALS/FTLD-Linked Mutations in FUS Glycine Residues Cause Accelerated Gelation and Reduced Interactions with Wild-Type FUS (Molecular Cell (2020) 80(4) (666–681.e8), (S1097276520307218), (10.1016/j.molcel.2020.10.014))

Sophie Skanchy

Papers

ALS/FTLD-Linked Mutations in FUS Glycine Residues Cause Accelerated Gelation and Reduced Interactions with Wild-Type FUS.

Single-molecule and ensemble methods to probe RNP nucleation and condensate properties

Erratum: ALS/FTLD-Linked Mutations in FUS Glycine Residues Cause Accelerated Gelation and Reduced Interactions with Wild-Type FUS (Molecular Cell (2020) 80(4) (666–681.e8), (S1097276520307218), (10.1016/j.molcel.2020.10.014))

Molecular take on phase separation of FUS.