Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics

About: Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Actin cytoskeleton & Skeletal muscle. The organization has 576 authors who have published 1229 publications receiving 78279 citations.

256 × 2 SPAD line sensor for time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.

Abstract: We present a CMOS chip 256 × 2 single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) line sensor, 2378 µm pitch, 437% fill factor, custom designed for time resolved emission spectroscopy (TRES) Integrating time-to-digital converters (TDCs) implement on-chip mono-exponential fluorescence lifetime pre-calculation allowing timing of 65k photons/pixel at 200 Hz line rate at 40 ps resolution using centre-of-mass method (CMM) Per pixel time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) histograms can also be generated with 320 ps bin resolution We characterize performance in terms of dark count rate, instrument response function and lifetime uniformity for a set of fluorophores with lifetimes ranging from 4 ns to 6 ns Lastly, we present fluorescence lifetime spectra of multicolor microspheres and skin autofluorescence acquired using a custom built spectrometer In TCSPC mode, time-resolved spectra are acquired within 5 minutes whilst in CMM mode spectral lifetime signatures are acquired within 2 ms for fluorophore in cuvette and 200 ms for skin autofluorescence We demonstrate CMOS line sensors to be a versatile tool for time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy by providing parallelized and flexible spectral detection of fluorescence decay

Rho, ROCK and actomyosin contractility in metastasis as drug targets.

Abstract: Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells around the body and the cause of the majority of cancer deaths. Metastasis is a very complex process in which cancer cells need to dramatically modify their cytoskeleton and cope with different environments to successfully colonize a secondary organ. In this review, we discuss recent findings pointing at Rho-ROCK or actomyosin force (or both) as major drivers of many of the steps required for metastatic success. We propose that these are important drug targets that need to be considered in the clinic to palliate metastatic disease.

Self-recognition of the endothelium enables regulatory T-cell trafficking and defines the kinetics of immune regulation

Abstract: Localization of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells to lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissue is instrumental for the effective control of immune responses. Compared with conventional T cells, Treg cells constitute a minute fraction of the T-cell repertoire. Despite this numeric disadvantage, Tregs efficiently migrate to sites of immune responses reaching an optimal number for the regulation of T effector (Teff) cells. The array and levels of adhesion and chemokine receptor expression by Tregs do not explain their powerful migratory capacity. Here we show that recognition of self-antigens expressed by endothelial cells in target tissue is instrumental for efficient Treg recruitment in vivo. This event relies upon IFN-γ-mediated induction of MHC-class-II molecule expression by the endothelium and requires optimal PI3K p110δ activation by the T-cell receptor. We also show that, once in the tissue, Tregs inhibit Teff recruitment, further enabling a Teff:Treg ratio optimal for regulation.