Biology subjects

wei, j.

Publications and source records attributed to wei, j..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

FGF8 promotes lipid droplet accumulation via the FGFR1/p-p38 axis in chondrocytes

Chondrocytes store lipids in the form of lipid droplets (LDs) and maintain cartilage lipid metabolic homeostasis by consuming or regenerating LDs. This modulation is largely mediated by a series of biochemical factors. Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) is one of the most important factors involved in the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of chondrocytes, and has attracted increasing attention in the physiology and pathology of cartilage. However, the effect of FGF8 on LD accumulation in chondrocytes remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the role of FGF8 in LDs and explore the underlying biomechanism involved. The results showed that FGF8 promoted LD accumulation in chondrocytes by upregulating perilipin1 (Plin1) expression. FGF8 activates the cytoplasmic p-p38 signaling pathway via fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) to increase LD accumulation in chondrocytes. Subsequent experiments with siRNAs and specific inhibitors further confirmed the importance of the FGFR1/p38 axis for LD accumulation in chondrocytes exposed to FGF8. These results increase our understanding of the role of FGF8 in the lipid metabolic homeostasis of chondrocytes and provide insights into the physiology and pathology of cartilage.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Liquid-solid coexistence at single fibril resolution during tau condensate ageing

Aggregated fibrillar tangles of the microtubule-associated protein tau are a hallmark of Alzheimers disease. It is becoming increasingly clear that a key process that can trigger the formation of such tau tangles is the aberrant ageing of biomolecular condensates of tau formed via liquid-liquid phase separation. This ageing process affects the overall mechanical and structural properties of the condensates, but the molecular-level mechanisms by which aggregation takes place in the condensates have remained elusive. Here, by tracking individual tau molecules inside the condensates using single molecule microscopy, we show that the ageing process is characterized by the coexistence of a growing solid phase of tau within a dense liquid phase. The liquid phase is increasingly confined to the pores of the growing fibril gel network, but maintains its initial viscosity. These findings add a spatial dimension to the ageing of condensates and demonstrate that spatial heterogeneity is a key feature of the liquid-to-solid transition of tau.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2019

Slicing the genome of star-fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.)

The Averrhoa carambola is commonly known as star fruit because of its peculiar shape and its fruit is a rich source of minerals and vitamins. It is also used in traditional medicines in countries like India, China, the Philippines, and Brazil for treating various ailments such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and skin disease. Here we present the first draft genome of the Oxalidaceae family with an assembled genome size of 470.51 Mb. In total, 24,726 protein-coding genes were identified and 16,490 genes were annotated using various well-known databases. The phylogenomic analysis confirmed the evolutionary position of the Oxalidaceae family. Based on the gene functional annotations, we also discovered the enzymes possibly involved in the important nutritional pathways in star fruit genome. Overall, being the first sequenced genome in the Oxalidaceae family, the data provides an essential resource for the nutritional, medicinal, and cultivational studies for this economically important star-fruit plant.

genomics↗