Podcasts about microtubules

Send us a textThe biophysics of life, exploring how light & energy shape biology, with biophysicist Dr. Nirosha Murugan.Episode Summary: Dr. Murugan discusses the role of biophysics in biology, focusing on how light, particularly biophotons emitted by cells, influences processes like wound healing, neural activity, and cancer detection; how microtubules may act as biological fiber optics, the impact of modern light environments on health; her work inducing limb regeneration in frogs using silk hydrogels and growth factors; cancer as an energetic dysfunction; potential of non-invasive photonic diagnostics; the need for new tools to study these phenomena.About the guest: Nirosha Murugan, PhD is a biophysicist and assistant professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. Her lab investigates the biophysics of life.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Transcript and other information on Substack.Key Conversation Points:Cells emit biophotons, ultra-weak light tied to metabolism, which may carry information for processes like immune response and neural communication.Microtubules might function as biological fiber optics, potentially guiding light within cells for signaling purposes.Red and near-infrared light can accelerate wound healing and reduce inflammation, likely by modulating mitochondrial activity.Cancer cells emit distinct photonic signatures, which could enable non-invasive diagnostics by detecting light differences from healthy tissues.Modern light environments, unlike natural sunlight, may subtly affect health by altering biological responses to electromagnetic signals.Biological systems act as metamaterials, patterning energy flow in ways that constrain and shape molecular and behavioral outcomes.Related episode:M&M 221: Regenerative Energy & the Light Inside You | Jack Kruse*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Colchicine

In this episode, we explore the alarming development of lab-grown human brain tissue that is being harnessed to operate machinery, play video games, and potentially more. Researchers are pushing the boundaries of biotechnology by cultivating miniature, functional clusters of neurons capable of interfacing with external devices. We also delve into Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR), a theory of consciousness proposing that self-awareness arises from quantum-level processes within neuronal microtubules. Together, these cutting-edge topics raise profound questions about the nature of intelligence, the ethics of creating and using living brain matter, and the very foundations of conscious experience.

Episode 100 – News From The Point of NO Return: Time Travel, Human Souls, and UFO Whistleblowers - Report XVII  Welcome to the Event Horizon podcast, where we explore our world's dark and mysterious places, people, and practices. This episode is a Paranormal News show where I discuss the top three paranormal articles for the month. In this episode, we discuss:Scientists have found concrete evidence of time travel.https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/scientists-have-found-concrete-evidence-of-time-travel/ar-AA1zd4CS?cvid=77FCF8948967404D809285A022FEB6F6&ocid=1PRCDEFEScientists capture end-of-life brain activity that could prove humans have souls.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14410285/Scientists-capture-end-life-brain-activity-prove-humans-souls.htmlWave of whistleblowers set to expose Trump administration's investigation into aliens https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/wave-of-whistleblowers-set-to-expose-trump-administrations-investigation-into-aliens/ar-AA1yI6agSupport the ShowDid you know you can support the podcast by joining the Spreaker Supporter Club? For as little as $2.00 per month, you can help me grow the show and produce more episodes.  Go to the show page on Spreaker and click on the Supporter Club!  Supporter Club - https://www.spreaker.com/cms/shows/2860481/supporters-club/dashboard Support The Show: Make One-Time DonationCashApp - $mpeter1896PayPal - mpeter1896@gmai.comFollow Me On Social MediaCome with me and take a walk into the Event Horizon:Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/quantumAIradioTwitter at @EventHo14339589Instagram at @EventHorizon Email at eventhorizon1.618@gmail.com Please join the community and share your thoughts.Follow My Other PodcastsIf you like Event Horizon and are a political junkie, you might like my podcast, "The Mark Peterson Show." Please check it out on Spreaker https://www.spreaker.com/show/the_mark_peterson_show. I just released an episode about the death of Angela Chao, sister-in-law of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.  You might also like my new podcast, "Movie Reviews from the Edge." Check it out at https://www.spreaker.com/show/movie-reviews-from-the-edge. Check out my latest review – Picard: Season One – Luciferin Transhumanism.   Buy My New BookI have a new book!  It is called Career Coaching Xs and Os: How To Master the Game of Career Development.  Transform your career trajectory with insider knowledge and actionable advice, all packed into one game-changing guide.  Get your copy on Amazon at https://a.co/d/f7irTML Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/event-horizon--2860481/support.

What if the secrets of consciousness lie within the energy dynamics of our cells?

Stuart Hameroff MD is Professor of Anesthesiology and Psychology, and Director of the Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Hameroff became interested in intelligent behavior of microtubules, protein lattices which organize activities within living cells. Hameroff and colleagues developed theories of microtubules as self-organizing molecular computers. In the 1990s Hameroff teamed with Sir Roger Penrose on the controversial Penrose-Hameroff "Orch OR" model of consciousness based on quantum computing in brain neuronal microtubules, a notion bolstered by recent evidence. Hameroff also organizes the biennial interdisciplinary conferences, The Science of Consciousness Conference. The Science of Consciousness (‘TSC') conference is the world's longest running inter-disciplinary gathering on the study of consciousness, the nature of existence, and our place in the universe. In 2025 TSC will be in Barcelona, Spain, July 6-11 (Workshops, Plenaries, Concurrents, Exhibits, Demos, Social, Poetry Slam, Dancing - AC Marriott Forum Hotel), preceding and in conjunction with The Festival of Consciousness, July 11-13 (Music, Art, Experiential, Inspiration, Spirituality, Education, Business, Evolution). Speakers include: Sir Roger Penrose, Donald Hoffman, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Rupert Sheldrake, Deepak Chopra, Federico Faggin, Anirban Bandyopadhyay, and many others. Links below for TSC tickets & more information. TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) - Introduction (1:04) - Defining Consciousness (4:15) - Microtubules & Anaesthesia (9:00) - Where it began with Sir Roger Penrose (15:13) - Patricia Churchland's hilarious critique on Hameroff & Penrose (25:45) - Objective Reduction Explained (37:27) - Quantum Biology (40:47) - Philosophical Implications (Hard Problem, NDEs, OBEs, Afterlife & Reincarnation) (46:00) - Time Crystals & Life (54:20) - Spectrum of Consciousness (plants to humans) (57:37) - "Cartoon Neurons" (1:00:31) - IIT vs GNWT vs Predictive Processing vs Higher-Order Thought vs Orch OR (Battle of Consciousness Theories!) (1:07:23) - Ethical/Practical Implications (Healthcare) (1:10:40) - Transcranial Ultrasound Explored (1:18:10) - How Does Anaesthesia Affect Consciousness? (1:22:10) - The Science of Consciousness Conference & Festival of Consciousness (1:28:00) - Astrobiology & Conformal Cyclic Cosmology (1:30:20) - The Microtubule Maestro's future (1:36:32) - Conclusion EPISODE LINKS: - Stuart's Website: https://hameroff.arizona.edu/ - Stuart's X: https://twitter.com/stuarthameroff - TSC: https://consciousness.arizona.edu/ - TSC 2025 Flyer: https://tinyurl.com/4y94zwhr - TSC Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescienceofconsciousness - Patricia Churchland: https://youtu.be/6IVBxmaaGNg?feature=shared - Christof Koch: https://youtu.be/GeO5zr1e5lc?feature=shared - Susan Blackmore: https://youtu.be/u1VlYfgCHTA?feature=shared - Donald Hoffman: https://youtu.be/QRa8r5xOaAA?feature=shared - Federico Faggin: https://youtu.be/MSn4t6fP_dc?feature=shared CONNECT: - Website: https://tevinnaidu.com - Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution - YouTube: https://youtube.com/mindbodysolution - X: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu - Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu ============================= Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

  The Quantum Mystery of Consciousness: Proffessor. Jack Tuszynski Explains What We Are Part 3 the final part of our deep dive into the ultimate existential question: “Who am I?”* and beyond to “What am I?”  . We explore the profound mysteries of consciousness with our esteemed guest, Professor Jack Tuszynski. A celebrated theoretical physicist and thought leader, Dr. Tuszynski takes us on a riveting journey through the latest discoveries in neuroscience, quantum biology, and the electric symphony of living cells. . Part 3 of 3: In this episode, we discuss:   The Nature of Consciousness . What does it mean to say, *“I am consciousness?” . Quantum Effects in Microtubules. . Groundbreaking research with implications for neuroscience and the understanding of the brain. .  Epigenetic Quantum Behavior: Breaking free from binary thinking to explore synergistic medicine.   . Non-Invasive Medical Innovations: How electromagnetic signals could transform treatments for diseases like brain cancer.   . .Cutting-Edge vs. Woo-Woo: Separating scientific breakthroughs from pseudoscience. .  Personal Growth Through Crisis: How failure, pain, and crisis catalyze transformation. . Learn how Dr. Tuszynski's pioneering work is reshaping our understanding of life, consciousness, and the future of medicine. This episode is a must for curious nerds like me and anyone fascinated by the intersection of science, philosophy, and personal growth.

In this episode, we review the high-yield topic of⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Microtubules ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠from the Biochemistry section. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Medbullets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/medbullets Instagram: www.instagram.com/medbulletsofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/medbullets

In this Crazy Wisdom episode, Stewart Alsop dives into a compelling conversation with guest Sterling Cooley, exploring Sterling's research and theories on the vagus nerve, ultrasound, and consciousness. Sterling introduces his Niemertin Vagus Nerve Origin Theory and the role of microtubules in consciousness. The two discuss scientific materialism, quantum mechanics, and xenon's potential to unlock new understanding in consciousness studies. This episode takes listeners through groundbreaking ideas on the connections between consciousness and cellular structures, and to learn more, visit Sterling's work at Ultraskool.com.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:39 Exploring the Vagus Nerve and Yoga01:22 Diving into Xenon and Consciousness06:29 Understanding Microtubules11:18 Quantum Mechanics and Microtubules22:34 The Role of Microtubules in Consciousness27:28 Astrobiology and the Origins of Life33:22 COVID-19 and Microtubules34:53 Introduction to Filopodia and COVID Mechanisms36:47 Exploring Consciousness in Microtubules37:49 Questioning the Neuronal Model of Consciousness40:27 The Role of Microtubules in Consciousness45:35 The Power of Intention and Healing50:42 Personal Experiences with Chronic Pain and Healing52:13 The Potential of Xenon in Healing01:04:21 Concluding Thoughts and ResourcesKey InsightsThe Vagus Nerve and Consciousness: Sterling Cooley introduces the "Niemertin Vagus Nerve Origin Theory," exploring the vagus nerve as a significant player in human consciousness. Through his research, he posits that the vagus nerve may have untapped potential to influence states of consciousness when stimulated by ultrasound, suggesting a direct pathway between physical body processes and awareness.Microtubules as a Model for Consciousness: Cooley discusses the Orchestrated Objective Reduction (ORCOR) theory, originally developed by Stuart Hameroff and Roger Penrose, which views microtubules as a potential site for consciousness within cells. This model contrasts sharply with the traditional neuronal view, arguing that consciousness could be emerging from sub-cellular structures, rather than solely from synaptic interactions.Xenon's Unexplored Role in Consciousness and Pain Relief: Throughout the conversation, Cooley explains his interest in xenon gas for its unusual effects on consciousness and physical pain. Known for its anesthetic properties, xenon interacts with microtubules in ways that could reveal more about how consciousness works at a cellular level. He shares personal experiences with xenon as profoundly healing and consciousness-expanding, a combination he believes could be used in new therapeutic models.Gratitude Meditation and HRV Enhancement: Cooley recounts how a form of gratitude-based meditation has been shown to significantly raise Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a key indicator of autonomic nervous system balance. By coupling gratitude with anesthetics like ketamine, individuals may enter states of heightened well-being and healing, providing a bridge between subjective states and measurable physiological effects.The Potential of Conscious Intention for Healing: Cooley suggests that if consciousness operates through microtubules, then conscious intention may have a tangible effect on physical healing. He speculates that specific mindsets, especially gratitude, could interact with bodily processes at a fundamental level. This view ties into long-standing yet often-dismissed ideas around the mind-body connection and its implications for health.Quantum Mechanics and Cellular Intelligence: Discussing the quantum behavior of microtubules, Cooley points out their ability to interface with quantum-level processes. This quantum component, according to ORCOR, is where consciousness may arise and could allow cells to possess a form of “intelligence” or agency. This insight proposes a model of cellular life as potentially sentient, challenging conventional biological views.The Commercial and Academic Resistance to New Theories of Consciousness: Finally, Cooley critiques the scientific community's resistance to non-traditional models of consciousness, attributing it to entrenched financial and academic interests. He suggests that the popular synaptic model persists due to its alignment with pharmacological approaches, which are lucrative but may overlook more holistic explanations of consciousness and agency.

This episode is sponsored by Netsuite by Oracle, the number one cloud financial system, streamlining accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, and more. NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program. Head to https://netsuite.com/EYEONAI to know more.   In this episode of the Eye on AI podcast, we dive into the world of quantum consciousness with Stuart Hameroff, a pioneer in the field of consciousness studies and co-developer of the controversial Orch OR theory.   Stuart Hameroff takes us on a journey through the intersection of quantum mechanics and the human mind, explaining how microtubules within neurons could be the key to unlocking the mysteries of consciousness.   Stuart delves into his work with physicist Roger Penrose, where they propose that consciousness arises from quantum processes in the brain, deeply embedded in the fabric of spacetime itself. We explore how this theory challenges mainstream neuroscience, which often reduces the mind to simple neural activity, and instead suggests that consciousness may have a profound connection to the universe's underlying structure.   Throughout the conversation, Stuart addresses the debate over AI consciousness, asserting that true conscious experience cannot arise from mere computation but requires quantum processes. He shares insights on the latest experiments in anesthesia and quantum biology, offering a fresh perspective on how the brain might function on a deeper, quantum level.   Join us as we unpack the groundbreaking Orch OR theory and what it could mean for the future of science, technology, and our understanding of reality.   Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on the latest cutting-edge discussions in AI, quantum theory, and consciousness research!     Stay Updated: Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI     (00:00) Preview (03:26) Consciousness and Dualism vs. Materialism (04:51) Anesthesia and Consciousness: Hameroff's Perspective (07:30) Roger Penrose's Perspective on Consciousness (09:51) Penrose's Explanation of Quantum Superposition (12:52) The Collapse of Quantum Superposition and Consciousness (14:41) Microtubules and Their Role in Consciousness (17:08) Critique of Current Neuroscience Approaches (22:28) Discovering the Microtubule's Role in Information Processing (26:08) Microtubules as Cellular Automata (28:48) The Role of Frohlich Coherence in Quantum Biology (31:27) Meeting Roger Penrose and Connecting with His Work (33:52) Collaboration with Penrose: Developing the Theory (37:05) Challenges and Criticisms of the Theory (43:06) Advances in Quantum Consciousness Research (46:18) Hierarchical Models in the Brain (51:10) Entanglement and Consciousness (55:03) The Mystery of Anesthesia's Selective Impact on Consciousness (57:07) Quantum Effects and Anesthesia's Mechanism (01:00:22) The Search for Anesthesia's Target Protein (01:04:30) Experimental Evidence for Quantum Effects in Biology (01:09:33) Consciousness as a Quantum Physical Effect

In this episode I'm returning to the mysterious and challenging topic of consciousness and awareness, the elusive theory of mind that philosophers have chased for centuries, and is now coming to heel under the tools of neurobiology and the framework of modern physics. My guest today has performed experiments on rats that lend credence to the intriguing idea that quantum mechanics could play a basic role in the function of the mind. Are our brains quantum computers? This is a question for The Rational View. Dr. Micheal Weist received his PhD in Theoretical High-Energy Physics from University of Michigan and is an associate professor of Neuroscience at Wellesley College. His research is focused on learning about the physical basis of consciousness. What is it about the matter in a living brain that makes it experience perceptions, feelings, and thoughts? His research focuses on sensory integration in rats, attempting to understand how neural activity in different parts of the brain gets combined or coordinated to generate a single coherent perception. Support the podcast at patron dot podbean dot com slash TheRationalView Come find me on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok

This month, Kade and Matt are joined once again by Bodhi for a very special episode: The Philosophy of Science. This will be part 1 of 3 in a special series where we delve into some of the more abstract ideas about science itself. What is science? How effective is peer review? What is burden of proof? And much, much, much more. Make sure to check out the reference list below for further resources on anything we discuss during the episode.  As always, you can find us @curiosityrat on X, instagram, and facebook, and send your listener questions in to curiosityrat@gmail.com We also have a Patreon! If you love our content and want to support us you can jump on to https://www.patreon.com/curiosityrat and become a patron. There is absolutely ZERO pressure but if you have as little as $1/month you can chuck it our way to help us out and show you appreciate all the time and effort that goes into making this show. References: Podcasts as a medium for public discourse between rabbit-hole theorists and academics Rogan, J. [PowerfulJRE]. (2024, July 2). Joe Rogan Experience #2171 – Eric Weinstein & Terrence Howard [video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/nrOaFxNex7U?si=QvqPI3c7IaDH5f_1&t=12724 Dissipation Driven Adaptation Green, H. [SciShow]. (2020, June 16). How Cells Hack Entropy to Live [Video]. YouTube. How Cells Hack Entropy to Live (youtube.com). England, J. L. (2013). Statistical physics of self-replication. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 139(12), 121923 1 – 121923 7. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4818538. England, J. L. (2020). Every Life is on Fire: How Thermodynamics Explains the Origins of Living Things. Basic Books. Every Life Is on Fire: How Thermodynamics Explains the Origins of Living Things - Jeremy England - Google Books Cushman, A. S. (2023). Entropy, Ecology and Evolution: Toward a Unified Philosophy of Biology. Entropy (Basel, Switzerland), 25(3), 405. https://doi.org/10.3390/e25030405. King, E., Holzer, J., North, J. A., Cannon, W. R. (2023). An approach to learn regulation to maximize growth and entropy production rates in metabolism. Frontiers in Systems Biology, 3, 1-14. httpds://doi.org/10.3389/fsysb.2023.981866. Entropy = messy? Martin, J. S., Smith, N. A., Francis, C. D. (2013). Removing the entropy from the definition of entropy: clarifying the relationship between evolution, entropy, and the second law of thermodynamics. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 6(1), 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1936-6434-6-30. Leaves superconduct photons during photosynthesis Engel, G. S., Calhoun, T. R., Read, E. L., Ahn, T., Mančal, T., Cheng, Y., Blankenship, R. E., Fleming, G. R. (2007). Evidence for wavelike energy transfer through quantum coherence in photosynthetic systems. Nature 446, 782-786. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05678 Microtubules display superradiance PBS Space Time [PBS Space Time]. (2024, July 26). Was Penrose Right? NEW EVIDENCE For Quantum Effects In The Brain [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/xa2Kpkksf3k?si=xAhLJSieFgoR-5lJ&t=740 Hossenfelder, S. [Sabine Hossenfelder]. (2024, May 12). Brain Really Uses Quantum Effects, New Study Finds [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/R6G1D2UQ3gg?si=al7buCxmLEXnp43I&t=200 Babcock, N. S., Montes-Cabrera, G., Oberhofer, K. E., Chergui, M., Celardo, G. L., Kurian, P. (2024). Ultraviolet Superradiance from Mega-Networks of Tryptophan in Biological Architectures. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 128(17), 4035-4046. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07936. Microtubules form an integrated electromagnetic quantum information network Kuhn, R. L., and Bandyopadhyay, A. [Closer to Truth]. (2023, November 24). Anirban Bandyopadhyay – Quantum Physics of Consciousness [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/HbX7wlMspJM?si=QLVU6eFesAsrjf-b&t=303 Ghosh, S., Singh, P., Manna, J., Saxena, K., Sahoo, P., Krishnanda, S. D., Ray, K., Hill, J. P., and Bandyopadhyay, A. (2022). The century-old picture of a nerve spike is wrong: filaments fire, before membrane. Communicative & Integrative Biology, 15(1), 115–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/19420889.2022.2071101 Exercise and Caloric Consumption: Negative Health Effects of Excess Energy Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshet [Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshel]. (2024, July 16). We Need to Rethink Exercise – The Workout Paradox [YouTube]. We Need to Rethink Exercise - The Workout Paradox (YouTube.com) Pontzer, H., Durazo-Arvizu, R., Dugas, L. R., Plange-Rhule, J., Bovet, P., Forrester, T. E., Lambert, E. V., Cooper, R. S., Schoeller, D., A., Luke, A. (2016). Constrained Total Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Adaptation to Physical Activity in Adult Humans. Current Biology, 26(3), 410-417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.046 Pontzer, H., Wood, B. M., Raichlen, D. A. (2018). Hunter-gatherers as models in public health. Obesity Reviews, 19(S1), 24-35. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12785 Pontzer, H. (2018). Energy Constraint as a Novel Mechanism Linking Exercise and Health. Physiology, 33(6). https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00027.2018

Your Brain is an Amazing, Constantly Changing Architectural Wonder!In today's episode, we'll look at how fearfully and wonderfully made you are, learn about the scaffolding (microtubules) and gardeners (microglia) that God gave you to help form the connections between neurons to constantly reshape your brain. Did you know that you can make new connections in your brain within 30 minutes of directed thought, and that within one month of learning to calm your mind, you can increase emotional regulation capacity by over 20%?Join me for a deep dive into the wonder of microtubules, and learn how to actively shape your brain to become more resilient, healthier, feel better, and be happier.Scripture: Ephesians 4, Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 46:10, John 15:2Leave a voicemail with your question or comment!Music by Tommy Walker(Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 )Leave a voicemail with your question or comment!Five Ways You Can Support this show:Pray for us!Subscribe, like, and share it with your friends! (We even have a YouTube channel!)Leave reviews and comments wherever you listen to podcasts!You can become a paid partner of the podcast and get special bonus episodes and lots more content by clicking here. Visit one of our affiliate partners and consider using their products (we use them every day):Support and boost your immune system with Armra! Use DRLEEWARREN code at checkout for a discount!Improve your gut health, immune system, and protect your brain with Pique!Other Helpful Links:Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs!Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose!Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book!Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here!All recent episodes with transcripts are available here! (00:02) - Introduction to Self-Brain Surgery (03:06) - Understanding the Universe and Phenomena (08:25) - The Dynamic Nature of Microtubules (10:38) - The Impact of Meditation on Brain Changes (16:14) - Taking Control: Self-Brain Surgery (17:53) - Passive Conformity or Active Transformation? (19:18) - Changing Your Mind, Changing Your Life

Stuart Hameroff explores the intersection between consciousness and quantum mechanics, arguing that consciousness exists on the border of classical and quantum worlds with microtubules within neurons acting as the quantum processing sites that could link to fundamental space-time geometry. This suggests a profound quantum basis for consciousness.This presentation was recorded at MindFest, held at Florida Atlantic University, CENTER FOR THE FUTURE MIND, spearheaded by Susan Schneider. Please consider signing up for TOEmail at https://www.curtjaimungal.org LINKS MENTIONED: - Center for the Future Mind (Mindfest @ FAU): https://www.fau.edu/future-mind - Other Ai and Consciousness (Mindfest) TOE Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlOPw7Hqkc6-MXEMBy0fnZcb - Mathematics of String Theory (Video): https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY - Podcast w/ Stuart Hameroff (on TOE): https://youtu.be/uLo0Zwe579g

Discord link: https://discord.gg/yHUhW2Wjc7 Research Papers: https://www.dryfastingclub.com/studies/ Article: https://www.dryfastingclub.com/the-sc... Forums: https://forum.dryfastingclub.com/ Dry fasting has been hailed for its potential benefits in healing, longevity, and weight loss, primarily due to its unique mechanism of promoting autophagy independent of nutrient starvation, specifically through dehydration. This process is crucial for those dealing with severe illnesses, particularly autoimmune diseases, which may impair autophagic functions due to various factors like mitochondrial dysfunction and disruption of macroautophagy through the ULK1 System. Testing autophagic pathways through methods such as the ULK1 Kinase Assay can provide insight into the state of one's macroautophagy pathways, offering a deeper understanding rather than a direct solution. Dry fasting serves as a loophole to potentially rectify autophagic dysfunctions by circumventing the nutrient-dependent ULK1 pathway, leveraging hypertonic stress induced by dehydration. This stress, both hypovolemic and hypertonic, has been shown to be manageable in experienced individuals over a 5-day dry fast, suggesting its safety and effectiveness in initiating profound cellular healing and autophagy, notably through microtubule reorganization. Microtubules, essential for cellular health and autophagy, facilitate the transport of autophagosomes to lysosomes for degradation. A study examining hypertonic stress highlights its role in enhancing autophagy and microtubule-dependent autophagosomal clusters, indicating that dry fasting not only boosts autophagy but also restructures cellular components for improved function. This method of fasting, particularly when transitioning from a dry to a water fast after reaching an acidotic crisis, may offer a balanced approach to harnessing autophagy's full potential while mitigating risks, marking a significant stride in understanding cellular protection and healing in hypertonic conditions. #waterfast #dryfast #autophagy #fasting #stress #hormesis #dehydration #science Join us on Instagram https://instagram.com/dryfastingclub Join us on Twitter https://twitter.com/dryfastingclub The Dry Fasting Club does not provide medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Support the Dry Fasting Club on Patreon & join my private Discord group (not the same as the free open group) for live Q&As, dry fasting interpretations, early-access episodes, fasting advice & more: https://www.patreon.com/dryfastingclub/

In episode 143 of The A&P Professor podcast for anatomy and physiology faculty, host Kevin Patton uncovers the super-secret, single, ultimate teaching strategy you need to keep your course tuned up and effective. He also revisits the "out there" transducer model of the brain and suggests a connection with a recent discovery supporting quantum wave activity in brain cell microtubules. Yes, quantum waves in the microtubules. Kevin also clarifies and expands on those wacky "extra" courses he described in Episodes 140 and 141. 00:00 | Introduction 00:51 | Clarifying Kevin's Wacky Supplemental Courses 15:50 | Quantum Activity in Brain Microtubules? 28:15 | Could There Be More Than One Strategy? 34:29 | The TAPP Hotline 35:11 | There Really Is Only One Strategy 48:00 | Staying Connected ★ If you cannot see or activate the audio player, go to: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-143.html

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.06.25.546468v1?rss=1 Authors: Bracey, K., Noguchi, P., Edwards, C., Cario, A., Gu, G., Kaverina, I. Abstract: In pancreatic islet beta cells, molecular motors use cytoskeletal polymers microtubules as tracks for intracellular transport of insulin secretory granules. Beta-cell microtubule network has a complex architecture and is non-directional, which provide insulin granules at the cell periphery for rapid secretion response, yet to avoid over-secretion and subsequent hypoglycemia. We have previously characterized a peripheral sub-membrane microtubule array, which is critical for withdrawal of excessive insulin granules from the secretion sites. Microtubules in beta cells originate at the Golgi in the cell interior, and how the peripheral array is formed is unknown. Using real-time imaging and photo-kinetics approaches in clonal mouse pancreatic beta cells MIN6, we now demonstrate that kinesin KIF5B, a motor protein with a capacity to transport microtubules as cargos, slides existing microtubules to the cell periphery and aligns them to each other along the plasma membrane. Moreover, like many physiological beta-cell features, microtubule sliding is facilitated by a high glucose stimulus. These new data, together with our previous report that in high glucose sub-membrane MT array is destabilized to allow for robust secretion, indicate that MT sliding is another integral part of glucose-triggered microtubule remodeling, likely replacing destabilized peripheral microtubules to prevent their loss over time and beta-cell malfunction. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.04.23.538011v1?rss=1 Authors: Tengganu, I. F., Arias Padilla, L. F., Munera Lopez, J., Liu, J., Brown, P. T., Hu, K. Abstract: Apicomplexans parasitize a wide range of hosts. To infect, the parasite needs to travel through different types of tissues and invade into various types of cells. In tissues and three-dimensional (3-D) matrix, the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii moves along a helical path. While many genes, including actin and myosins, have been shown to be important for parasite motility, it remains unknown what allows the parasite to travel over a long distance along a helical path. The cortical microtubules, which are ultra-stable, sprially arranged, and form extensive lateral interaction with the parasite cortex, have been considered to be a candidate structure for guiding the long-distance movement of the parasite. In wild-type parasites, the cortical microtubules in mature parasites are impervious to destabilization by cold-treatment or depolymerizing drugs, which makes it difficult to assess their function. Previously, we generated a mutant (dubbed "TKO" for succinctness) that lacks three microtubule-associated proteins. The loss of these three proteins destabilizes the cortical microtubules in mature parasites. Here we quantify the proportion of parasites with various levels of defects in the microtubule array under different conditions. We found that ~ 80% of the non-dividing TKO parasites have severely curtailed cortical microtubules. The extent of depolymerization is further exacerbated upon the initiation of daughter construction or cold treatment. The cold-induced depolymerization is reversible, with noticeable restoration of the cortical microtubules within 20 min of temperature shift to 37 degree. While microtubule polymerization is essential for generating viable daughter cells, the destabilization of the cortical microtubules in the mature parasite does not affect parasite replication. In a 3-D Matrigel matrix, the TKO mutant parasites can travel directionally over long distances. However, their trajectories are significantly more linear than those of wild-type parasites. In tissue culture, the TKO parasite displays a defect in infection and cytolytic efficiency. Interestingly, the speed and behavior of the parasite's entry into and egress from the host cell are similar to that of the wild-type parasite. These results indicate that the cortical microtubules contribute to the helicity but not the persistence of parasite long-distance movement. Furthermore, host cell entry is less sensitive to structural changes in the parasite than overall infection efficiency, which also include extracellular migration and orient the parasite for proper contact with the host cell. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.04.17.535593v1?rss=1 Authors: Aureille, J., Barnett, S., Arnal, I., Lafanechere, L., Low, B. C., Kanchanawong, P., Mogilner, A., Bershadsky, A. Abstract: Microtubules regulate cell polarity and migration by local activation of focal adhesion turnover, but the mechanism of this process is insufficiently understood. Molecular complexes containing KANK family proteins connect microtubules with the major component of focal adhesions, talin. Local optogenetic activation of KANK1-mediated links which promoted microtubule targeting to individual focal adhesion resulting in its centripetal sliding and rapid disassembly. The sliding is preceded by a local increase of traction force due to accumulation of myosin-II and actin in the proximity of the focal adhesion. Knockdown of Rho activator GEF-H1 prevented development of traction force and abolished sliding and disassembly of focal adhesion upon KANK activation. Other players participating in microtubule-driven KANK-dependent focal adhesion disassembly include kinases ROCK and PAK, as well as microtubules/focal adhesions associated proteins Kinesin-1, APC and TAT. Finally, we propose a physical model of a microtubule-driven focal adhesion disruption involving local GEF-H1/RhoA/ROCK dependent activation of contractility which is consistent with experimental data. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Ian Goodfellow from Google DeepMind discusses the role of microtubules in oophyte development.

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.02.07.527544v1?rss=1 Authors: Ansari, S., Gergely, Z. R., Flynn, P., Li, G., Moore, J. K., Betterton, M. D. Abstract: Fluorescently labeled proteins absorb and emit light, appearing as Gaussian spots in fluorescence imaging. When fluorescent tags are added to cytoskeletal polymers such as microtubules, a line of fluorescence and even non linear structures results. While much progress has been made in techniques for imaging and microscopy, image analysis is less well developed. Current analysis of fluorescent microtubules uses either manual tools, such as kymographs, or automated software. As a result, our ability to quantify microtubule dynamics and organization from light microscopy remains limited. Despite development of automated microtubule analysis tools for in vitro studies, analysis of images from cells often depends heavily on manual analysis. One of the main reasons for this disparity is the low signal-to-noise ratio in cells, where background fluorescence is typically higher than in reconstituted systems. Here, we present the Toolkit for Automated Microtubule Tracking (TAMiT), which automatically detects, optimizes and tracks fluorescent microtubules in living yeast cells with sub-pixel accuracy. Using basic information about microtubule organization, TAMiT detects linear and curved polymers using a geometrical scanning technique. Images are fit via an optimization problem for the microtubule image parameters that is solved using non-linear least squares in Matlab. We benchmark our software using simulated images and show that it reliably detects microtubules, even at low signal-to-noise ratios. Then, we use TAMiT to measure monopolar spindle microtubule bundle number, length, and lifetime in a large dataset that includes several S. pombe mutants that affect microtubule dynamics and bundling. The results from the automated analysis are consistent with previous work, and suggest a direct role for CLASP/Cls1 in bundling spindle microtubules. We also illustrate automated tracking of single curved astral microtubules in S. cerevisiae, with measurement of dynamic instability parameters. The results obtained with our fully-automated software are similar to results using hand-tracked measurements. Therefore, TAMiT can facilitate automated analysis of spindle and microtubule dynamics in yeast cells. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.01.30.526324v1?rss=1 Authors: Fermino do Rosario, C., Zhang, Y., Stadnicki, J., Ross, J. L., Wadsworth, P. Abstract: During anaphase, antiparallel overlapping midzone microtubules elongate and form bundles, contributing to chromosome segregation and the location of contractile ring formation. Midzone microtubules are dynamic in early but not late anaphase; however, the kinetics and mechanisms of stabilization are incompletely understood. Using photoactivation of cells expressing PA-EGF--tubulin we find that immediately after anaphase onset, a single highly dynamic population of midzone microtubules is present; as anaphase progresses, both dynamic and stable populations of midzone microtubules coexist. By midcytokinesis, only static, non-dynamic microtubules are detected. The velocity of microtubule sliding also decreases as anaphase progresses, becoming undetectable by late anaphase. Following depletion of PRC1, midzone microtubules remain highly dynamic in anaphase and fail to form static arrays in telophase despite furrowing. Cells depleted of Kif4a contain elongated zones of PRC1 and fail to form static arrays in telophase. Cells blocked in cytokinesis form short PRC1 overlap zones that do not coalesce laterally; these cells also fail to form static arrays in telophase. Together, our results demonstrate that dynamic turnover and sliding of midzone microtubules is gradually reduced during anaphase and that the final transition to a static array in telophase requires both lateral and longitudinal compaction of PRC1 containing overlap zones. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2022.12.21.521536v1?rss=1 Authors: Vale-Costa, S., Etibor, T. A., Bras, D., Sousa, A. L., Amorim, M. J. Abstract: Many viruses that threaten public health establish condensates via phase transitions to complete their lifecycles, and knowledge on such processes is key for the design of new antivirals. In the case of influenza A virus, liquid condensates known as viral inclusions are sites dedicated to the assembly of its 8-partite RNA genome. Liquid viral inclusions emerge near the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites, but we lack the molecular understanding on how the ER contributes to their biogenesis. We show here that viral inclusions develop at remodeled ER sites and display dynamic interactions using the ER, including fusion and fission events and sliding movements. We also uncover a novel role for the host factor, ATG9A, in mediating the exchange of viral inclusions between the ER and microtubules. Depletion of ATG9A arrests viral inclusions at microtubules and prevents their accumulation at the ER, leading to a significantly reduced production of viral genome complexes and infectious virions. In light of our recent findings, we propose that a remodeled ER supports the dynamics of liquid IAV inclusions, with ATG9A acting locally to facilitate their formation. This work advances our current knowledge regarding influenza genome assembly, but also reveals new roles for ATG9A beyond its classical involvement in autophagy. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2022.11.23.517637v1?rss=1 Authors: Johnson, R. T., Ahmed, S., Wostear, F., Morris, C. J., Warren, D. T. Abstract: Background and Purpose: Decreased aortic compliance is a precursor to numerous cardiovascular diseases. Compliance is regulated by the stiffness of the aortic wall and the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) within it. During ageing, the extracellular matrix of the aortic wall stiffens, reducing compliance and leading to conditions such as hypertension. In response, VSMCs generate enhanced contractile forces and undergo hypertrophy, promoting VSMC stiffening and further reducing compliance. Due to a lack of suitable in vitro models, the mechanisms driving VSMC hypertrophy in response to matrix stiffness remain poorly defined. Experimental Approach: Human VSMCs were seeded onto polyacrylamide hydrogels whose stiffness mimicked either healthy or aged/diseased aortae. VSMC response to contractile agonist stimulation was measured through changes in cell area and volume. VSMCs were pre-treated with pharmacological agents prior to agonist stimulation to identify regulators of VSMC contractility and hypertrophy. Key Results: VSMCs undergo a differential response to contractile agonist stimulation based on matrix stiffness. On pliable hydrogels, VSMCs contract, decreasing in cell area whereas on rigid hydrogels, VSMCs undergo a hypertrophic response, increasing in area and volume. Microtubule stabilisation prevented hypertrophy whilst leaving VSMC contraction on pliable hydrogels unimpeded. Conversely, microtubule destabilisation inhibited contraction and induced hypertrophy within VSMCs on pliable hydrogels. Conclusions and Implications: In response to enhanced matrix rigidity, VSMC undergo a hypertrophic response as result of decreased microtubule stability. Using standard biological techniques and equipment, we present a screening assay capable of identifying novel regulators of matrix rigidity induced VSMC hypertrophy. This assay can identify both beneficial and deleterious effects of pharmacological agents to cardiovascular health. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2022.11.07.515476v1?rss=1 Authors: Soler, N., Chesneau, L., Bouvrais, H., Pastezeur, S., Le Marrec, L., Pecreaux, J. Abstract: The microtubule array, assembled into the mitotic spindle, polymerises from the centrosomes and the chromosomes in many organisms. Their plus ends alternate between growing and shrinking. This dynamic instability plays a key role in pulling on the kinetochores to check the spindle assembly and correct the errors in chromosome attachments. In addition, the minus ends at centrosomes can undergo depolymerisation coordinated with the polymerisation of the plus ends at the kinetochores. Such a mechanism, among others, creates treadmilling, id est a net poleward movement of microtubules called poleward flux. This flux is involved in many roles, chromosome congression in prometaphase, chromosome misattachment detection and correction, spindle length maintenance in metaphase, and synchronous segregation of sister chromatids in anaphase. Interestingly, no poleward flux was measured in the Caenorhabditis elegans single-cell embryo, despite it is equipped with all homologous proteins involved in this mechanism in other organisms. To investigate this peculiarity, we labelled the microtubules and photobleached them in a rectangular region. Surprisingly, we observed that both edges of the bleached zone (fronts) move inwards, closing the dark area. However, the middle of the bleached zone does not move clearly, confirming the absence of a global poleward flow. The dynamics of the microtubules emanating from the centrosomes combined with the diffraction due to microscopy imaging account for the apparent movement of the front on the centrosome side. Therefore, we suggest no flux of the centrosome-anchored (spindle) microtubules. In contrast, on the chromosome side, we observed a front moving poleward, faster than the one on the other side, and dependent on proteins ensuring the attachment and growth of microtubules at kinetochores, NDC-80, CLS-2CLASP, and ZYG-9XMAP215. Besides, we found that the depletion of the depolymerase KLP-7MCAK does not impair this poleward recovery. Finally, the faster recovery is restricted to the spindle region close to the chromosomes. Therefore, we suggest that the kinetochore microtubules undergo a poleward flux, moving with respect to spindle microtubules. Because the kinetochore microtubules are shorter than the half-spindle, this flux is localised close to the chromosomes. Furthermore, it may not rely on treadmilling as KLP-7MCAK is dispensable. This spatially restricted flux found in the nematode may be related to the slow elongation of the spindle during metaphase and may buffer the strong pulling forces exerted by the cortical force generators at the spindle poles. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

How is CTE different from a concussion?  Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O'Reilly discuss concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, with former NFL lineman, Leonard Marshall, and neuroscientist, Heather Berlin, PhD.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.Thanks to our Patrons Walter Johnson, Ali AlWaheedy, Armen Gevorgyan, Jenny K Leasure, WIGwigWIG, Denny, MaKayla A Holloway, Anna Dupre-Whiting, Allain Brideau, and David for supporting us this week.Photo Credit: Garpenholm, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In episode 13 of the Quantum Consciousness series, Justin Riddle discusses how microtubules are the most likely candidate to be a universal quantum computer that acts as a single executive unit in cells. First off, computer scientists are trying to model human behavior using neural networks that treat individual neurons as the base unit. But unicellular organisms are able to do many of the things that we consider to be human behavior! How does a single-cell lifeform perform this complex behavior? As Stuart Hameroff puts it, “neuron doctrine is an insult to neurons,” referring to the complexity of a single cell. Let's look inside a cell, what makes it tick? Many think the DNA holds some secret code or algorithm that is executing the decision-making process of the cell. However, the microscope reveals a different story where the microtubules are performing a vast array of complex behaviors: swimming towards food, away from predators, coordinating protein delivery and creation within the cell. This begs the question: how do microtubules work? Well, they are single proteins organized into helical cylinders. What is going on here? Typically, we think of a protein's function as being determined by its structure but the function of a single protein repeated into tubes is tough to unravel. Stuart Hameroff proposed that perhaps these tubulin proteins are acting as bits of information and the whole tube is working as a universal computer that can be programmed to fit any situation. Given the limitations of digital computation, Roger Penrose was looking for a quantum computer in biology and Stuart Hameroff was looking for more than a digital computation explanation. Hence, the Hameroff-Penrose model of microtubules as quantum computers was born. If microtubules are quantum computers, then each cell would possess a central executive hub for rapidly integrating information from across the cell and to turn that information into a single action plan that could be quickly disseminated. Furthermore, the computation would get a “quantum” speed-up in that exponentially large search spaces could be tackled in a reasonable timeframe. If microtubules are indeed quantum computers, then modern science has greatly underestimated the processing power of a single cell, let alone the entire human brain.

In this episode, we review the high-yield topic of Microtubules from the Biochemistry section. Follow Medbullets on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/medbullets Instagram: www.instagram.com/medbulletsofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/medbullets --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/medbulletsstep1/message

On today's ID the Future, author and biologist Michael Behe discusses with host Andrew McDiarmid how the once seemingly humble cilium is actually even more irreducibly complex than Behe suggested in his ID classic Darwin's Black Box—and indeed, even more complex than his review of cilia in his update in 2007. At the time Behe described cilia as “irreducible complexity squared.” But as noted in a recent article at Evolution News, even more layers of sophistication in cilia and their Intraflagellar Transport (IFT) system have now been discovered. So, does that mean we are now looking at irreducible complexity cubed? Listen in as Behe and McDiarmid revel in the engineering sophistication of this fascinating molecular machine, and discuss why, more Read More › Source

In this episode, Austin Santiago asks a question about microtubules. This is a question you might see from the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section. This podcast is designed for Pre-medical students preparing to take their Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). This episode is powered by Premed Consultants, an all-inclusive premed advising program. Whether you are starting out as a freshman or about to start prepping for the MCAT, the premed consultants will help you throughout your entire premed process until you get into medical school. Not only is there a full MCAT program utilizing the most effective study tactics, but they will also help you through the entire admissions process as well. If you're interested in one on one mentorship, go to thepremedconsultants.com and you can schedule a free 30 min strategy session to see if Premed Consultants is the right fit for you. If you have any suggestions, concerns, or question, feel free to e-mail us at mcatflashgo@gmail.com We wish you the best of luck on your educational journey!

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.10.21.348904v1?rss=1 Authors: Vala, M., Bujak, L., Marin, A. G., Holanova, K., Henrichs, V., Braun, M., Lansky, Z., Piliarik, M. Abstract: Microtubules are cytoskeletal polymers of tubulin dimers assembled into protofilaments that constitute nanotubes undergoing periods of assembly and disassembly. Static electron micrographs suggest a structural transition of straight protofilaments into curved ones occurring at the tips of disassembling microtubules. However, these structural transitions have never been observed and the process of microtubule disassembly thus remains unclear. Here, label-free optical microscopy capable of selective imaging of the transient structural changes of protofilaments at the tip of a disassembling microtubule is introduced. Upon induced disassembly, the transition of ordered protofilaments into a disordered conformation is resolved at the tip of the microtubule. Imaging the unbinding of individual tubulin oligomers from the microtubule tip reveals transient pauses and relapses in the disassembly, concurrent with enrichment of ordered protofilament segments at the microtubule tip. These findings show that microtubule disassembly is a discrete process and suggest a mechanism of switching from the disassembly to the assembly phase. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.10.20.347922v1?rss=1 Authors: Zareiesfandabadi, P., Elting, M. W. Abstract: A microtubule-based machine called the mitotic spindle segregates chromosomes when eukaryotic cells divide. In the fission yeast S. pombe, which undergoes closed mitosis, the spindle forms a single bundle of microtubules inside the nucleus. During elongation, the spindle extends via antiparallel microtubule sliding by molecular motors. These extensile forces from the spindle are thought to resist compressive forces from the nucleus. We probe the mechanism and maintenance of this force balance via laser ablation of spindles at various stages of mitosis. We find that spindle pole bodies collapse toward each other following ablation, but spindle geometry is often rescued, allowing spindles to resume elongation and segregate chromosomes. While this basic behavior has been previously observed, many questions remain about this phenomenon's dynamics, mechanics, and molecular requirements. In this work, we find that previously hypothesized viscoelastic relaxation of the nucleus cannot fully explain spindle shortening in response to laser ablation. Instead, spindle collapse requires microtubule dynamics and is powered at least partly by the minus-end directed motor protein dynein. These results suggest a role for dynein in redundantly supporting force balance and bipolarity in the S. pombe spindle. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.08.11.245829v1?rss=1 Authors: Lau, O. C. E., Damiani, D., Jossin, Y., Chehade, G., Schakman, O., Tajeddine, N., Gailly, P., Tissir, F. Abstract: Diaphanous (DIAPH) 3 is a member of the formin proteins that have the capacity to nucleate and elongate actin filaments and therefore, to remodel the cytoskeleton. DIAPH3 is essential for cytokinesis as its dysfunction impairs the contractile ring and produces multinucleated cells. Here, we report that DIAPH3 localizes at the centrosome during mitosis and regulates the assembly and polarity of the mitotic spindle. DIAPH3-deficient cells display disorganized cytoskeleton, multipolar spindles, and supernumerary centrosomes. DIAPH3-deficiency disrupts the expression and/or stability of microtubule-associated proteins SPAG5 and KNSTRN. SPAG5 and DIAPH3 have similar expression patterns in the developing brain and overlapping subcellular localization during mitosis. Knockdown of SPAG5 phenocopies the DIAPH3 deficiency, whereas its overexpression rescues the DIAH3 phenotype. Conditional inactivation of Diaph3 in the cerebral cortex profoundly disrupts neurogenesis depleting cortical progenitors and neurons; and leading to cortical malformation and autistic-like behavior. Our data uncover uncharacterized functions of DIAPH3 and provide evidence that this protein belongs to a molecular toolbox that links microtubule dynamics during mitosis to aneuploidy, cell death, fate determination defects, and cortical malformation. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.04.27.064766v1?rss=1 Authors: Van Steenbergen, V., Lavoie-Cardinal, F., Kazwiny, Y., Decet, M., Martens, T., Verstreken, P., Boesmans, W., De Koninck, P., Vanden Berghe, P. Abstract: Correct spatiotemporal distribution of organelles and vesicles is crucial for healthy cell functioning and is regulated by intracellular transport mechanisms. Controlled transport of bulky mitochondria is especially important in polarized cells such as neurons that rely on these organelles to locally produce energy and buffer calcium. Mitochondrial transport requires and depends on microtubules which fill much of the available axonal space. How mitochondrial transport is affected by their position within the microtubule bundles is not known. Here, we found that anterograde transport, driven by kinesin motors, is susceptible to the molecular conformation of tubulin both in vitro and in vivo. Anterograde velocities negatively correlate with the density of elongated tubulin dimers, similar to GTP-tubulin, that are more straight and rigid. The impact of the tubulin conformation depends primarily on where a mitochondrion is positioned, either within or at the rim of microtubule bundle. Increasing elongated tubulin levels lowers the number of motile anterograde mitochondria within the microtubule bundle and increases anterograde transport speed at the microtubule bundle rim. We demonstrate that the increased kinesin step processivity on microtubules consisting of elongated dimers underlies increased mitochondrial dynamics. Our work indicates that the molecular conformation of tubulin controls mitochondrial motility and as such locally regulates the distribution of mitochondria along axons. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info

Sorry it's so late! In this episode I share my personal thoughts and experiences regarding the coronavirus crisis. I also discuss Alex Jones and Jim Bakker's attempts to cash in on the crisis by peddling spurious "cures".   As always...thanks for listening!

One in a series of talks from the 2019 Models of Consciousness conference. Stuart Hameroff Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona The Penrose-Hameroff ‘Orchestrated objective reduction’ (‘Orch OR’) theory suggests consciousness arises from ‘orchestrated’ quantum superpositioned oscillations in microtubules inside brain neurons. These evolve to reach threshold for Penrose ‘objective reduction’ (‘OR’) by E=h/t (E is the gravitational self-energy of the superposition/separation, h is the Planck-Dirac constant, and at the time at which Orch OR occurs) to give moments of conscious experience. Sequences, interference and resonance of entangled moments govern neurophysiology and provide our ‘stream’ of consciousness. Anesthetic gases selectively block consciousness, sparing non-conscious brain activities, binding by quantum coupling with aromatic amino acid rings inside brain proteins. Genomic, proteomic and optogenetic evidence indicate the microtubule protein tubulin as the site of anesthetic action. We (Craddock et al, Scientific Reports 7,9877, 2017) modelled couplings among all 86 aromatic amino acid rings in tubulin, and found a spectrum of terahertz (‘THz’) quantum oscillations including a common mode peak at 613 THz. Simulated presence of 8 different anesthetics each abolished the peak, and dampened the spectrum proportional to anesthetic potency. Non-anesthetic gases which bind in the same regions, but do not cause anesthesia, did not abolish or dampen the THz activity. Orch OR is better supported experimentally than any other theory of consciousness. Filmed at the Models of Consciousness conference, University of Oxford, September 2019.

Professor Eva Nogales started her career in a time where barely any women were seen in science departments. In college, she skipped biology to focus on physics, relying on her high-school knowledge of the former to shape her career as a biophysicist. Now, she’s using her understanding of the microtubules in our cells for improving disease management, including slowing the uncontrollable growth of cancer. This niche understanding of our cell behaviour at the molecular level is already improving the lives of humans everywhere, and the technique used by Professor Nogales called “cryo-EM” is taking the world of structural biology by storm. She recently visited the University of Melbourne to receive the 2019 Grimwade Medal, and to deliver the oration titled: Visualising the molecular dance at the heart of human gene expression. Episode recorded: February 14, 2019.Interviewer: Steve Grimwade.Producer and editor: Chris Hatzis.Co-production: Silvi Vann-Wall and Dr Andi Horvath.Banner: Berkeley Lab.

Adult neuroblasts DOCK into position In the postnatal/adult brain, interneuron precursors, or neuroblasts, migrate along the rostral migratory stream by undergoing cycles of leading process extension followed by somal translocation. Nakamuta et al. reveal that the Rac/Cdc42 guanine nucleotide exchange factor DOCK7 coordinates this migratory cycle by regulating both Rac-dependent leading process extension and p116Rip-dependent actin assembly at the cell rear. This biosights episode presents the paper by Nakamuta et al. from the December 4th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Linda Van Aelst (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

Guests Joe, Eric, and Prashant Show Notes Opening Song – Ego Exposed Theme by Dan Crystalis Holofractal Subreddit The Unified Spacememory Network: from Cosmogenesis to Consciousness Fractals Coastline Paradox The Emerald Tablets of Thoth Estimation of the number of biophotons involved in the visual perception of a single-object image: Biophoton intensity can be considerably higher … Continue reading "Episode 5 – Holofractal Theory, Microtubules, and the Pyramids"

Synaptic activity shifts dendritic lysosomes Lysosomes are known to exist in both the cell body and axon of neurons, but whether they also localize to dendrites is unclear. Goo et al. reveal that lysosomes do exist in dendrites and dendritic spines, and that their trafficking in this region of neurons is regulated by synaptic activity. This biosights episode presents the paper by Goo et al. from the August 7th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Gentry Patrick (University of California, San Diego). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

PACES_UE2-A34 Le Cytosquelette - Généralités microtubules duration : 00:27:05

Broken chromosomes stay on the safe side in mitosis Unrepaired DNA double strand breaks can generate chromosome fragments that lack centromeres but, surprisingly, these acentric chromosomes can nevertheless segregate to spindle poles during mitosis. Karg et al. reveal that, in Drosophila melanogaster neuroblasts, acentric chromosomes segregate along interpolar microtubules at the spindle periphery that are organized by the chromokinesin motor protein Klp3a. This biosights episode presents the paper by Karg et al. from the June 5th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, William Sullivan (University of California, Santa Cruz). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

Retinal ganglion cells have a backup plan Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are born at the apical side of the retinal neuroepithelium before they translocate to the basal side and send out axons to form the optic nerve. Icha et al. reveal that, in the zebrafish retina, RGC translocation is expedited by basal process attachment and a population of stable microtubules. If necessary, however, RGCs can switch to a backup, multipolar migratory mode to ensure that they reach the basal lamina in time to support the later stages of retinal development. This biosights episode presents the paper by Icha et al. from the October 24th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Caren Norden (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.  Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu  

CLIP-170 tips its hand in viral transport After entering a cell, many viruses move toward the nucleus by binding to the microtubule-based motor protein dynein. Jovasevic et al. reveal, however, that herpes simplex virus must first associate with the plus ends of microtubules in a process that requires the dynein accessory factor dynactin and the plus end tracking proteins EB1 and CLIP-170. This biosights episode presents the paper by Jovasevic et al. from the October 26th, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's corresponding author, Derek Walsh (Northwestern University, Chicago, IL). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu  

Interphase centrosomes flare up Centrosomes undergo dramatic changes in size and structure during the rapid cell cycles of early Drosophila embryos. Lerit et al. reveal that a scaffold formed by the proteins centrosomin and PLP is required to maintain the activity of interphase centrosomes, which is essential for nuclear spacing and proper chromosome segregation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Lerit et al. from the July 6th, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Dorothy Lerit and Nasser Rusan (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

Birkbeck Inaugural Lecture - 1 June 2015 Professor Carolyn Moores - Professor of Structural Biology Just as our bodies have a skeleton providing support and strength, so also do the cells of our bodies; this framework is called cytoskeleton, and it is involved in many cell functions - movement, definition of architecture, and multiplication. My research team studies the three-dimensional shape of the cytoskeleton (called microtubules) using an electron microscope, a powerful tool ideally suited to visualising these nano (very tiny) structures. My talk, for a general audience, will describe some of our recent discoveries that shed light on how healthy cells work, but also how mulfunctions of the cytoskeleton cause disease. For more information about Birkbeck's Department of Biological Sciences - www.bbk.ac.uk/biology Professor Carolyn Moores - http://www.bbk.ac.uk/biology/our-staff/academic/carolyn-moores

Tubulin transport pumps up cilia The assembly of cilia and flagella requires the delivery of large amounts of tubulin to the growing ends of the organelles' microtubules. Craft et al. reveal that tubulin loading onto intraflagellar transport particles is specifically upregulated in growing cilia. This biosights episode presents the paper by Craft et al. from the January 19, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Karl Lechtreck (University of Georgia, Athens, GA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

These two video sessions explore the development of Sir Roger Penrose's thought over more than 60 years, ending with his most recent theories and predictions. In the second session, the emphasis shifts to the recent developments in Roger Penrose's thought. He gives a very clear outline of his argument for Conformal Cyclic Cosmology as the correct description of the Big Bang. However, the conversation turns once again to the precursors of these ideas in the 1950s, with new anecdotes about Dirac and the origin of Roger Penrose's geometrical innovations. Bringing the discussion up to the present moment, Roger Penrose describes the impact of recent observations of primordial magnetic fields and also addresses the significance of his own predictions for the form of dark matter. In a closing segment, the discussion turns to the current discoveries in neurology and biophysics relevant to Roger Penrose's theory of microtubules as advanced in Shadows of the Mind. The discussion ends tantalisingly with renewed speculation on the foundations of quantum mechanics and its relation to general relativity. Non-experts will relish Sir Roger Penrose's comment that 'To me eternity is not such a long time'.

These two video sessions explore the development of Sir Roger Penrose's thought over more than 60 years, ending with his most recent theories and predictions. In the first session, Roger Penrose explains the impact of his time at Cambridge in the 1950s. The interview brings out his highly unconventional choice of subjects for deep study, which completely ignored the boundary between 'pure' and 'applied' mathematics. Those familiar with his world-leading development of relativity theory in the 1960s may be surprised to learn how much he was influenced by quantum theory in the 1950s, and also by the early origin of his new ideas. Roger Penrose explains the influence of Dirac, Sciama and other leading figures of the 1950s, and goes on to characterise the emergence of twistor theory. Non-experts will be interested to hear how the ideas of his best-known work, The Emperor's New Mind, also had an origin in this early period. Roger Penrose also adds fascinating detail about the psychology of mathematical discovery, explaining how he was very slow at school, needing extra time to think issues through for himself. The mystery of time, in physics and human consciousness, runs through the entire conversation, and lights up even the most technical aspects of the discussion.

These two video sessions explore the development of Sir Roger Penrose's thought over more than 60 years, ending with his most recent theories and predictions. In the first session, Roger Penrose explains the impact of his time at Cambridge in the 1950s. The interview brings out his highly unconventional choice of subjects for deep study, which completely ignored the boundary between 'pure' and 'applied' mathematics. Those familiar with his world-leading development of relativity theory in the 1960s may be surprised to learn how much he was influenced by quantum theory in the 1950s, and also by the early origin of his new ideas. Roger Penrose explains the influence of Dirac, Sciama and other leading figures of the 1950s, and goes on to characterise the emergence of twistor theory. Non-experts will be interested to hear how the ideas of his best-known work, The Emperor's New Mind, also had an origin in this early period. Roger Penrose also adds fascinating detail about the psychology of mathematical discovery, explaining how he was very slow at school, needing extra time to think issues through for himself. The mystery of time, in physics and human consciousness, runs through the entire conversation, and lights up even the most technical aspects of the discussion.

These two video sessions explore the development of Sir Roger Penrose’s thought over more than 60 years, ending with his most recent theories and predictions. In the second session, the emphasis shifts to the recent developments in Roger Penrose's thought. He gives a very clear outline of his argument for Conformal Cyclic Cosmology as the correct description of the Big Bang. However, the conversation turns once again to the precursors of these ideas in the 1950s, with new anecdotes about Dirac and the origin of Roger Penrose’s geometrical innovations. Bringing the discussion up to the present moment, Roger Penrose describes the impact of recent observations of primordial magnetic fields and also addresses the significance of his own predictions for the form of dark matter. In a closing segment, the discussion turns to the current discoveries in neurology and biophysics relevant to Roger Penrose’s theory of microtubules as advanced in Shadows of the Mind. The discussion ends tantalisingly with renewed speculation on the foundations of quantum mechanics and its relation to general relativity. Non-experts will relish Sir Roger Penrose’s comment that 'To me eternity is not such a long time'.

Motors give a new twist to platelet activation The discoid shape of resting platelets is maintained by a peripheral ring of bundled microtubules called the marginal band. Diagouraga et al. reveal that, upon platelet activation, the motor protein dynein slides microtubules apart, inducing marginal band coiling and the conversion of platelets to a spherical shape. This biosights episode presents the paper by Diagouraga et al. from the January 20, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Karin Sadoul (Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

A framework for understanding muscle microtubules The microtubules of skeletal muscle fibers are arranged into an orthogonal grid, but how this network is formed is unknown. Oddoux et al. reveal that the network is built by dynamic microtubules nucleated from Golgi elements. This biosights episode presents the paper by Oddoux et al. from the October 28, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Evelyn Ralston (NIH, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

Shrinking microtubules pull the centrosome into place When a T cell encounters a target antigen-presenting cell, it moves its centrosome to the immunological synapse that connects the two cells. Yi et al. reveal that centrosome repositioning is a biphasic process driven by the dynein-dependent capture and depolymerization of microtubules. This biosights episode presents the paper by Yi et al. from the September 2, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author John Hammer (NHLBI, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

In animal cells, the nuclear lamina keeps nuclear pore complexes evenly distributed throughout the nuclear envelope. Steinberg et al. reveal that fungi, which lack nuclear laminae, prevent their nuclear pores from clustering by moving them around on cytoskeletal tracks, a process that also helps to organize fungal chromosomes and optimize nucleocytoplasmic transport. This biosights episode presents the paper by Steinberg et al. from the August 6, 2012, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Gero Steinberg (University of Exeter, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.   Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:00:00 +0100 https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/14668/ https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/14668/1/Zimmermann_Dennis.pdf Zimmermann, Dennis ddc:570, ddc:

In early Drosophila embryos, nuclei undergo rapid, synchronous divisions without being separated into individual cells by cytokinesis. Telley et al. develop a cell-free assay to reveal that microtubule asters help disperse the nuclei throughout the embryonic cytoplasm, moving them to the right position for development to continue. This biosights episode presents the paper by Telley et al. from the June 25, 2012, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with lead author Ivo Telley (EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu  

In this episode I revisit the topic of Stuart Hameroff and his theory regarding consciousness and microtubules. Also I discuss a recent news story concerning Morgan Freeman and his thoughts on God. As always, thanks for listening!

Cecile Leduc et al., “Molecular Crowding Creates Traffic Jams of Kinesis Motors on Microtubules,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 (2012): 6100-6105.

Desmosomes are intercellular adhesions whose adhesive core is formed by two distinct classes of cadherin molecules – desmogleins and desmocollins. Nekrasova et al. reveal that these two cadherins are independently transported to the cell surface by two different kinesin motors. This biosights episode presents the paper by Nekrasova et al. from the December 26, 2011, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Kathleen Green (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.   Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

When a T cell encounters a target antigen-presenting cell, the lymphocyte's centrosome relocalizes to a specialized contact between the two cells called the immunological synapse. Zyss et al. reveal that casein kinase Iδ helps to reposition the centrosome in activated T cells, perhaps by working with the microtubule plus-end binding protein EB1 to regulate microtubule growth. This biosights episode presents the paper by Zyss et al. from the November 28, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Fanni Gergely (University of Cambridge and Cancer Research UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu  

Several mRNAs are specifically transported to the anterior and posterior regions of Drosophila oocytes by microtubule-based motor proteins, but the organization of microtubules in these cells is unclear. Parton et al.  reveal that oocyte microtubules are highly dynamic and display a PAR-1-dependent bias in polarity that facilitates transport of oskar mRNA to the oocyte posterior. This biosights episode presents the paper by Parton et al. from the July 11, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with authors Richard Parton and Ilan Davis (University of Oxford, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100 https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/14824/ https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/14824/1/Melbinger_Anna.pdf Melbinger, Anna Tatjana ddc:530, ddc:500, Fakultät

Individual cells must quickly repair any disruptions to their plasma membrane. Abreu-Blanco et al. describe how early Drosophila embryos remodel their membranes and cytoskeleton to seal cell surface wounds. This biosights episode presents the paper by Abreu-Blanco et al. from the May 2, 2011 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Susan Parkhurst (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

The transcription factor HIF-1α is essential for a cell's response to low oxygen conditions. Carbonaro et al. demonstrate that production of HIF-1α protein is regulated by dynamic microtubules and that microtubule-targeting drugs shift HIF-1α mRNA into cytoplasmic P-bodies, where its translation is repressed by miRNAs. This biosights episode presents the paper by Carbonaro et al. from the January 10, 2011, issue of  the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with authors Marisa Carbonaro and Paraskevi Giannakakou (Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.   Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

Dynamic microtubules assemble into a steady state bipolar spindle structure but precisely how this is achieved is unclear. Loughlin et al. develop a computational model that predicts how a few key activities organize microtubules in Xenopus meiotic spindles. This biosights episode presents the paper by Loughlin et al. from the December 27, 2010 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with author François Nédélec (EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.   Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

Many cellular processes, including polarization and differentiation, require the nucleus to move to a specific location within the cytoplasm. Fridolfsson and Starr reveal how the microtubule motors dynein and kinesin-1 control the bi-directional movements of nuclei in the embryonic hypoderm of C. elegans. This biosights episode presents the paper by Fridolfsson and Starr from the October 4, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Daniel Starr (UC Davis, CA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

Microtubules align along the apical-basal axis of epithelial cells with their plus ends pointing to the basal side. Hotta et al. reveal how signals from the extracellular matrix establish this arrangement by recruiting the microtubule-anchoring factors LL5s to the basal cell cortex. This biosights episode presents the paper by Hotta et al. from the May 31, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Yuko Mimori-Kiyosue. Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.   Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

The C-terminus of α-tubulin was thought to lose a tyrosine residue in response to microtubule stabilization, but new research shows that the opposite is true: tyrosine removal causes microtubules to stabilize by reducing the efficiency of depolymerizing motor proteins. This biosights episode presents a paper by Peris et al. in the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes interviews with authors Leticia Peris and Annie Andrieux. Produced by Justin Paul and Ben Short.   Subscribe to biosights via iTunes or RSS View biosights archive The Rockefeller University Press biosights@rockefeller.edu

This presentation discusses the kinesins involved in microtubule depolymerization and the factors that determine the depolymerization rate.

An overview of the components involved in cellular transport systems. The mechanisms of active transport and filament switching are also discussed.

Neurons are highly polarized cells with two structurally and functionally distinct compartments, axons and dendrites. This dichotomy is the basis for unidirectional signal propagation, the quintessential function of neurons. During neuronal development, the formation of the axon is the initial step in breaking cellular symmetry and the establishment of neuronal polarity. Although a number of polarity regulators involved in this process have been identified, our understanding of the intracellular mechanisms underlying neuronal polarization still remains fragmentary. In my studies, I addressed the role of microtubule dynamics in initial neuronal polarization. To this end I aimed to investigate the following issues: 1) How do microtubule dynamics and stability change during initial neuronal development? 2) Do microtubules play an instructive role in axon formation? 3) What are possible regulators mediating changes in microtubule dynamics during axon formation? Using hippocampal neurons in culture as a model system for neuronal polarization I first addressed the dynamics of microtubules in early developmental stages of neurons. Assessing posttranslational modifications of tubulin which serve as markers of microtubule turnover I found that microtubule stability is increased in a single neurite already before axon formation and in the axon of morphologically polarized cells. This polarized distribution of microtubule stability was confirmed by testing the resistance of neuronal microtubules to pharmacologically induced depolymerization. The axon of polarized neurons and a single neurite in morphologically unpolarized cells showed increased microtubule stability. Thus, I established a correlation between the identity of a process and its microtubule stability. By manipulating specific regulators of neuronal polarity, SAD kinases and GSK-3beta, I analyzed a possible relation between a polarization of microtubule stability and neuronal polarity. I found that a loss of polarity correlated with a loss of polarized microtubule stability in neurons defective for SAD A and SAD B kinases. In marked contrast, the formation of multiple axons, induced by the inhibition of GSK-3beta, was associated with increased microtubule stability in these supernumerary axons. These results suggested that SAD kinases and GSK-3beta regulate neuronal polarization –at least in part– by modulating microtubule dynamics. To establish a possible causal relation between microtubule dynamics and axon formation I assessed the effects of specific pharmacological alterations of microtubule dynamics on neuronal polarization. I found that application of low doses of the microtubule destabilizing drug nocodazole selectively reduced the formation of future dendrites. Conversely, low doses of the microtubule stabilizing drug taxol led to the formation of multiple axons. I also studied microtubule dynamics in living neurons transfected with GFP-tagged EB3, a protein binding specifically to polymerizing microtubule plus ends. In line with my previous observations I found that microtubules are stabilized along the shaft of the growing axons while dynamic microtubules enrich at the tip of the growing process, suggesting that a well- balanced shift of microtubule dynamics towards more stable microtubules is necessary to induce axon formation. By uncaging a photoactivatable analog of taxol I induced a local stabilization of microtubules at the neurite tip of an unpolarized neuron which was sufficient to favor the site of axon formation. This indicates that a transient stabilization of microtubules is sufficient to trigger axon formation. In summary, my data allow the following conclusions: 1) Microtubule stability correlates with the identity of a neuronal process. 2) Microtubule stabilization causes axon formation. 3) Microtubule stabilization precedes axon formation. I therefore deduce that microtubules are actively involved in the process of axon formation and that local microtubule stabilization in one neuronal process is a physiological signal specifying neuronal polarization.

Lecture 19: In this class, microtubule dynamics and stability and how these aspects of microtubules are controlled to produce energy and force for processes such as mitosis.

We use single-particle tracking to study the elastic properties of single microtubules grafted to a substrate. Thermal fluctuations of the free microtubule's end are recorded, in order to measure position distribution functions from which we calculate the persistence length of microtubules with contour lengths between 2.6 and 48 micrometers. We find the persistence length to vary by more than a factor of 20 over the total range of contour lengths. Our results support the hypothesis that shearing between protofilaments contributes significantly to the mechanics of microtubules