Biology subjects

Heckel, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Heckel, A..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Cultivation-based identification of microorganisms in metalworking fluids and their role in hydrocarbon degradation

Water-miscible metalworking fluids are widely used in industrial processes. Despite the fact that they contain biocides, they are almost always colonized by microorganisms, which degrade different components of the liquid, may clog machines due to biofilm formation and might pose a health risk to workers. In this study, samples from four metalworking machines operated with the same metalworking concentrate from two different locations, were analyzed with respect to microbial growth. Twenty-seven bacterial species and one fungus were identified. From these, twenty species were not observed before as colonizers of metalworking fluids. Growth of microorganisms, resulting health risks, putative contamination pathways and metabolic pathways involved in biodegradation are analyzed and discussed in this study. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=84 SRC="FIGDIR/small/712622v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (29K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@15a93d0org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19e6a84org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@16325deorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4b3255_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2026

Wash-Free Multi-Target Super-Resolution Microscopy with Photocaged DNA Labels

Super-resolution microscopy with DNA-fluorophore labels is primed for multi-target imaging of cell biological samples. However, direct interaction with the sample is required to exchange or add DNA-fluorophore labels in each imaging round, which can impair the accuracy of the imaging data at the nanometer scale. To bypass this requirement, we introduce a wash-free method that employs DNA oligonucleotides equipped with photocaging groups. Irradiation with light removes these photo-modulatable groups and changes the hybridization properties of DNA labels, enabling light-modulated targeting. We demonstrate this concept by imaging various cellular targets with confocal microscopy, single-molecule localization microscopy, and stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Neuronal processes contain the essential components for the late steps of ribosome biogenesis

Neurons rely on spatial and temporal control of protein synthesis to respond rapidly and locally to external stimuli, a process facilitated by the dynamic localization and modification of ribosomes. While previous research has shown that neuronal activity can regulate ribosome localization and modify translation rates, little is known about ribosomal assembly within neuronal processes. Here, we investigated the potential for local ribosome maturation in rat neurons using proteomics, RNA sequencing, and imaging methods. We detected an abundance of ribosome biogenesis factors (RBFs) in distal neuronal compartments, particularly those associated with the late stages of ribosome assembly. Moreover, we detected cytosolic pre-rRNA species in dendrites, alongside the enzymes necessary for their processing, suggesting that local ribosome maturation can occur far from the nucleus. These findings challenge conventional models that confine ribosome biogenesis to nuclear and perinuclear regions and suggest that neurons may fine-tune local protein synthesis by regulating ribosome assembly near synaptic sites. This mechanism may enable rapid modulation of the translational capacity in response to physiological changes, regulating synaptic plasticity and local protein synthesis in neurons. Significance StatementNeurons require precise spatial and temporal regulation of protein synthesis to adapt rapidly to external stimuli, particularly at synapses. Our study challenges the view that new ribosomes can be made exclusively near the nucleus and reveals that ribosome biogenesis factors and pre-rRNA processing enzymes are present in distal neuronal compartments. These findings suggest that ribosome maturation can occur locally in dendrites, enabling rapid, spatially targeted modulation of translational capacity. This mechanism provides a different framework for understanding how neurons regulate synaptic plasticity and adapt to physiological changes. By demonstrating that ribosome assembly may extend beyond the nucleus, this work highlights a previously unrecognized layer of neuronal protein synthesis control, potentially transforming our understanding of how neurons orchestrate local responses to environmental cues.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Climatic determinants of plant phenology in vernal pool habitats

Vernal pool plants are small, colorful, and specialized to both desiccated and inundated conditions that distinguish the ephemeral wetlands in which they grow. These species germinate rapidly in response to the first rain and grow quickly to take advantage of available water supplies. The floral phenology of vernal pool plant species is little understood despite being a crucial developmental stage for producing seeds and determining population growth rates. The current study focuses on two vernal pool plants, Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea (meadowfoam), a vernal pool specialist, and Trifolium variegatum (whitetip clover), a generalist vernal pool associate, and characterizes their phenology in response to interannual climate variation. We recorded phenology and climate data over seven years during a period of highly variable precipitation and temperature patterns, which serve as a robust dataset for quantifying the relationship of floral phenology with various climatic factors. We found that warmer and drier environmental conditions occurring during early growth periods were strongly associated with advanced floral phenology later in the life cycle for both species. Over the seven-year dataset, which was increasingly warm and dry, phenology advanced by 4.7 days per year for meadowfoam and 5.6 days per year for whitetip clover, respectively. The floral duration of the habitat specialist was influenced by microtopographic features of vernal pools, whereas no such patterns were observed for the habitat generalist. Finally, warmer and drier conditions were associated with reduced occupancy rates of both focal species within vernal pools. To our knowledge, this is the first study quantifying the relationship between vernal pool floral phenology and climate, offering insights into how phenology may shift in response to modern climate change.

plant biology↗