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VIDA SHOES INTERNATIONAL, INC. ACQUIRES DONALD PLINER®
Published
3 months agoon
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Acquisition strengthens Vida’s growing portfolio of premium footwear brands and reinforces its leadership in the fashion-comfort market
NEW YORK, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vida Shoes International, Inc. (www.vidagroup.com), a leader in the women’s, children’s and men’s footwear industry with Sunrise Brands, proudly announced that it has acquired the Donald Pliner® brand, including all associated intellectual property and brand assets. The transaction officially closed on July 20, 2026.
The acquisition marks another significant milestone in Vida’s continued growth strategy and further expands its portfolio of premium footwear brands. Donald Pliner® joins Vida’s family of brands as the company continues to strengthen its position within the fashion-comfort footwear category.
Donald Pliner® is recognized as one of the industry’s most respected footwear brands, known for its distinctive design, premium craftsmanship and loyal consumer following. The brand has maintained consistent distribution and strong brand equity, making it a natural fit within Vida’s expanding portfolio.
“For more than 52 years, Vida has specialized in developing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing footwear,” said Solomon Dabah, President of Vida Shoes International, Inc. “Donald Pliner is an iconic brand with tremendous heritage, strong consumer recognition and significant growth potential. Its premium positioning and loyal customer base align perfectly with our expertise and long-term vision. We believe Donald Pliner has all the ingredients necessary to become an even stronger force in the fashion-comfort marketplace.”
The acquisition supports Vida’s long-term strategy of building a balanced portfolio of both owned and licensed brands. By combining Donald Pliner®’s established market position with Vida’s global development capabilities, technical expertise, financial resources, marketing expertise and longstanding retail relationships, the company sees significant opportunities to accelerate future growth.
In the near term, Vida’s focus will remain on supporting and strengthening the existing Donald Pliner® business while preserving the brand’s identity and premium positioning. The current product assortment will continue, with future investments centered on innovative materials, advanced construction techniques, enhanced product development, digital commerce initiatives and increased consumer engagement.
“We have tremendous respect for the Donald Pliner team and everything they have accomplished rebuilding the brand,” said Gabriel Safdeye, Senior Vice President of Vida Shoes International, Inc. “Our goal is to provide additional resources, infrastructure and expertise that will accelerate growth while remaining true to the brand’s DNA. We look forward to working closely together and building on the strong foundation already in place.”
“Having led Donald Pliner for the past six years, I have seen firsthand the strength of this brand, the talent of this team, and the loyalty of our customers,” said Griffin Guez, CEO of Donald Pliner®. “We worked hard to rebuild and elevate what Donald Pliner stands for, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished together. I want to especially recognize Jonathan Guez, whose leadership of our e-commerce division meaningfully strengthened the brand’s digital presence and consumer reach. Seeing the brand join Vida’s portfolio is tremendously exciting. Vida’s proven record in the footwear industry, deep expertise and exceptional team make them the ideal home for the future of Donald Pliner. I look forward to their continued success.”
Donald Pliner® currently enjoys distribution through a strong network of premier department stores, specialty retailers and digital partners. Vida intends to maintain those valued retail relationships while thoughtfully expanding distribution through strategic partnerships that preserve the brand’s premium positioning.
The company also expressed its appreciation to the Vida team, recognizing that this milestone reflects years of dedication across the organization.
“This acquisition would not have been possible without the incredible people of Vida,” Dabah added. “Every division across our company has contributed to the strength of our business through hard work, resilience and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Our talented associates and leadership team have built the foundation that allows us to continue investing in exceptional brands and growing our portfolio. I want to sincerely thank every member of the Vida family for helping make this exciting new chapter possible.”
Looking ahead, Vida envisions elevating Donald Pliner® into one of the leading fashion-comfort footwear brands by investing in product innovation, consumer awareness, digital growth and strategic distribution while remaining true to the qualities that have made the brand successful for decades.
ABOUT VIDA SHOES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Vida Shoes International, Inc. designs, manufactures, markets and distributes fashion-forward and outdoor adventure footwear for women, men and children. In addition to marketing products under its own brands including Jambu®, JBU®, J Sport®, Aquatalia®, Andre Assous® and Munro®, Vida is a licensee of various brands, including BCBG®, Bruno Magli®, Splendid®, Kenneth Cole®, Stride Rite®, Carter’s®, Merrell® Kids, Saucony® Kids, Kurt Geiger® and OshKosh B’Gosh®. Vida also designs and manufactures products under private labels brands for various retailers. Vida’s wholesale distribution includes department stores, independent retailers, specialty stores, national chains and mass merchants. Vida supports direct to consumer ecommerce for Stride Rite®, Merrell Kids®, Saucony® Kids, Jambu®, JBU®, J Sport®, Bruno Magli®, Aquatalia®, Andre Assous® and Munro®. Learn more at www.vidagroup.com.
ABOUT DONALD PLINER®
Founded in 1989, Donald Pliner is a premium footwear brand known for blending distinctive design, exceptional comfort, and quality craftsmanship. Offering a collection of women’s and men’s footwear, the brand is recognized for innovative materials, thoughtful details, and versatile styles that balance fashion with everyday wearability. Donald Pliner is distributed through premier department stores, specialty retailers, select digital partners, and its direct-to-consumer channels.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vida-shoes-international-inc-acquires-donald-pliner-302836621.html
SOURCE Vida Shoes International
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Technology
Kanazawa University research: Scientists discover hidden weaknesses in microtubules stabilized by a cancer drug
Published
8 seconds agoon
October 22, 2026By
High-speed nanoscale imaging reveals how tiny structural defects can cause microtubules to collapse, even when stabilized by the anticancer drug paclitaxel (Taxol).
KANAZAWA, Japan, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University have discovered that tiny structural defects can trigger the breakdown of microtubules, the microscopic structures that help cells maintain their shape, transport materials and divide. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy, the team observed how these defects develop and sometimes cause microtubules to collapse, even in the presence of paclitaxel, a widely used cancer drug that stabilizes them. The findings, published in ACS Nano, challenge the conventional view that microtubule breakdown begins primarily at their ends and offer new insights into the structural processes that may influence responses to cancer treatment.
Watching the structures that support living cells
Inside almost every cell is a network of microscopic structures known as the cytoskeleton. An important part of this network consists of microtubules, long, hollow tubes assembled from proteins called tubulin. These structures act as internal supports and tracks for transporting materials. They also play an essential role in cell division by helping separate chromosomes into two daughter cells.
Microtubules are constantly changing. They grow by adding tubulin molecules and shrink when these molecules are removed. Sometimes a growing microtubule suddenly begins to shorten rapidly, a process scientists call catastrophe.
For many years, researchers have explained this behavior mainly through changes at the ends of microtubules. In particular, the loss of a stabilizing molecular structure known as the GTP cap can cause the microtubule to begin breaking down.
However, exactly how structural damage develops within the walls of microtubules, and whether such damage can initiate their collapse, has remained difficult to observe directly.
Understanding these processes is particularly important in cancer research. Paclitaxel, also known by the brand name Taxol, is used to treat several types of cancer, including breast and ovarian cancer. It works by stabilizing microtubules and interfering with the changes needed for normal cell division. However, not all cancer cells respond equally to the drug.
Discovering defects inside stabilized microtubules
To investigate how microtubules behave when exposed to paclitaxel, Xin Zhang and colleagues, led by Richard W. Wong at Kanazawa University, used high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM).
This technique uses an extremely fine probe to scan biological structures in liquid and produce a rapid sequence of images with nanometer-scale detail. Unlike conventional methods that provide static pictures, HS-AFM allows researchers to follow structural changes as they occur.
The team prepared microtubules from purified tubulin proteins, stabilized them with paclitaxel and observed their behavior over time.
At first, many microtubules appeared stable. Their overall tubular shape remained intact, and the researchers could resolve the regularly arranged protein units that make up their walls.
Closer examination, however, revealed something unexpected.
Small defects appeared within otherwise intact regions of the microtubule wall. Some began as shallow depressions only a few nanometers across before gradually developing into larger structural disruptions.
These defects matter because they can weaken the microtubule wall and determine whether the structure remains intact or begins to collapse. Some defects underwent partial repair, while others grew and triggered the breakdown of the microtubule, sometimes spreading in both directions from the damaged region.
Importantly, these changes occurred within the microtubule itself rather than exclusively at its ends, even though the structures had been treated with paclitaxel.
The observations suggest that microtubule stability depends not only on what happens at its ends but also on the condition of the protein framework along its entire length. Tiny structural defects can therefore have consequences for the stability of the whole microtubule.
Four different ways microtubules can collapse
One of the study’s most significant findings was the identification of four distinct patterns of microtubule breakdown.
By analyzing 73 collapse events, the researchers found that 42 percent began at one end of a microtubule, consistent with the conventional model.
However, almost as many events, 40 percent, began at defects within the microtubule wall. In these cases, the structure broke down in both directions from the damaged region.
Another 10 percent of events involved simultaneous breakdown from both ends, while the remaining 8 percent began at multiple sites within the microtubule.
The results show that internal structural defects are a substantial source of microtubule instability under the experimental conditions.
The team also observed temporary structural changes in which parts of the microtubule surface formed curved or arc-like features. Some of these regions underwent further remodeling or partial recovery before either stabilizing or progressing toward collapse.
These observations suggest that microtubule breakdown can develop through a series of structural changes rather than always occurring as a single abrupt event.
Based on these observations, the researchers propose a model called Spontaneous Lattice Decoupling (SLD). The model describes how tiny defects within the microtubule wall can follow two different paths: some undergo repair, allowing the structure to remain intact, while others develop into larger disruptions that eventually cause the microtubule to collapse.
“Microtubules may look stable from the outside, but our observations show that tiny defects can develop within their structure and sometimes lead to complete collapse,” said Richard W. Wong of Kanazawa University’s Nano Life Science Institute. “What is particularly interesting is that these changes can occur even when the microtubules are treated with a drug designed to stabilize them.”
What the findings mean for cancer treatment
Paclitaxel (Taxol) is widely used to treat breast, ovarian, lung and other cancers. It works by stabilizing microtubules and disrupting the structural changes needed for cell division, thereby preventing cancer cells from multiplying.
However, resistance to paclitaxel remains a major clinical challenge. Although several mechanisms of resistance have been identified, the nanoscale structural behavior of microtubules exposed to the drug is not yet fully understood.
The new findings raise an important question: why do microtubules remain vulnerable to structural damage even when treated with a drug designed to stabilize them?
The new findings reveal that paclitaxel-treated microtubules are not necessarily rigid or structurally uniform. Although the drug preserves their overall shape, localized regions can remain vulnerable to structural changes.
This raises the possibility that differences in microtubule structure and the ability to repair or propagate small defects could influence how cells respond to drugs that target microtubules.
The researchers propose a framework in which small structural defects develop, undergo local remodeling, and sometimes progress to microtubule collapse. This sequence provides a way to understand how apparently stable microtubules can still undergo substantial structural changes.
The findings could eventually contribute to research aimed at understanding why some cancer cells respond differently to paclitaxel and related drugs.
However, the present study does not establish a mechanism of drug resistance in cancer cells or demonstrate a new treatment strategy.
The researchers now hope to investigate microtubules associated with cancer cells that are resistant to paclitaxel. By comparing their nanoscale structural behavior with that of microtubules from drug-sensitive cells, they aim to determine whether differences in defect formation, structural stability and repair contribute to resistance. Such studies could provide new insights into why some cancers respond less effectively to microtubule-targeting drugs.
A new view of microtubule stability
Beyond cancer treatment, the findings have implications for understanding the basic biology of microtubules.
These structures are involved in many essential cellular processes, including chromosome separation, intracellular transport and the organization of cell components. Their stability depends on interactions between the individual protein units that form their walls.
The study shows that small local disruptions can have very different outcomes. Some remain temporary and recover, while others spread and lead to the breakdown of an entire microtubule.
The researchers also found that the overall bending of a microtubule was not significantly associated with whether it collapsed. Instead, localized defects appeared to be more closely related to where breakdown began and how it progressed.
By observing these changes directly, the study provides a more detailed picture of how microtubules maintain their structure and how that structure can fail.
Study limitations
The experiments were conducted on microtubules assembled from purified proteins and observed under laboratory conditions rather than inside living cells.
The paclitaxel concentration was selected to provide strong stabilization during prolonged imaging and should not be interpreted as reproducing drug exposure in patients.
Although control experiments showed similar structural changes under different sample preparation conditions, the researchers cannot completely exclude the possibility that interactions between the HS-AFM probe and the microtubules influenced some of the observations
Further studies will be needed to determine how these structural processes occur inside cells and whether they contribute directly to differences in cancer drug sensitivity or resistance.
Figure
https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/En.png
Figure. Spontaneous Lattice Decoupling (SLD) model of microtubule stability and collapse
Schematic illustration of the Spontaneous Lattice Decoupling (SLD) model proposed from high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) observations. Tiny defects in the microtubule wall can follow two different pathways. Some undergo structural repair and regrowth, allowing the microtubule to remain intact. Others develop into larger disruptions that spread through the structure and eventually cause it to collapse. The findings reveal how local structural defects can influence whether a microtubule survives or breaks apart.
Image credit: Xin Zhang. Illustration prepared with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Reference
Xin Zhang, Keesiang Lim, Tomohiro Shima, Elma Sakinatus Sajidah, Masaharu Hazawa, Masahide Kikkawa, Toshio Ando and Richard W. Wong. “Zooming into the Cytoskeleton: Nanodefect-Initiated Microtubule Catastrophe Filmed by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy.” ACS Nano (2026).
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6c07269
URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.6c07269
Funding
This research was supported by MEXT/JSPS KAKENHI grants JP24K18449, JP22H05537, JP22H02209, JP23H04278, JP24H01276, JP25H02360, JP26K01637 and JP26K22904; and JPMJSP2135; JST CREST grant JPMJCR22E3; and support from the Takeda Science Foundation and Shimadzu Science Foundation. The research also received support through the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), Japan.
Acknowledgements
The researchers thank Professor Tomoyuki Tanaka and Dr. Shuyu Li of the University of Dundee for providing GMPCPP-stabilized microtubules, Professor Yu Wu of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, for clinical discussions on leukemia, and Ms. Zeyang Lin for assistance with chemical illustrations and graphical design. They also acknowledge members of the Richard Wong laboratory.
Media Contact
Motoko YASUHARA (Ms)
Project Planning and Outreach, NanoLSI Administration Office
Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University
Email: nanokoho@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
About the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University
The Nano Life Science Institute at Kanazawa University develops advanced nanoprobe technologies to directly image, analyze and manipulate biomolecules in living systems. By exploring previously inaccessible nanoscale phenomena, the institute seeks to uncover fundamental principles of life and disease.
https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/
About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)
The WPI program was launched in 2007 by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to establish globally visible research centers with outstanding research environments and a high degree of autonomy. The program is administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-toplevel/
About Kanazawa University
Founded in 1862 in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa University is one of Japan’s leading comprehensive national universities. The university promotes interdisciplinary research and international collaboration across science, medicine, engineering, the humanities and social sciences.
https://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kanazawa-university-research-scientists-discover-hidden-weaknesses-in-microtubules-stabilized-by-a-cancer-drug-302916595.html
Technology
Kanazawa University research: Scientists discover hidden weaknesses in microtubules stabilized by a cancer drug
Published
8 seconds agoon
October 22, 2026By
High-speed nanoscale imaging reveals how tiny structural defects can cause microtubules to collapse, even when stabilized by the anticancer drug paclitaxel (Taxol).
KANAZAWA, Japan, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University have discovered that tiny structural defects can trigger the breakdown of microtubules, the microscopic structures that help cells maintain their shape, transport materials and divide. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy, the team observed how these defects develop and sometimes cause microtubules to collapse, even in the presence of paclitaxel, a widely used cancer drug that stabilizes them. The findings, published in ACS Nano, challenge the conventional view that microtubule breakdown begins primarily at their ends and offer new insights into the structural processes that may influence responses to cancer treatment.
Watching the structures that support living cells
Inside almost every cell is a network of microscopic structures known as the cytoskeleton. An important part of this network consists of microtubules, long, hollow tubes assembled from proteins called tubulin. These structures act as internal supports and tracks for transporting materials. They also play an essential role in cell division by helping separate chromosomes into two daughter cells.
Microtubules are constantly changing. They grow by adding tubulin molecules and shrink when these molecules are removed. Sometimes a growing microtubule suddenly begins to shorten rapidly, a process scientists call catastrophe.
For many years, researchers have explained this behavior mainly through changes at the ends of microtubules. In particular, the loss of a stabilizing molecular structure known as the GTP cap can cause the microtubule to begin breaking down.
However, exactly how structural damage develops within the walls of microtubules, and whether such damage can initiate their collapse, has remained difficult to observe directly.
Understanding these processes is particularly important in cancer research. Paclitaxel, also known by the brand name Taxol, is used to treat several types of cancer, including breast and ovarian cancer. It works by stabilizing microtubules and interfering with the changes needed for normal cell division. However, not all cancer cells respond equally to the drug.
Discovering defects inside stabilized microtubules
To investigate how microtubules behave when exposed to paclitaxel, Xin Zhang and colleagues, led by Richard W. Wong at Kanazawa University, used high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM).
This technique uses an extremely fine probe to scan biological structures in liquid and produce a rapid sequence of images with nanometer-scale detail. Unlike conventional methods that provide static pictures, HS-AFM allows researchers to follow structural changes as they occur.
The team prepared microtubules from purified tubulin proteins, stabilized them with paclitaxel and observed their behavior over time.
At first, many microtubules appeared stable. Their overall tubular shape remained intact, and the researchers could resolve the regularly arranged protein units that make up their walls.
Closer examination, however, revealed something unexpected.
Small defects appeared within otherwise intact regions of the microtubule wall. Some began as shallow depressions only a few nanometers across before gradually developing into larger structural disruptions.
These defects matter because they can weaken the microtubule wall and determine whether the structure remains intact or begins to collapse. Some defects underwent partial repair, while others grew and triggered the breakdown of the microtubule, sometimes spreading in both directions from the damaged region.
Importantly, these changes occurred within the microtubule itself rather than exclusively at its ends, even though the structures had been treated with paclitaxel.
The observations suggest that microtubule stability depends not only on what happens at its ends but also on the condition of the protein framework along its entire length. Tiny structural defects can therefore have consequences for the stability of the whole microtubule.
Four different ways microtubules can collapse
One of the study’s most significant findings was the identification of four distinct patterns of microtubule breakdown.
By analyzing 73 collapse events, the researchers found that 42 percent began at one end of a microtubule, consistent with the conventional model.
However, almost as many events, 40 percent, began at defects within the microtubule wall. In these cases, the structure broke down in both directions from the damaged region.
Another 10 percent of events involved simultaneous breakdown from both ends, while the remaining 8 percent began at multiple sites within the microtubule.
The results show that internal structural defects are a substantial source of microtubule instability under the experimental conditions.
The team also observed temporary structural changes in which parts of the microtubule surface formed curved or arc-like features. Some of these regions underwent further remodeling or partial recovery before either stabilizing or progressing toward collapse.
These observations suggest that microtubule breakdown can develop through a series of structural changes rather than always occurring as a single abrupt event.
Based on these observations, the researchers propose a model called Spontaneous Lattice Decoupling (SLD). The model describes how tiny defects within the microtubule wall can follow two different paths: some undergo repair, allowing the structure to remain intact, while others develop into larger disruptions that eventually cause the microtubule to collapse.
“Microtubules may look stable from the outside, but our observations show that tiny defects can develop within their structure and sometimes lead to complete collapse,” said Richard W. Wong of Kanazawa University’s Nano Life Science Institute. “What is particularly interesting is that these changes can occur even when the microtubules are treated with a drug designed to stabilize them.”
What the findings mean for cancer treatment
Paclitaxel (Taxol) is widely used to treat breast, ovarian, lung and other cancers. It works by stabilizing microtubules and disrupting the structural changes needed for cell division, thereby preventing cancer cells from multiplying.
However, resistance to paclitaxel remains a major clinical challenge. Although several mechanisms of resistance have been identified, the nanoscale structural behavior of microtubules exposed to the drug is not yet fully understood.
The new findings raise an important question: why do microtubules remain vulnerable to structural damage even when treated with a drug designed to stabilize them?
The new findings reveal that paclitaxel-treated microtubules are not necessarily rigid or structurally uniform. Although the drug preserves their overall shape, localized regions can remain vulnerable to structural changes.
This raises the possibility that differences in microtubule structure and the ability to repair or propagate small defects could influence how cells respond to drugs that target microtubules.
The researchers propose a framework in which small structural defects develop, undergo local remodeling, and sometimes progress to microtubule collapse. This sequence provides a way to understand how apparently stable microtubules can still undergo substantial structural changes.
The findings could eventually contribute to research aimed at understanding why some cancer cells respond differently to paclitaxel and related drugs.
However, the present study does not establish a mechanism of drug resistance in cancer cells or demonstrate a new treatment strategy.
The researchers now hope to investigate microtubules associated with cancer cells that are resistant to paclitaxel. By comparing their nanoscale structural behavior with that of microtubules from drug-sensitive cells, they aim to determine whether differences in defect formation, structural stability and repair contribute to resistance. Such studies could provide new insights into why some cancers respond less effectively to microtubule-targeting drugs.
A new view of microtubule stability
Beyond cancer treatment, the findings have implications for understanding the basic biology of microtubules.
These structures are involved in many essential cellular processes, including chromosome separation, intracellular transport and the organization of cell components. Their stability depends on interactions between the individual protein units that form their walls.
The study shows that small local disruptions can have very different outcomes. Some remain temporary and recover, while others spread and lead to the breakdown of an entire microtubule.
The researchers also found that the overall bending of a microtubule was not significantly associated with whether it collapsed. Instead, localized defects appeared to be more closely related to where breakdown began and how it progressed.
By observing these changes directly, the study provides a more detailed picture of how microtubules maintain their structure and how that structure can fail.
Study limitations
The experiments were conducted on microtubules assembled from purified proteins and observed under laboratory conditions rather than inside living cells.
The paclitaxel concentration was selected to provide strong stabilization during prolonged imaging and should not be interpreted as reproducing drug exposure in patients.
Although control experiments showed similar structural changes under different sample preparation conditions, the researchers cannot completely exclude the possibility that interactions between the HS-AFM probe and the microtubules influenced some of the observations
Further studies will be needed to determine how these structural processes occur inside cells and whether they contribute directly to differences in cancer drug sensitivity or resistance.
Figure
https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/En.png
Figure. Spontaneous Lattice Decoupling (SLD) model of microtubule stability and collapse
Schematic illustration of the Spontaneous Lattice Decoupling (SLD) model proposed from high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) observations. Tiny defects in the microtubule wall can follow two different pathways. Some undergo structural repair and regrowth, allowing the microtubule to remain intact. Others develop into larger disruptions that spread through the structure and eventually cause it to collapse. The findings reveal how local structural defects can influence whether a microtubule survives or breaks apart.
Image credit: Xin Zhang. Illustration prepared with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Reference
Xin Zhang, Keesiang Lim, Tomohiro Shima, Elma Sakinatus Sajidah, Masaharu Hazawa, Masahide Kikkawa, Toshio Ando and Richard W. Wong. “Zooming into the Cytoskeleton: Nanodefect-Initiated Microtubule Catastrophe Filmed by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy.” ACS Nano (2026).
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6c07269
URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.6c07269
Funding
This research was supported by MEXT/JSPS KAKENHI grants JP24K18449, JP22H05537, JP22H02209, JP23H04278, JP24H01276, JP25H02360, JP26K01637 and JP26K22904; and JPMJSP2135; JST CREST grant JPMJCR22E3; and support from the Takeda Science Foundation and Shimadzu Science Foundation. The research also received support through the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), Japan.
Acknowledgements
The researchers thank Professor Tomoyuki Tanaka and Dr. Shuyu Li of the University of Dundee for providing GMPCPP-stabilized microtubules, Professor Yu Wu of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, for clinical discussions on leukemia, and Ms. Zeyang Lin for assistance with chemical illustrations and graphical design. They also acknowledge members of the Richard Wong laboratory.
Media Contact
Motoko YASUHARA (Ms)
Project Planning and Outreach, NanoLSI Administration Office
Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University
Email: nanokoho@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
About the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University
The Nano Life Science Institute at Kanazawa University develops advanced nanoprobe technologies to directly image, analyze and manipulate biomolecules in living systems. By exploring previously inaccessible nanoscale phenomena, the institute seeks to uncover fundamental principles of life and disease.
https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/
About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)
The WPI program was launched in 2007 by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to establish globally visible research centers with outstanding research environments and a high degree of autonomy. The program is administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-toplevel/
About Kanazawa University
Founded in 1862 in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa University is one of Japan’s leading comprehensive national universities. The university promotes interdisciplinary research and international collaboration across science, medicine, engineering, the humanities and social sciences.
https://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kanazawa-university-research-scientists-discover-hidden-weaknesses-in-microtubules-stabilized-by-a-cancer-drug-302916595.html
Technology
USS Returns This November, Uniting SEA’s Lifestyle, Fashion & Creative Communities with Malaysian Brands Joining the Line-up
Published
21 seconds agoon
October 22, 2026By
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Indonesia-born lifestyle platform USS returns from 6-8 November 2026 at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC), Senayan, Jakarta, bringing together more than 300 participating brands, creators, and communities across fashion, art, music, design, and contemporary culture. Now recognised as Southeast Asia’s Curated Lifestyle Exhibition, USS continues to expand beyond its sneaker culture roots, providing a platform for independent labels, established brands, and creative communities to connect.
This year’s edition will spotlight regional talent, including several Malaysian brands, reinforcing USS’s role in connecting creative communities across Southeast Asia. The programme will feature exclusive collaborations between Indonesian and regional labels, limited releases, and immersive visual installations created in collaboration with Satu Collective and Convert Textured.
The brand collaborations featured at USS 2026 are:
Against Lab (Malaysia) x Pot Meets Pop (Bandung)Know Where (Thailand) x Pot Meets Pop (Bandung)The Cap City (Malaysia) x SNSB (Bandung)Stoned & Co (Malaysia) x TAGGED (Jakarta)SBTG (Singapore) x Sepatu Kanky (Bandung)
Reflecting the platform’s continued evolution, Jeffry Jouw, CMO of USS Networks, shares, “USS is not just about bigger numbers, but about bringing something fresh every year, connecting creative players, and creating experiences that evolve with culture.”
USS 2026 will also feature 13 exclusive collaborations between Indonesian labels and creative partners. Selected collaborations include:
99clover x Hishiro (Jakarta)Bettergoods (Jakarta) x Axel Shoes (Bandung)Dust La Stella (Bogor) x Reude (Jakarta)Morasea Watch (Jakarta) x Baskara Putra/Hindia (Indie-Pop Artist)Maternal x Evil (Bandung)
Visitors can explore 25 exclusive fashion release line-ups from brands including HOTEL, Televisi Star, Layr, Manta Liberta, and Byeol. USS will also introduce Art Market and Design District, spotlighting artistic expression, design-led products, and independent creative businesses. Attendees can enjoy discounts of up to 80%, access a mystery box programme for eligible spenders, and enter raffle draws for prizes worth over IDR 60 million. Terms and conditions apply; further details will be announced by the organizer.
Tickets for USS 2026:
Regular Ticket: IDR 70,000 per ticket (IDR 200,000 for 4 tickets)BRImo Promotional Ticket: IDR 50,000 per ticketTier Zero (VIP Pass): IDR 300,000 per ticket (IDR 500,000 for 2 tickets) – includes VIP Lounge access & exclusive products from participating brands
Follow USS on Instagram at @u.s.s. for the program details. Brands interested in participating can also find tenant submission details here.
About USS
USS, part of USS Networks, is a lifestyle event connecting brands and communities through contemporary popular culture. Founded in 2017 by Sayed Muhammad and Jeffry Jouw as Urban Sneaker Society, it has evolved from a Jakarta sneaker gathering into a platform spanning fashion, art, collectibles, automotive culture, music and more.
In 2022, USS expanded beyond sneakers to embrace a broader lifestyle and cultural landscape. Its 2025 edition featured 302+ tenants, welcomed over 50,000 visitors in three days, and delivered 71 exclusive releases, 19 brand collaborations and 52 single drops, generating over IDR 23 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV).
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/uss-returns-this-november-uniting-seas-lifestyle-fashion–creative-communities-with-malaysian-brands-joining-the-line-up-302916619.html
SOURCE USS Networks
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