Dylan Burnette
@mag2art.bsky.social
Cell biologist studying how the cells in a heart grow and die, and other cellular curiosities. Associate Professor at Vanderbilt.
https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/dylan-burnette-lab/
https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/dylan-burnette-lab/
Our Blebbisome paper has been out for a year and has 50 citations! To celebrate, here is Video 5 from the paper: fibroblasts (green arrows) and their blebbisomes (magenta arrowheads) hanging out. #CellBiology #microscopy
See the paper here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
See the paper here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 12, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Our Blebbisome paper has been out for a year and has 50 citations! To celebrate, here is Video 5 from the paper: fibroblasts (green arrows) and their blebbisomes (magenta arrowheads) hanging out. #CellBiology #microscopy
See the paper here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
See the paper here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
CELL BODY MICROTUBULES
Among other things, microtubules are the tracks used by cells to traffic membranes (e.g., next to the nucleus where the #Golgi resides). It takes super-resolution microscopy to resolve and study this complex microtubule-network (image).
#CellBiology
Among other things, microtubules are the tracks used by cells to traffic membranes (e.g., next to the nucleus where the #Golgi resides). It takes super-resolution microscopy to resolve and study this complex microtubule-network (image).
#CellBiology
February 11, 2026 at 3:26 PM
CELL BODY MICROTUBULES
Among other things, microtubules are the tracks used by cells to traffic membranes (e.g., next to the nucleus where the #Golgi resides). It takes super-resolution microscopy to resolve and study this complex microtubule-network (image).
#CellBiology
Among other things, microtubules are the tracks used by cells to traffic membranes (e.g., next to the nucleus where the #Golgi resides). It takes super-resolution microscopy to resolve and study this complex microtubule-network (image).
#CellBiology
"The microtubule GTP-tubulin cap size is modulated during cell division" is now available on @biorxivpreprint! This video by Anna Cassidy shows the tips of growing microtubules (EB1) and DNA (histone 2B) during metaphase. #Cellbiology
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
February 4, 2026 at 5:20 PM
"The microtubule GTP-tubulin cap size is modulated during cell division" is now available on @biorxivpreprint! This video by Anna Cassidy shows the tips of growing microtubules (EB1) and DNA (histone 2B) during metaphase. #Cellbiology
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Dylan Burnette
This is who runs this account
February 4, 2026 at 5:12 PM
This is who runs this account
Dying colon cancer cells videoed through a microscope. #CellBiology
January 25, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Dying colon cancer cells videoed through a microscope. #CellBiology
An iPSC-cardiac myocyte (heart muscle cell) surrounded by cardiac myocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles (tiny dots; AKA cardiosomes) and two cardiac myocyte-derived large extracellular vesicles (thankfully just called that; I love descriptive names). #CellBiology
January 21, 2026 at 4:32 PM
An iPSC-cardiac myocyte (heart muscle cell) surrounded by cardiac myocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles (tiny dots; AKA cardiosomes) and two cardiac myocyte-derived large extracellular vesicles (thankfully just called that; I love descriptive names). #CellBiology
The authors of the "zombosome" paper should have read our blebbisome paper. We showed that blebbisomes do not just come from cancer cells, they are also made by fibroblasts and can be isolated from wild type mice. It is a general cellular phenomenon. #CellBiology
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 19, 2026 at 7:15 PM
The authors of the "zombosome" paper should have read our blebbisome paper. We showed that blebbisomes do not just come from cancer cells, they are also made by fibroblasts and can be isolated from wild type mice. It is a general cellular phenomenon. #CellBiology
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
It is cool though how they sometimes keep some of the morphology of the parental astrocytes, at least on glass. On the cells they look just like blebbisomes.
January 18, 2026 at 5:19 PM
It is cool though how they sometimes keep some of the morphology of the parental astrocytes, at least on glass. On the cells they look just like blebbisomes.
Wow! Someone is already trying to rename blebbisomes! That took less than a year!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Zombosomes are anucleated cell couriers that spread α-synuclein pathology
Astrocytes not only play a central role in orchestrating the brain’s microenvironment but also are tightly connected to neurodegenerative processes. H…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Wow! Someone is already trying to rename blebbisomes! That took less than a year!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A cell undergoing cell division photographed through a microscope. #CellBiology
January 16, 2026 at 9:25 PM
A cell undergoing cell division photographed through a microscope. #CellBiology
Reposted by Dylan Burnette
A cell dividing into two daughter cells videoed through a microscope. Chromosomes are labeled in pink. Technique: differential interference microscopy (DIC) and fluorescence. #CellBiology
December 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
A cell dividing into two daughter cells videoed through a microscope. Chromosomes are labeled in pink. Technique: differential interference microscopy (DIC) and fluorescence. #CellBiology
The increased size and force after α-actinin-4 depletion tracks with upregulation of hypertrophy genes, but not genes linked to HCM. Indeed, our quantitative genomics indicated α-actinin-4 depletion may be protective against HCM in humans. #CellBiology
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
January 9, 2026 at 7:46 PM
The increased size and force after α-actinin-4 depletion tracks with upregulation of hypertrophy genes, but not genes linked to HCM. Indeed, our quantitative genomics indicated α-actinin-4 depletion may be protective against HCM in humans. #CellBiology
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
When we deplete α-actinin-4 in iPSC-cardiac myocytes, the cells don’t get lazy—they get bigger and generate significantly more force during contraction (traction force microscopy). Crucially: no increase at rest. #CellBiology
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
January 9, 2026 at 7:46 PM
When we deplete α-actinin-4 in iPSC-cardiac myocytes, the cells don’t get lazy—they get bigger and generate significantly more force during contraction (traction force microscopy). Crucially: no increase at rest. #CellBiology
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
We found that α-actinin-4 isn’t just a “nonmuscle” bystander. It localizes to the Z-discs cardiac myocytes, right alongside α-actinin-2 . Even better: ACTN2 and ACTN4 can bind each other and form a heterodimer. #CellBiology
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
January 9, 2026 at 7:46 PM
We found that α-actinin-4 isn’t just a “nonmuscle” bystander. It localizes to the Z-discs cardiac myocytes, right alongside α-actinin-2 . Even better: ACTN2 and ACTN4 can bind each other and form a heterodimer. #CellBiology
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Below are some brief highlights from our recent paper, “Nonmuscle α-Actinin-4 Couples Sarcomere Function to Cardiac Remodeling”. The cover shows iPSC-cardiac myocytes photographed through a microscope by Dr. James Hayes. #CellBiology
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
January 9, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Below are some brief highlights from our recent paper, “Nonmuscle α-Actinin-4 Couples Sarcomere Function to Cardiac Remodeling”. The cover shows iPSC-cardiac myocytes photographed through a microscope by Dr. James Hayes. #CellBiology
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Paper link: ahajrnls.org/4peXHYp
Check out this editorial in Circulation Research by Dr. Marie-Louise Bang about our paper on alpha-actinin-4 in the cardiac Z-disc. It both summarizes our findings really well (image gives a taste of it; there is more) and lays out future directions.
www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/...
www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/...
January 8, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Check out this editorial in Circulation Research by Dr. Marie-Louise Bang about our paper on alpha-actinin-4 in the cardiac Z-disc. It both summarizes our findings really well (image gives a taste of it; there is more) and lays out future directions.
www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/...
www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/...
Did you know that human cardiomyopathy drugs targeting beta myosin II can be used in zebrafish embryos to study heart development? Beta myosin II is only in the ventricle (v) allowing tuning up or down of ventricular contractility. #CellBiology
www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/...
www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/...
January 7, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Did you know that human cardiomyopathy drugs targeting beta myosin II can be used in zebrafish embryos to study heart development? Beta myosin II is only in the ventricle (v) allowing tuning up or down of ventricular contractility. #CellBiology
www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/...
www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/...
January 7, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Sure, there is that one study where the authors claimed that CRISPR deleting beta myosin II in iPSC-derived cardiac myocytes stopped sarcomere assembly, but, as we have pointed out previously, we have not been able to repeat multiple experiments in that paper. #CellBiology
January 7, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Sure, there is that one study where the authors claimed that CRISPR deleting beta myosin II in iPSC-derived cardiac myocytes stopped sarcomere assembly, but, as we have pointed out previously, we have not been able to repeat multiple experiments in that paper. #CellBiology
This work is significant because evidence from both our lab and others suggest that removing beta myosin II (depletion or deletion) does not stop sarcomere assembly. But if beta myosin II is present in a cell, it is quite important. #CellBiology
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:25 PM
This work is significant because evidence from both our lab and others suggest that removing beta myosin II (depletion or deletion) does not stop sarcomere assembly. But if beta myosin II is present in a cell, it is quite important. #CellBiology
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Burnette Lab paper: "Pharmacological Inhibition of β Myosin II Disrupts Sarcomere Assembly in Human iPSC-Derived Cardiac Myocytes" is out! This image is of beta myosin II filaments in an iPSC-derived cardiac myocyte. #CellBiology
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
January 7, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Burnette Lab paper: "Pharmacological Inhibition of β Myosin II Disrupts Sarcomere Assembly in Human iPSC-Derived Cardiac Myocytes" is out! This image is of beta myosin II filaments in an iPSC-derived cardiac myocyte. #CellBiology
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Polyester fabric photographed through a microscope.
#CellBiology. OK, it's not, but that is the only hashtag I use for microscopy so just keeping it consistent.
#CellBiology. OK, it's not, but that is the only hashtag I use for microscopy so just keeping it consistent.
January 5, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Polyester fabric photographed through a microscope.
#CellBiology. OK, it's not, but that is the only hashtag I use for microscopy so just keeping it consistent.
#CellBiology. OK, it's not, but that is the only hashtag I use for microscopy so just keeping it consistent.
We got the cover to go along with our article "Nonmuscle α-Actinin-4 Couples Sarcomere Function to Cardiac Remodeling"! Read it here:
www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10....
www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10....
January 2, 2026 at 10:21 PM
We got the cover to go along with our article "Nonmuscle α-Actinin-4 Couples Sarcomere Function to Cardiac Remodeling"! Read it here:
www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10....
www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10....
The mitochondria in a cell are weirder than you think. Not just “the powerhouse of the cell,” but more like a shape-shifting, constantly remodeling, mildly unhinged energy blob. #CellBiology
December 31, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The mitochondria in a cell are weirder than you think. Not just “the powerhouse of the cell,” but more like a shape-shifting, constantly remodeling, mildly unhinged energy blob. #CellBiology
POV: Driving through Northport, Michigan between Christmas and New Years during a snow storm. Yep. It takes about 38 seconds to drive through town, even in a snow storm. #PureMichigan
December 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
POV: Driving through Northport, Michigan between Christmas and New Years during a snow storm. Yep. It takes about 38 seconds to drive through town, even in a snow storm. #PureMichigan