β-catenin is a molecular switch that regulates transition of cell-cell adhesion to fusion

When a sperm and an oocyte unite upon fertilization, their cell membranes adhere and fuse, but little is known about the factors regulating sperm-oocyte adhesion. Here we explored the role of β-catenin in sperm-oocyte adhesion. Biochemical analysis revealed that E-cadherin and β-catenin formed a complex in oocytes and also in sperm. Sperm-oocyte adhesion was impaired when β-catenin-deficient oocytes were inseminated with sperm. Furthermore, expression of β-catenin decreased from the sperm head and the site of an oocyte to which a sperm adheres after completion of sperm-oocyte adhesion. UBE1-41, an inhibitor of ubiquitin-activating enzyme 1, inhibited the degradation of β-catenin, and reduced the fusing ability of wild-type (but not β-catenin-deficient) oocytes. These results indicate that β-catenin is not only involved in membrane adhesion, but also in the transition to membrane fusion upon fertilization

Leader and Employee Well-Being: Identifying Strategies and Overcoming Barriers

Supporting employee well-being is increasingly critical not only for attracting and retaining employees, but also for encouraging performance. Yet, many leaders and organizations are ill-equipped to effectively foster well-being. This symposium brings together stellar junior and senior academics who will present novel research insights on how to promote and support workplace well-being. Specifically, the set of papers included in the symposium challenge erroneous assumptions about well-being, such as whether and how disclosure of mental health challenges backfires, or whether employees should be solely responsible for maintaining their well-being. Moreover, the papers explore a critical yet often overlooked challenge around workplace well-being, namely, how the well-being of leaders is as, if not more important for supporting the well-being of those they lead. Taken together, this symposium underscores the importance of overcoming barriers to workplace well-being and offers research-driven solutions for protecting the well-being of both leaders and employees