Article
|
Open Access
Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessThe effect of maternal care on gene expression and DNA methylation in a subsocial bee
Development may be plastic and influenced by parental care. Here, the authors show that experimental reduction of maternal care in the small carpenter bee leads to extensive changes in gene expression and splicing, minor changes in methylation, and greater offspring aggression and social avoidance.
- Samuel V. Arsenault
- , Brendan G. Hunt
- & Sandra M. Rehan
-
Article
| Open AccessHHEX is a transcriptional regulator of the VEGFC/FLT4/PROX1 signaling axis during vascular development
VEGFC, its receptor FLT4, and transcriptional effector PROX1 control formation of the lymphatic system but how is unclear. Here, the authors show that the transcription factor hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX) regulates VEGFC, FLT4 and PROX1 in fish and mammals during angiogenic sprouting and lymphatic formation.
- Sébastien Gauvrit
- , Alethia Villasenor
- & Didier Y. R. Stainier
-
Article
| Open AccessSystemic control of immune cell development by integrated carbon dioxide and hypoxia chemosensation in Drosophila
In mammals, crosstalk between O2 and CO2 sensing central and peripheral chemoreceptors has been linked to functions of the hematopoietic system. Here, the authors show an evolutionarily relevant cascade involving multiple organs that links CO2- and O2-chemosensation to immune cell maturation in Drosophila.
- Bumsik Cho
- , Carrie M. Spratford
- & Jiwon Shim
-
Article
| Open AccessDeficiency in class III PI3-kinase confers postnatal lethality with IBD-like features in zebrafish
The functions of the class III PI3-kinase (PIK3C3) in gut homeostasis and innate immunity are poorly understood. Here the authors show that PIK3C3-deficient zebrafishes develop intestinal injury and inflammation due to mislocalization of cell junction proteins.
- Shaoyang Zhao
- , Jianhong Xia
- & Xiaodong Shu
-
Article
| Open AccessNKX2-5 regulates human cardiomyogenesis via a HEY2 dependent transcriptional network
A gene regulatory network, including the transcription factor Nkx2-5, regulates cardiac development. Here, the authors show that on deletion of NKX2-5 from human embryonic stem cells, there is impaired cardiomyogenesis and changes in action potentials, and that this is regulated via HEY2.
- David J. Anderson
- , David I. Kaplan
- & David A. Elliott
-
Article
| Open AccessHedgehog mediated degradation of Ihog adhesion proteins modulates cell segregation in Drosophila wing imaginal discs
The range of Hedgehog (Hh) signalling in the Drosophila imaginal disc is limited by Hh/receptor degradation at the anterior/posterior (A/P) compartment boundary. Here, the authors show that degradation is mediated by co-receptor proteins Ihog/Boi, whose cell adhesion functions also contribute to A/P cell segregation.
- Elaine Y. C. Hsia
- , Ya Zhang
- & Xiaoyan Zheng
-
Article
| Open AccessVariation in a range of mTOR-related genes associates with intracranial volume and intellectual disability
The mTOR pathway is a key regulator of normal brain development. Here, the authors identify de novo mutations in RHEB, an mTOR activator protein, in patients with intellectual disability associated with megalencephaly and find a role for RHEB in regulating neuronal soma size and migration in vitro and in vivo.
- M. R. F. Reijnders
- , M. Kousi
- & H. G. Brunner
-
Article
| Open AccessEndoderm Jagged induces liver and pancreas duct lineage in zebrafish
The hepatopancreatic duct cells connect liver hepatocytes and pancreatic acinar cells to the intestine, but the mechanism for their lineage specification is unclear. Here, the authors reveal that Notch ligands Jagged1b and Jagged2b induce duct cell lineage in the liver and pancreas of the zebrafish.
- Danhua Zhang
- , Keith P. Gates
- & P. Duc Si Dong
-
Article
| Open AccessRegulation of cardiomyocyte behavior in zebrafish trabeculation by Neuregulin 2a signaling
Cardiac trabeculae (which are sponge-like muscular structures) form mostly as a result of cardiomyocyte (CM) delamination in zebrafish. Here, the authors identify Nrg2a in zebrafish as a key regulator of trabeculation, and atrial and non-contractile CMs also respond to Nrg2a despite not forming trabeculae.
- S. Javad Rasouli
- & Didier Y. R. Stainier
-
Article
| Open AccessThe Pu.1 target gene Zbtb11 regulates neutrophil development through its integrase-like HHCC zinc finger
Neutrophils are increased in response to injury and infection but how they form from a common granulocyte-macrophage progenitor is unclear. Here, the authors identify a role for the transcriptional repressor ZBTB11 in zebrafish, which is regulated by master myeloid regulators and repressesTP53.
- Maria-Cristina Keightley
- , Duncan P. Carradice
- & Graham J. Lieschke
-
Article
| Open AccessChd7 is indispensable for mammalian brain development through activation of a neuronal differentiation programme
Mutations in the chromatin modifier Chd7 have been associated with CHARGE syndrome and other developmental disorders. Here the authors show that Chd7 is required for the activation of genes essential for cerebellar granule cell differentiation, and that disrupting Chd7 leads to cerebellar hypoplasia in mice.
- Weijun Feng
- , Daisuke Kawauchi
- & Hai-Kun Liu
-
Article
| Open AccessRare disruptive mutations in ciliary function genes contribute to testicular cancer susceptibility
There is some evidence of a hereditary risk for developing testicular germ cell tumours. Here, the authors use whole-exome sequencing and identify a risk variant for the disease in DNAAF1, a gene involved in microtubule-based cilia.
- Kevin Litchfield
- , Max Levy
- & Clare Turnbull
-
Article
| Open AccessChromatin-remodelling factor Brg1 regulates myocardial proliferation and regeneration in zebrafish
The adult zebrafish heart is capable of regeneration but the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Here the authors show that chromatin remodeling factor Brg1 represses cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors to promote myocardial regeneration.
- Chenglu Xiao
- , Lu Gao
- & Jing-Wei Xiong
-
Article
| Open AccessUnlocking sperm chromatin at fertilization requires a dedicated egg thioredoxin in Drosophila
In many animals, sperm DNA compaction is achieved by disulfide bonds between the sperm nuclear proteins that replace the histones. Here, the authors provide evidence that Drosophilamaternal thioredoxin Deadhead is required to unlock the sperm chromatin upon fertilization.
- Samantha Tirmarche
- , Shuhei Kimura
- & Benjamin Loppin
-
Article
| Open AccessmiRNA-based buffering of the cobblestone–lissencephaly-associated extracellular matrix receptor dystroglycan via its alternative 3′-UTR
Aberrant function of the extracellular matrix receptor dystroglycan is associated with human congenital muscular dystrophies, often associated with brain and eye abnormalities. Here, the authors describe a role for the miRNA miR-310s in regulating dystroglycan expression during Drosophilabrain development.
- Andriy S. Yatsenko
- , April K. Marrone
- & Halyna R. Shcherbata
-
Article |
Development of oculomotor circuitry independent of hox3 genes
Hox genes have been implicated in the development and functioning of neural circuits in vertebrates. Here, the authors show that although hox3genes are not required for overall neural circuit development, they do appear to be necessary to prevent the formation of specific aberrant neuronal connections.
- Leung-Hang Ma
- , Charlotte L. Grove
- & Robert Baker
-
Article |
Developmental gene expression provides clues to relationships between sponge and eumetazoan body plans
The current prevailing view is that body plans of sponges and other animals cannot be compared. Here, the authors identify developmental regulatory genes in the calcisponge, Sycon ciliatum, and report similar developmental gene expression between sponges and cnidarians, which suggests that their body plans are homologous.
- Sven Leininger
- , Marcin Adamski
- & Maja Adamska
-
Article |
Periodic Wnt1 expression in response to ecdysteroid generates twin-spot markings on caterpillars
Among various pigmentation patterns on caterpillars, sequential spot markings are often used for aposematic colouration. Fujiwara et al. show using genetic and functional analyses that periodic upregulation of Wnt1 in response to ecdysteroid causes twin-spot markings on lepidopteran larvae.
- Junichi Yamaguchi
- , Yutaka Banno
- & Haruhiko Fujiwara
-
Article |
Asymmetric spermatocyte division as a mechanism for controlling sex ratios
Some organisms produce unequal numbers of male and female progeny, but the mechanics of skewed of sex ratios are largely unknown. Here, the authors describe alterations in X-chromosome segregation and cytoplasmic partitioning during spermatogenesis that together explain the distorted sex ratio in a nematode species.
- Diane C. Shakes
- , Bryan J. Neva
- & Andre Pires-daSilva