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Article
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Deficiency of the HGF/Met pathway leads to thyroid dysgenesis by impeding late thyroid expansion
The mechanisms of bifurgation, a key step in thyroid development, are largely unknown. Here, Fang et al. find that HGF/Met is indispensable for the bifurgation of the thyroid primordium during zebrafish thyroid development.
- Ya Fang
- , Jia-Ping Wan
- & Huai-Dong Song
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Article
| Open Access
Basal actomyosin pulses expand epithelium coordinating cell flattening and tissue elongation
Actomyosin networks constrict cell area and junctions to alter cell and tissue shape. Here, Li et al. reveal a morphological cell expansion wave behaviour that coordinates epithelial flattening and tissue elongation during Drosophila oogenesis.
- Shun Li
- , Zong-Yuan Liu
- & Xiaobo Wang
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Article
| Open Access
Two orthogonal differentiation gradients locally coordinate fruit morphogenesis
The coordination of cellular behaviors is essential for proper organogenesis. Here the authors show that fruit development in Arabidopsis is governed by time-shifted differentiation gradients that act locally along two perpendicular organ axes.
- Andrea Gómez-Felipe
- , Elvis Branchini
- & Daniel Kierzkowski
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Article
| Open Access
Age-progressive interplay of HSP-proteostasis, ECM-cell junctions and biomechanics ensures C. elegans astroglial architecture
Neural circuit architecture must be maintained during an animal’s lifetime. Here, the authors show that a protective mechanism combining proteostasis and biomechanics supports the integrity of glial cells to environmental stressors.
- Francesca Coraggio
- , Mahak Bhushan
- & Georgia Rapti
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Review Article
| Open Access
Developmental timing in plants
Plants exhibit reproducible timing of developmental events at multiple scales, from switches in cell identity to maturation of the whole plant. Using simplified models to convey key concepts, we review how timing mechanisms interact with the environment to control cyclical and progressive developmental transitions.
- Enrico Coen
- & Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz
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Article
| Open Access
The level of protein in the maternal murine diet modulates the facial appearance of the offspring via mTORC1 signaling
Children’s faces resemble their parents to various degrees. Here they show that the maternal diet affects the facial appearances of newborns and that inherited and adaptive mechanisms sculpturing facial bones are linked via dietary protein levels and the mTOR signaling pathway.
- Meng Xie
- , Markéta Kaiser
- & Andrei S. Chagin
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Article
| Open Access
Tgfbr1 controls developmental plasticity between the hindlimb and external genitalia by remodeling their regulatory landscape
Development of hindlimbs and external genitalia share several regulatory factors. Lozovska et al. show that Tgfbr1 controls the response to those factors; embryos lacking Tgfbr1 develop two sets of hindlimbs at the expense of the external genitalia.
- Anastasiia Lozovska
- , Artemis G. Korovesi
- & Moisés Mallo
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Article
| Open Access
Spatiotemporal formation of glands in plants is modulated by MYB-like transcription factors
The spatiotemporal formation of glands in tomato trichomes is regulated by two MYB-like transcription factors, named as GCR1 and 2, whose expression is tightly restricted by SlTOE1B. GCR1 and 2 inhibit gland formation by repressing LFS expression.
- Jiang Chang
- , Shurong Wu
- & Shuang Wu
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Article
| Open Access
Suppression of apoptosis impairs phalangeal joint formation in the pathogenesis of brachydactyly type A1
Authors explore the biological mechanisms underlying a missing digit joint in Brachydactyly type A1. They showed that excess Indian Hedgehog proteins suppress the apoptosis level needed for the progression of digit joint development in a mouse model.
- Adrian On Wah Leung
- , Andrew Chung Hin Poon
- & Danny Chan
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Article
| Open Access
Dynamic enhancer landscapes in human craniofacial development
Rajderkar et al. provide a genome-wide compendium of transcriptional enhancers active in human craniofacial development, along with single-cell resources for studies of mammalian craniofacial morphogenesis.
- Sudha Sunil Rajderkar
- , Kitt Paraiso
- & Axel Visel
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Article
| Open Access
A single-cell atlas of Drosophila trachea reveals glycosylation-mediated Notch signaling in cell fate specification
Studying Drosophila trachea development can inform the mechanisms of growth of all tubular structures. Here, the authors generate a transcriptomic cell atlas of the developing fly trachea and establish roles for Notch signaling, which may be disrupted by diet-induced glycosylation.
- Yue Li
- , Tianfeng Lu
- & Hai Huang
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Article
| Open Access
Endothelial cells regulate alveolar morphogenesis by constructing basement membranes acting as a scaffold for myofibroblasts
During alveologenesis myofibroblasts contractions at terminal sacs produce alveoli in the lungs. Here they show that endothelial cells promote myofibroblast-driven alveologenesis by forming basement membranes via Rap1-induced integrin β1 activation.
- Haruko Watanabe-Takano
- , Katsuhiro Kato
- & Shigetomo Fukuhara
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Article
| Open Access
JAK-STAT-dependent contact between follicle cells and the oocyte controls Drosophila anterior-posterior polarity and germline development
The authors identified a cell population in Drosophila follicles that elaborate filopodia penetrating the oocyte they are contacting. These somatic cells are essential during oogenesis to regulate polarity and germline development of the future embryo.
- Charlotte Mallart
- , Sophie Netter
- & Marianne Malartre
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Article
| Open Access
Emergence of periodic circumferential actin cables from the anisotropic fusion of actin nanoclusters during tubulogenesis
Periodic circumferential cytoskeletons support biological tube formation. Here, the authors show that self-assembled actin nanoclusters undergo biased fusion and develop into periodic cables in response to the membrane anisotropy of the expanding Drosophila tracheal tube.
- Sayaka Sekine
- , Mitsusuke Tarama
- & Shigeo Hayashi
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Article
| Open Access
Embryos assist morphogenesis of others through calcium and ATP signaling mechanisms in collective teratogen resistance
The collective activity of cells enables embryos to overcome various perturbations. Here, authors show that at the higher (population) level, embryos also communicate. This enables larger groups to resist chemical and molecular-genetic teratogens.
- Angela Tung
- , Megan M. Sperry
- & Michael Levin
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Article
| Open Access
Mechanical control of neural plate folding by apical domain alteration
Theoretical and experimental observations argue that apical domain heterogeneity in the neural plate is a tug-of-war contest between constricted and elongated cells. This competition likely reflects mechanical forces operating during tissue bending.
- Miho Matsuda
- , Jan Rozman
- & Sergei Y. Sokol
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Article
| Open Access
An archetype and scaling of developmental tissue dynamics across species
Limb tissue dynamics until basic skeletal pattern establishment exhibit a high degree of conservation between chick and frog after proper rescaling of spacetime, suggesting the presence of a species-independent archetype of morphogenetic dynamics.
- Yoshihiro Morishita
- , Sang-Woo Lee
- & Aiko Kawasumi-Kita
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Article
| Open Access
Puckered and JNK signaling in pioneer neurons coordinates the motor activity of the Drosophila embryo
How the stereotypical architecture of the nervous system is generated, and how this underlies function, is not well understood. Here, the authors show that JNK signaling in Drosophila pioneer neurons directs its structural organization, required for motor coordination.
- Katerina Karkali
- , Samuel W. Vernon
- & Enrique Martín-Blanco
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Article
| Open Access
Nanoscale patterning of collagens in C. elegans apical extracellular matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for animal development and intricately patterned at multiple scales. Here Adams and Pooranachithra et al. show how specific collagens are precisely localized to struts, highly patterned sub-micron structures in the nematode cuticle ECM.
- Jennifer R. G. Adams
- , Murugesan Pooranachithra
- & Andrew D. Chisholm
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Article
| Open Access
Multi-species atlas resolves an axolotl limb development and regeneration paradox
Single-cell transcriptomic cross-species comparison identifies critical limb developmental cell type apical-ectodermal ridge in the prime limb regeneration model axolotl, and its differential usage during amphibian limb regeneration.
- Jixing Zhong
- , Rita Aires
- & Can Aztekin
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Article
| Open Access
Luminal Rank loss decreases cell fitness leading to basal cell bipotency in parous mammary glands
Rocha and co-authors show that loss of luminal Rank signaling causes abnormal alveolar differentiation and lactation failure. Subsequent pregnancies activate bipotency in basal cells, replacing unfit luminal cells, and restoring lactation.
- Ana Sofia Rocha
- , Alejandro Collado-Solé
- & Eva González-Suárez
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Article
| Open Access
Macroscopic waves, biological clocks and morphogenesis driven by light in a giant unicellular green alga
Self-organised waves propagate throughout the alga Caulerpa. Light temporal patterns control the waves and algal morphology, potentially tying light-synchronized self-oscillations to one of the mysteries of single-cell development, morphogenesis.
- Eldad Afik
- , Toni J. B. Liu
- & Elliot M. Meyerowitz
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Article
| Open Access
SMCHD1 has separable roles in chromatin architecture and gene silencing that could be targeted in disease
Here the authors reveal that a neomorphic mutation in chromatin protein SMCHD1 enhances SMCHD1-mediated gene silencing, including at the FSHD disease-relevant locus, while depleting SMCHD1-mediated chromatin interactions, suggesting these SMCHD1 functions are unlinked.
- Andres Tapia del Fierro
- , Bianca den Hamer
- & Marnie E. Blewitt
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Article
| Open Access
The TNFR Wengen regulates the FGF pathway by an unconventional mechanism
Mechanistic studies of receptor action have aided our understanding of developmental processes and facilitated drug development. Here they show that the TNFR-Wengen acts by forming a complex with the FGFR-Breathless, regulating its activity during cell differentiation in the developing respiratory system of Drosophila.
- Annalisa Letizia
- , Maria Lluisa Espinàs
- & Marta Llimargas
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Article
| Open Access
Self-organized and directed branching results in optimal coverage in developing dermal lymphatic networks
The lymphatic system is a transport network that controls immune response and tissue fluid circulation in the body. Here the authors combine experiment and theory to reveal that developing lymphatic capillary networks exploit complementary branching strategies to optimize tissue coverage.
- Mehmet Can Uçar
- , Edouard Hannezo
- & Kari Vaahtomeri
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Article
| Open Access
Fgf signalling triggers an intrinsic mesodermal timer that determines the duration of limb patterning
The limb bud is patterned by crosstalk between the mesoderm and the overlying apical ectodermal ridge, but it has been difficult to determine the requirement for different ligands in this process. Here the authors use a chick wing explant system to show that fibroblast growth factors trigger a mesodermal programme that is key for timing limb bud patterning.
- Sofia Sedas Perez
- , Caitlin McQueen
- & Matthew Towers
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Article
| Open Access
Serotonin signaling regulates actomyosin contractility during morphogenesis in evolutionarily divergent lineages
Serotonin signaling is well known for modulating animal behavior. Here the authors discovered it plays a developmental role in regulating actomyosin contractility driven cellular mechanics and tissue flows during gastrulation of insect and bird.
- Sanjay Karki
- , Mehdi Saadaoui
- & Thomas Lecuit
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Article
| Open Access
A spatio-temporally constrained gene regulatory network directed by PBX1/2 acquires limb patterning specificity via HAND2
Many key developmental transcriptional regulators are broadly expressed but perform distinct functions in specific tissues. Here they show that ubiquitously expressed PBX factors gain limb bud functionality by interaction with HAND2, uncovering fundamental principles of cooperation between promiscuous and tissue-specific regulators to instruct developmental programs.
- Marta Losa
- , Iros Barozzi
- & Licia Selleri
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Article
| Open Access
RAS-independent ERK activation by constitutively active KSR3 in non-chordate metazoa
ERK signalling is a core developmental pathway that is canonically activated by RTKs through activated RAS. Here they show that the process of ERK activation in skeletogenic precursors of the sea urchin embryo is growth factor and RAS-independent, uncovering a new mode of ERK signalling in non-chordate metazoa.
- Aline Chessel
- , Noémie De Crozé
- & Thierry Lepage
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Article
| Open Access
hapln1a+ cells guide coronary growth during heart morphogenesis and regeneration
The guidance cues critical for coronary growth remain unclear. Here, Sun et al. reveal the requirement of hapln1a+ cells and serpine1 to establish a microenvironment for guided coronary growth during zebrafish heart morphogenesis and regeneration.
- Jisheng Sun
- , Elizabeth A. Peterson
- & Jinhu Wang
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Article
| Open Access
Downregulation of extraembryonic tension controls body axis formation in avian embryos
Extraembryonic tissues provide structural support in addition to signaling inputs. Here they show that extraembryonic structures regulate the mechanical environment of the developing chicken embryo, wherein weakening of the vitelline membrane permits tissue movements that form the body axis.
- Daniele Kunz
- , Anfu Wang
- & Fengzhu Xiong
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Article
| Open Access
A multiple super-enhancer region establishes inter-TAD interactions and controls Hoxa function in cranial neural crest
The authors discovered a far distant genomic region containing multiple clusters of regulatory elements that drive coordinated Hoxa expression across chromatin topologically associating domains in cranial neural crest, and are required for patterning of facial structures.
- Sandra Kessler
- , Maryline Minoux
- & Filippo M. Rijli
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Article
| Open Access
Directionality of developing skeletal muscles is set by mechanical forces
The mechanisms that drive myocyte orientation and fusion to control muscle directionality are not well understood. Here authors show that the developing skeleton produces mechanical tension that instructs the directional outgrowth of skeletal muscles.
- Kazunori Sunadome
- , Alek G. Erickson
- & Igor Adameyko
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Article
| Open Access
Establishment of gastrointestinal assembloids to study the interplay between epithelial crypts and their mesenchymal niche
Most intestinal organoid models do not accurately model the interactions between epithelial and stromal cells. Here they establish a colon assembloid system with epithelial and stromal cells and demonstrate that BMP signals from differentiating epithelial cells promote mesenchymal niche organization.
- Manqiang Lin
- , Kimberly Hartl
- & Michael Sigal
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Article
| Open Access
A Yap-dependent mechanoregulatory program sustains cell migration for embryo axis assembly
YAP signaling has been established as a mechanotransductive pathway in multiple contexts, but its developmental roles are still being explored. Here they show that YAP signaling sustains intracellular tension to direct cell migration during embryonic axis assembly.
- Ana Sousa-Ortega
- , Javier Vázquez-Marín
- & Juan R. Martínez-Morales
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Article
| Open Access
Coordinated regulation of vegetative phase change by brassinosteroids and the age pathway in Arabidopsis
Zhou et al. reveal a novel role for brassinosteroids in regulation of vegetative phase change in Arabidopsis. Brassinosteroids regulate this process by simultaneously stabilizing SPL9 and TOE1 through the BIN2-mediated phosphorylation process.
- Bingying Zhou
- , Qing Luo
- & Gang Wu
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Article
| Open Access
Ripply suppresses Tbx6 to induce dynamic-to-static conversion in somite segmentation
During somitogenesis, the dynamic oscillation of the molecular clock is converted into static spatial patterns. Here, the authors show that persistent suppression of Tbx6 expression triggered by periodical Ripply1/2 gene expression is a key to this conversion.
- Taijiro Yabe
- , Koichiro Uriu
- & Shinji Takada
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Article
| Open Access
Intercellular exchange of Wnt ligands reduces cell population heterogeneity during embryogenesis
Neuromesodermal progenitor (NMP) cells produce and receive Wnt ligands. Here, the authors show that mutual intercellular exchange of Wnt ligands reduces heterogeneity between NMP cells and makes NMP populations robust to environmental stress.
- Yudai Hatakeyama
- , Nen Saito
- & Shinji Takada
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Article
| Open Access
Growth anisotropy of the extracellular matrix shapes a developing organ
Tissue morphogenesis is a complex process that involves tissue growth, mechanics, and shape changes. This work demonstrates that differences in growth rate and direction between a tissue layer and its associated extracellular matrix drive 3D shape changes during organ growth.
- Stefan Harmansa
- , Alexander Erlich
- & Thomas Lecuit
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Article
| Open Access
Actin polymerisation and crosslinking drive left-right asymmetry in single cell and cell collectives
In this work, the authors identify regulators of actin filament assembly involved in chiral organisation of the actin cytoskeleton in single cells and chiral alignment of cells in groups. This provides insights into how actin-driven chirality underlies tissue and organ asymmetry.
- Yee Han Tee
- , Wei Jia Goh
- & Alexander D. Bershadsky
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Article
| Open Access
Hedgehog is relayed through dynamic heparan sulfate interactions to shape its gradient
The Hedgehog morphogen creates gradients during development, but diffusion alone cannot explain its spatiotemporal dynamics. Hedgehog transport requires binding heparan sulfate sugar chains, and the authors now show that Hedgehogs can spread by interacting with sequential heparan molecules.
- Fabian Gude
- , Jurij Froese
- & Kay Grobe
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Article
| Open Access
JNK signaling in pioneer neurons organizes ventral nerve cord architecture in Drosophila embryos
The shape and size of the mature central nervous system is highly regular, implying precise architectural rules. The authors show that alterations in JNK signaling in selected neurons impact the overall 3-dimensional organization of the Drosophila ventral nerve cord in a cell non-autonomous fashion.
- Katerina Karkali
- , Timothy E. Saunders
- & Enrique Martín-Blanco
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Article
| Open Access
Homeotic compartment curvature and tension control spatiotemporal folding dynamics
Morphogenetic shape changes are regulated by mechanical properties of interacting tissues, but other factors remain less studied. By exploring how homeotic genes regulate morphogenesis, Villedieu et al. uncover how the interplay between genetic patterning and initial tissue geometry drives morphogenesis during development.
- Aurélien Villedieu
- , Lale Alpar
- & Yohanns Bellaïche
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Article
| Open Access
Annexin A1 is a polarity cue that directs mitotic spindle orientation during mammalian epithelial morphogenesis
Regulation of oriented cell divisions during development is important to position daughter cells and build a structured and functional tissue. Here the authors show that Annexin A1 is a key polarity protein that regulates planar orientation of the cell division axis to guide mammary epithelial morphogenesis.
- Maria Fankhaenel
- , Farahnaz S. Golestan Hashemi
- & Salah Elias
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Article
| Open Access
SOX17-positive rete testis epithelium is required for Sertoli valve formation and normal spermiogenesis in the male mouse
A valve-like structure called this Sertoli valve (SV) supports spermatogenesis by modulating the directional fluid flow in mouse testis. The SV formation is supported by its neighboring SOX17 + rete testis (RT). This study highlights the essential roles of RT and SV in spermatogenesis.
- Aya Uchida
- , Kenya Imaimatsu
- & Yoshiakira Kanai
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Article
| Open Access
Nr6a1 controls Hox expression dynamics and is a master regulator of vertebrate trunk development
The authors identify Nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (Nr6a1) as a master regulator of elongation, segmentation, patterning and lineage allocation specifically within the trunk region of the mouse, acting downstream of the major signals known to control vertebral column formation.
- Yi-Cheng Chang
- , Jan Manent
- & Edwina McGlinn
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Article
| Open Access
mTORC1 signaling facilitates differential stem cell differentiation to shape the developing murine lung and is associated with mitochondrial capacity
Lung branching requires differentiation of progenitor cells to be coordinated with morphogenetic events. Zhang et al. find that loss of mTORC1 signaling in the distal SOX9+ lung progenitors reduces mitochondrial capacity and ATP production, thus disrupting the formation of the conducting airways without affecting the development of the gas exchange unit.
- Kuan Zhang
- , Erica Yao
- & Pao-Tien Chuang
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Article
| Open Access
Alveolar cell fate selection and lifelong maintenance of AT2 cells by FGF signaling
Here the authors show that FGF signaling initiates alveolus development in mouse lung by inducing AT2 fate and a secondary signal for AT1 fate, and continuously maintains AT2 cells throughout life. FGF inhibition triggers immediate AT2 apoptosis and compensatory regeneration.
- Douglas G. Brownfield
- , Alex Diaz de Arce
- & Mark A. Krasnow
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Article
| Open Access
Biological effects of the loss of homochirality in a multicellular organism
Active regulation of chirality, or handedness, is crucial for life. Here, the authors describe assays to characterise proteome chirality in vivo and show that errors degrade enzyme activity triggering tumour formation and reduced lifespan.
- Agnes Banreti
- , Shayon Bhattacharya
- & Stéphane Noselli
hoxc12/c13 as key regulators for rebooting the developmental program in Xenopus limb regeneration