Article
Developmental Biology
Kohei Tsukano, Takayoshi Yamamoto, Tomoko Watanabe, Tatsuo Michiue
Summary: Dusp6, an intracellular regulatory factor of FGF signaling, is found to play a crucial role in the formation and patterning of pre-placodal ectoderm (PPE), a narrow region that gives rise to sensory organs and ganglia. It is involved in the regulation of FGF signaling and the expression of key genes in PPE formation, contributing to the robust patterning of PPE.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Max Meuser, Lena Deuper, Carsten Rudat, Nurullah Aydogdu, Hauke Thiesler, Patricia Zarnovican, Herbert Hildebrandt, Mark-Oliver Trowe, Andreas Kispert
Summary: The patterned array of cells in the mature ureter depends on reciprocal signaling between the epithelium and surrounding mesenchyme, with FGFR2 playing a crucial role. Fgfr2 loss leads to defects in urothelial proliferation, stratification, and differentiation, as well as mesenchymal cell survival and smooth muscle cell differentiation. SHH and BMP4 signaling are affected by Fgfr2 loss, and their activation can rescue the cellular defects in mutant ureters.
Article
Developmental Biology
Lena Deuper, Max Meuser, Hauke Thiesler, Ulrich W. H. Jany, Carsten Rudat, Herbert Hildebrandt, Mark-Oliver Trowe, Andreas Kispert
Summary: The coordinated development of mesenchymal and epithelial progenitors in the murine ureter is regulated by diverse signaling activities. Epithelial FGFR2 signaling enhances epithelial stratification and differentiation through increased expression of Shh, SHH, and BMP4. FGFR1 and FGFR2 in the mesenchyme regulate mesenchymal patterning and differentiation by modulating the SHH/BMP4 signaling axis.
Article
Cell Biology
Yosuke Tanaka, Ai Morozumi, Nobutaka Hirokawa
Summary: Left-dominant [Ca2+]i elevation at the left margin of the ventral node plays a crucial role in determining the initial laterality of mouse embryos. This process is dependent on extracellular leftward fluid flow, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)/ sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling, and the PKD1L1 polycystin subunit, although their interrelationships are not fully understood. By studying KikGR-PKD1L1 knockin mice, researchers have discovered that leftward nodal flow guides PKD1L1-containing fibrous strands and facilitates Nodal mediated [Ca2+]i elevation at the left margin. They propose that the leftward transfer of polycystin-containing fibrous strands determines the left-right asymmetry in developing embryos.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Carlos Godoy-Parejo, Chunhao Deng, Jiaqi Xu, Zhaoying Zhang, Zhili Ren, Nana Ai, Weiwei Liu, Wei Ge, Chuxia Deng, Xiaoling Xu, Y. Eugene Chin, Guokai Chen
Summary: The interplay among mitogenic signaling pathways is critical for embryogenesis. This study identifies protein kinase C (PKC) as an intrinsic master switch between embryonic and extraembryonic cell fates in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). PKC alpha suppresses mesoderm differentiation and PKC delta is required for trophoblast cell fate. PKC activation leads to extraembryonic fate, while PKC inhibition switches cell fate from trophoblast to mesoderm lineages.
Article
Cell Biology
Ichiro Fukunaga, Yoko Oe, Cheng Chen, Keiko Danzaki, Sayaka Ohta, Akito Koike, Katsuhisa Ikeda, Kazusaku Kamiya
Summary: The combination of BMP4 and SB can enhance the production of highly purified iCX26GJCs, potentially allowing for large-scale production suitable for high-throughput drug screening or regenerative therapy for GJB2-related deafness.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Xiaohong Zhao, Xue Li, Ying Wang, Yicheng Guo, Yong Huang, Dalun Lv, Mingxing Lei, Shicang Yu, Gaoxing Luo, Rixing Zhan
Summary: This study systematically verified the biosafety, stemness maintenance, and wound repair efficacy of human epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs). The results showed that the expression of specific markers and clone formation efficiency remained stable across multiple passages, and the stemness rate of the cells was close to 85.1% at passage 8. In vitro expansion of EpiSCs reached a high cell number with a transplantable area equivalent to 75% of the total body surface area. The EpiSCs demonstrated rapid wound closure in a nude mouse model with significantly higher wound epithelialization rate compared to the control group.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Friederike Freiin von Hoevel, Ekaterini Kefalakes, Claudia Grothe
Summary: FGF-2 exists in multiple isoforms of different molecular weights in various animals, playing important roles in cell growth, migration, and maturation, and influencing the functions and disease models of organ systems such as the cardiovascular system, bone formation, and the nervous system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dongwei Li, Ling Luo, Lin Guo, Chuman Wu, Ran Zhang, Yuling Peng, Menghua Wu, Junqi Kuang, Yan Li, Yudan Zhang, Jun Xie, Wenxiu Xie, Rui Mao, Gang Ma, Xiuling Fu, Jiekai Chen, Andrew P. Hutchins, Duanqing Pei
Summary: The study finds that c-Jun functions as a one-way valve in embryonic stem cells, preserving the primed state and preventing reversion to the naive state. It stabilizes the chromatin structure and inhibits the reverse transition. Loss or impairment of c-Jun accelerates the activation of naive-specific enhancers and enhances the efficiency of cell fate conversion.
CELL AND BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Hui Wang, Chengdong Wang, Qi Long, Yuan Zhang, Meiling Wang, Jie Liu, Xufeng Qi, Dongqing Cai, Gang Lu, Jianmin Sun, Yong-Gang Yao, Wood Yee Chan, Wai Yee Chan, Yi Deng, Hui Zhao
Summary: Kindlin2 is essential for neural crest formation in Xenopus embryos independently of integrins, and it regulates the FGF pathway to promote the stability of FGF receptor 1.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shengyong Yu, Chunhua Zhou, Jiangping He, Zhaokai Yao, Xingnan Huang, Bowen Rong, Hong Zhu, Shijie Wang, Shuyan Chen, Xialian Wang, Baomei Cai, Guoqing Zhao, Yuhan Chen, Lizhan Xiao, He Liu, Yue Qin, Jing Guo, Haokaifeng Wu, Zhen Zhang, Man Zhang, Xiaoyang Zhao, Fei Lan, Yixuan Wang, Jiekai Chen, Shangtao Cao, Duanqing Pei, Jing Liu
Summary: This study utilizes single-cell RNA sequencing to examine the transition process of mouse stem cells and uncovers an alternative route from primed to naive pluripotency. The researchers discover that the transition goes through a primordial germ cell-like intermediate state. Furthermore, they elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in this process, including the role of DOT1L, Gata2, and Prdm1/Blimp1.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diane Hu, Ralph S. Marcucio
Summary: Using avian embryo as a model system allows direct assessment of tissue effects and interactions, contributing to understanding vertebrate development. Signals from the forebrain regulate the shape of SHH expression domain in the Frontonasal Ectodermal Zone (FEZ), impacting facial morphogenesis.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
A. Scheie, Pontus Laurell, P. A. McClarty, G. E. Granroth, M. B. Stone, R. Moessner, S. E. Nagler
Summary: The study reveals gadolinium as a Dirac magnon material with nodal lines and planes, showing nontrivial Berry phases and topological surface modes for the nodal lines. The origin and effect of nodal planes are characterized by a topological invariant. These results suggest a highly nontrivial topology, which is common to hexagonal close packed ferromagnets, with potential implications for other similar systems.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guangqian Ding, Tingting Sun, Xiaotian Wang
Summary: This paper presents the occurrence of ideal nodal-net, nodal-chain, and nodal-cage phonons in realistic materials based on first-principle calculations, and highlights the clean phonon bands and phonon surface states that can be easily detected in experiments. It provides an ideal platform for realizing complex geometric shapes formed by nodal lines in the momentum space of phonons.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yong Wang, Hui Li, Jingjing Cao, Aihua Liu, Zhenyu Kou, Weiting An, Jingli Liang, Xiaomin Zhang, Xiaorong Li, Lijie Dong
Summary: Mitochondria play a crucial role in the oxidative phosphorylation of glucose and the maintenance of cell oxidation and antioxidant stability. Dysfunction in mitochondria and retinal vascular endothelial cells can lead to various complications. This study investigates the effects of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) on vascular endothelial cells and its potential as a therapeutic target for diabetic retinopathy.
Article
Developmental Biology
Qing Cissy Yu, Lanyue Bai, Yingying Chen, Yujie Chen, Guangdun Peng, Daisong Wang, Guowei Yang, Guizhong Cui, Naihe Jing, Yi Arial Zeng
Summary: Vascular establishment is a crucial event in early embryogenesis. This study identifies Procr as a marker for endothelial progenitors and reveals its role in embryonic vascular development. The findings show that Procr(+) cells are responsible for blood vessel formation throughout the embryo and play a crucial role in endothelial commitment and maturation. The study also suggests that Procr(+) progenitors can give rise to hemogenic endothelium.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ran Wang, Song Yue, Zhe Zhang, Yu Hou, Hongda Zhao, Shitian Qu, Man Li, Zichen Zhang
Summary: This paper numerically demonstrates a broadband perfect absorber in the visible range, which has a high absorptance and potential applications in photovoltaics and photodetection.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Zhidong Wen, Haiyan Shi, Song Yue, Man Li, Zhe Zhang, Ran Wang, Qi Song, Ziye Xu, Zichen Zhang, Yu Hou
Summary: This study creatively proposes a method of femtosecond laser-induced black silicon assisted with laser plasma shockwave cleaning, which achieves higher, denser, and more uniform microstructures in the preparation of large-scale black silicon. It is beneficial for realizing large-scale preparation of photoelectric devices based on black silicon.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ran Wang, Mariana Herrera, Wenjun Xu, Peng Zhang, Jesus Perez Moreno, Carlos Colinas, Fuqiang Yu
Summary: This study revealed the rich local mycological knowledge and fungal diversity in Pu'er Prefecture, Yunnan. Participants in the 45-65 age group were more accurate in identifying mushroom species, with men generally having a deeper knowledge than women. Correspondence was found between mushroom species and recorded amounts in markets and natural habitats across different months.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Ran Wang, Guangdun Peng, Patrick P. L. Tam, Naihe Jing
Summary: Recent advancements in single-cell transcriptomics and spatial transcriptomics have revolutionized molecular cell biology, while also offering new avenues for addressing fundamental biological questions in health and diseases. This review examines the technical attributes of these technologies and the core concepts of computational data analysis. The challenges of data integration and interpreting the biological context of the findings are also highlighted.
GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Guizhong Cui, Su Feng, Yaping Yan, Li Wang, Xiechao He, Xi Li, Yanchao Duan, Jun Chen, Ke Tang, Ping Zheng, Patrick P. L. Tam, Wei Si, Naihe Jing, Guangdun Peng
Summary: This study provides insights into the molecular dynamics of cell types during gastrulation in non-human primate embryos, revealing the developmental coordinate of germ layer segregation between mouse and primates and species-specific transcription programs. These findings are important for understanding the conserved and divergent processes during mammalian gastrulation.
Article
Cell Biology
Gaowei Chen, Shishi Lai, Guo Bao, Jincan Ke, Xiaogao Meng, Shanshan Lu, Xiaocong Wu, Hua Xu, Fengyi Wu, Yu Xu, Fang Xu, Guo-Qian Bi, Guangdun Peng, Kuikui Zhou, Yingjie Zhu
Summary: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a crucial role in motivation and reward processing. Recent research suggests that different subnuclei of the NAc have distinct contributions to reward-related behaviors. However, how individual NAc neurons encode reward remains unclear.
Article
Microbiology
Ran Wang, Yanliang Wang, Alexis Guerin-Laguette, Peng Zhang, Carlos Colinas, Fuqiang Yu
Summary: This study aimed to explore successful establishment methods for introducing exotic Pinus radiata trees. The results showed that P. radiata could establish in a new habitat either with or without the co-introduced Lactarius deliciosus. The co-introduced L. deliciosus may become naturalized in the new area. The introduction of L. deliciosus significantly altered the fungal community composition and had a positive correlation with nutrient acquisition of P. radiata. Host identity had no significant effect on fungal composition.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lu Wen, Guoqiang Li, Tao Huang, Wei Geng, Hao Pei, Jialiang Yang, Miao Zhu, Pengfei Zhang, Rui Hou, Geng Tian, Wentao Su, Jian Chen, Dake Zhang, Pingan Zhu, Wei Zhang, Xiuxin Zhang, Ning Zhang, Yunlong Zhao, Xin Cao, Guangdun Peng, Xianwen Ren, Nan Jiang, Caihuan Tian, Zi-Jiang Chen
Summary: With the advancement of single-cell technologies, a vast amount of single-cell omics data has been generated, and numerous bioinformatics algorithms have been developed. These single-cell technologies have found successful applications in various fields, including oncology, assisted reproduction, embryonic development, and plant breeding, and are expected to become a booming business for mechanism research and commercial industry in the future.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Fuqing Jiang, Xin Zhou, Yingying Qian, Miao Zhu, Li Wang, Zhuxia Li, Qingmei Shen, Minhan Wang, Fangfang Qu, Guizhong Cui, Kai Chen, Guangdun Peng
Summary: The study describes a microfluidic indexing-based spatial assay (MISAR-seq) that combines spatial-ATAC-seq and RNA-seq to simultaneously profile chromatin accessibility and gene expression in the developing mouse brain. This method provides insights into tissue organization and spatiotemporal regulatory logics during brain development.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuxuan Zhao, Shiqiang Zhang, Jian Xu, Yangyang Yu, Guangdun Peng, Carlo Vittorio Cannistraci, Jing-Dong J. Han
Summary: This study proposes a new algorithm, called de novo coalescent embedding (D-CE), which can reconstruct the 3D spatial organization of cells based on the expression patterns of genes. By preserving the organization of cell-cell association transcriptomic networks, D-CE captures spatial domains, identifies spatially expressed genes, reconstructs the 3D spatial distribution of cell samples, and uncovers the principles of spatial organization and pattern formation. Comparison with other methods shows that D-CE outperforms them in terms of 3D spatial reconstruction.
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Xiaogao Meng, Guizhong Cui, Guangdun Peng
Summary: This article reviews the current understanding of lung development process and regenerative capability. It highlights the advances made through the application of multi-omics approaches and single-cell transcriptome analysis, which provide insights into the cellular and molecular processes underlying lung development and regeneration.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ran Wang, Xianfa Yang, Jiehui Chen, Lin Zhang, Jonathan A. Griffiths, Guizhong Cui, Yingying Chen, Yun Qian, Guangdun Peng, Jinsong Li, Liantang Wang, John C. Marioni, Patrick P. L. Tam, Naihe Jing
Summary: This study constructed a spatiotemporal molecular atlas of cell lineages in the germ-layers of gastrula-stage mouse embryos, and revealed the crucial role of molecular network activity, particularly asymmetric BMP activity, in the differentiation and patterning of the germ-layer tissue lineages during gastrulation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fangfang Qu, Wenjia Li, Jian Xu, Ruifang Zhang, Jincan Ke, Xiaodie Ren, Xiaogao Meng, Lexin Qin, Jingna Zhang, Fangru Lu, Xin Zhou, Xi Luo, Zhen Zhang, Minhan Wang, Guangming Wu, Duanqing Pei, Jiekai Chen, Guizhong Cui, Shengbao Suo, Guangdun Peng
Summary: This study presents a three-dimensional spatial transcriptomic atlas of major organs in the mouse embryo at embryonic day 13.5, providing detailed insights into organ development and cellular interactions during mammalian development. By integrating the spatial atlas with single-cell transcriptomic data, the study offers a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic processes involved in organ development, cellular interactions, embryonic axes, and cell fate divergence, which could contribute to precise organ engineering and stem cell-based regenerative medicine.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Cheng Chen, Yuanxin Liao, Guangdun Peng
Summary: Single-cell lineage tracing, a fundamental goal in modern biology, allows the depiction of cells' history, state, and fate. Various strategies, including integration barcodes, polylox barcodes, and CRISPR barcodes, have been developed to achieve single-cell lineage tracing at high resolution. Despite their successful application in animal development and stem cell research, careful implementation and effort are still required.
