Article
Biology
Emir E. Aviles-Pagan, Masatoshi Hara, Terry L. Orr-Weaver
Summary: Research in Drosophila shows that the GNU activating subunit plays a crucial role in regulating the PNG kinase complex and proteins in RNP granules, facilitating the transition from differentiated oocyte to embryo.
Article
Neurosciences
Sheng Zhang, Yan Wang, Jie Xu, Bokyung Kim, Wenbin Deng, Fuzheng Guo
Summary: This study reveals the important role of HIF-alpha in developmental myelination, demonstrating its requirement in controlling OPC differentiation for efficient myelination. Contrary to previous beliefs, it was found that HIF-alpha's regulation of CNS myelination is independent of canonical Wnt signaling, and instead involves the HIF-alpha-Sox9 regulatory axis. This discovery represents a shift in understanding the mechanisms of HIF-alpha-regulated CNS myelination from a Wnt-dependent view to a Wnt-independent one.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Yichen Sun, Moyi Li, Junhua Geng, Sibie Meng, Renjun Tu, Yan Zhuang, Mingkuan Sun, Menglong Rui, Mengzhu Ou, Guangling Xing, Travis K. Johnson, Wei Xie
Summary: Neuroligins, through an interaction between DNlg2 and RACK1, regulate F-Actin assembly at the Drosophila NMJ via the Cofilin signaling pathway. Deletion of DNlg2 disrupts the actin cytoskeleton and results in abnormal synaptic transmission and locomotion. Overexpression of certain forms of Cofilin can rescue these defects. These findings highlight the importance and complexity of Neuroligins in neural connectivity.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Daniel Bastardo Blanco, Nicole M. Chapman, Jana L. Raynor, Chengxian Xu, Wei Su, K. C. Anil, Wei Li, Seon Ah Lim, Stefan Schattgen, Hao Shi, Isabel Risch, Yu Sun, Yogesh Dhungana, Yunjung Kim, Jun Wei, Sherri Rankin, Geoffrey Neale, Paul G. Thomas, Kai Yang, Hongbo Chi
Summary: PTEN loss leads to the accumulation of type-17 innate-like T cells through altered metabolic reprogramming and the involvement of mTOR, Foxo1, and IL-23-Stat3 signaling.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leonard Clinton D'Souza, Shiwangi Dwivedi, Faiza Raihan, Undiganalu Gangadharappa Yathisha, Shamprasad Varija Raghu, Bangera Sheshappa Mamatha, Anurag Sharma
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between benzene-induced immune dysfunction and developmental toxicity in a genetically tractable animal model. It also explores the protective role of Hsp70 against benzene-induced immunotoxicity and developmental impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Johnny E. Elguero, Guangmei Liu, Katherine Tiemeyer, Shruthi Bandyadka, Heena Gandevia, Lauren Duro, Zhenhao Yan, Kimberly Mccall
Summary: This study found that Drosophila mutants lacking the phagocytic receptor Draper have phagocytic defects leading to neurodegenerative diseases. The study also discovered that phagocytic defects cause neurodegeneration through increased immune signaling.
Article
Biology
David S. Brooks, Kumar Vishal, Simranjot Bawa, Adrienne Alder, Erika R. Geisbrecht
Summary: This study investigates muscle atrophy in the aging population and various disease states, using insect models to reveal protein changes and identify novel regulators of muscle atrophy. The findings provide insights into global changes occurring during atrophy, potentially leading to therapeutic targets.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sromana Mukherjee, Nuria Paricio, Nicholas S. Sokol
Summary: This study identifies a posttranscriptional mechanism that modulates BMP signaling activity within Drosophila adult intestinal tissue to regulate intestinal stem cell numbers during both normal homeostasis and tissue regeneration.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Judit Carrasco, Fernando Mateos, Valerie Hilgers
Summary: Cell-type-specific gene regulatory programs are critical for cell differentiation and function. In fruit flies, the ELAV protein family plays an essential role in generating unique transcript isoforms during neuronal differentiation. The study also reveals that the establishment of a subset of neuronal transcript isoforms by ELAV at the onset of neuronal differentiation is a developmental bottleneck that cannot be overcome by the activation of a paralog gene later in neurons. Loss of ELAV function outside of this critical time window leads to neurological defects.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Kelsey A. A. Herrmann, Yizhou Liu, Arnau Llobet-Rosell, Colleen N. N. McLaughlin, Lukas J. J. Neukomm, Jaeda C. C. Coutinho-Budd, Heather T. T. Broihier
Summary: This study reveals divergent signaling requirements for dSARM in glial phagocytosis and axon degeneration. The results demonstrate that the NAD(+) hydrolase activity of dSARM is essential for both functions, while SAM domain-mediated multimerization is only important for axon degeneration. In addition, dSARM functions in a genetic pathway with MAP3K Ask1 during development.
Article
Biology
Marta A. Santos, Ana Carromeu-Santos, Ana S. Quina, Mauro Santos, Margarida Matos, Pedro Simoes
Summary: The study found that higher developmental temperatures led to lower reproductive performance, while lower temperatures only caused performance decline when maintained throughout the juvenile and adult stages. Exposing both juveniles and adults to higher temperatures did not have harmful cumulative effects. Both latitudinal populations exhibited similar thermal plasticity patterns.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juan Lu, Yingjie Wang, Xiao Wang, Dan Wang, Gert O. Pflugfelder, Jie Shen
Summary: The movement and fusion of cell populations are crucial for development. This study identifies Doc, a T-box transcription factor gene, as a target of Dpp in the process of thorax closure in Drosophila. The findings provide new insights into the mechanism of collective cell movement.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Anindya Ganguly, Manali Dey, Christi Scott, Vi-Khoi Duong, Anupama Arun Dahanukar
Summary: Food choice in animals can change with internal nutritional state and dietary conditions. In fruit flies, macronutrient imbalances in diet can lead to compensatory behavioral shifts, as well as changes in taste sensitivity. This study found that the preferences for specific macronutrients were modified in response to diet composition, with differences in onset of changes in taste sensitivity and behavior. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms behind these changes were investigated, showing the involvement of certain genes in modulating taste preferences.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Benedicte M. Lefevre, Stecy Mienanzambi, Michael Lang
Summary: The study found that the Sonoran desert endemic species Drosophila pachea is not sensitive to changes in rearing temperature, with similar duration of pupal development at different temperatures. This is likely an evolutionary mechanism to ensure proper development and adaptation to desert climate conditions.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Applied
Ariel Kalil, Susan E. Mayer, Sebastian Gallegos
Summary: Implementing personalized text messages targeting potential factors driving preschool absences can significantly increase attendance days and reduce chronic absenteeism. The intervention impact is stronger among families with lower attendance rates, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about preschool attendance.
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND HUMAN DECISION PROCESSES
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
MaryJane Shimell, Xueyang Pan, Francisco A. Martin, Arpan C. Ghosh, Pierre Leopold, Michael B. O'Connor, Nuria M. Romero
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xueyang Pan, Thomas P. Neufeld, Michael B. O'Connor
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Lindsay Moss-Taylor, Ambuj Upadhyay, Xueyang Pan, Myung-Jun Kim, Michael B. O'Connor
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Li, Li Yang, Zhengmei Mao, Xueyang Pan, Yueshui Zhao, Xue Gu, Kristin Eckel-Mahan, Zhongyuan Zuo, Qiang Tong, Sean M. Hartig, Xiaodong Cheng, Guangwei Du, David D. Moore, Hugo J. Bellen, Hiromi Sesaki, Kai Sun
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Xinyu Wang, Xiaoyuan Luo, Xueyang Pan, Xinping Guan
IEEE SYSTEMS JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Biology
Xueyang Pan, Robert P. Connacher, Michael B. O'Connor
Summary: Ecdysteroids, a type of steroid hormones, regulate molting and metamorphosis in insects, being produced in the prothoracic gland through reduction-oxidation reactions from dietary sterols. The prothoracic gland acts as a central node integrating signals to control ecdysteroid biosynthesis and secretion, ensuring precise pulses of these hormones during metamorphosis. Recent research has focused on characterizing ecdysone biosynthesis, steroid trafficking pathways, and identifying new factors that regulate prothoracic gland function.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Xueyang Pan, Michael B. O'Connor
Summary: In holometabolous insects, metamorphic timing and body size are controlled by a neuroendocrine axis involving multiple signaling pathways. Receptor tyrosine kinases Alk and Pvr work in coordination with PTTH/Torso signaling to regulate pupariation timing and body size. Alk triggers Ras/Erk signaling and suppresses autophagy, while Pvr activation relies on autocrine signaling by PG-derived factors.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Shenzhao Lu, Rebecca Hernan, Paul C. Marcogliese, Yan Huang, Tracy S. Gertler, Meltem Akcaboy, Shiyong Liu, Hyung-lok Chung, Xueyang Pan, Xiaoqin Sun, Melahat Melek Oguz, Ulkuhan Oztoprak, Jeroen H. F. de Baaij, Jelena Ivanisevic, Erin McGinnis, Maria J. Guillen Sacoto, Wendy K. Chung, Hugo J. Bellen
Summary: This study shows that variants in the TIAM1 gene are associated with developmental delay, intellectual disability, speech delay, and seizures. The fruit fly ortholog of TIAM1, still life (sif), is found to be important for neural function. These findings provide the first evidence of the loss-of-function role of TIAM1 in the human nervous system.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Shenzhao Lu, Mengqi Ma, Xiao Mao, Carlos A. Bacino, Joseph Jankovic, V. Reid Sutton, James A. Bartley, Xueying Wang, Jill A. Rosenfeld, Ana Beleza-Meireles, Jaynee Chauhan, Xueyang Pan, Megan Li, Pengfei Liu, Katrina Prescott, Sam Amin, George Davies, Michael F. Wangler, Yuwei Dai, Hugo J. Bellen
Summary: This article describes the association between rare missense variants in the FRMD5 gene and developmental delay, intellectual disability, ataxia, seizures, and abnormalities of eye movement. Further research shows that the variants also cause similar symptoms in fruit flies, and some variants have dominant-negative effects.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengqi Ma, Xi Zhang, Yiming Zheng, Shenzhao Lu, Xueyang Pan, Xiao Mao, Hongling Pan, Hyung-lok Chung, Hua Wang, Hong Guo, Hugo J. Bellen
Summary: This study identifies de novo loss-of-function variants in the SUPT16H gene that are associated with developmental and neurological defects. Fruit fly experiments demonstrate that these variants lead to abnormal cell growth and survival.
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Siddharth Srivastava, Hagar Mor Shaked, Kenneth Gable, Sita D. Gupta, Xueyang Pan, Niranjanakumari Somashekarappa, Gongshe Han, Payam Mohassel, Marc Gotkine, Elizabeth Doney, Paula Goldenberg, Queenie K. G. Tan, Yi Gong, Benjamin Kleinstiver, Brian Wishart, Heidi Cope, Claudia Brito Pires, Hannah Stutzman, Rebecca C. Spillmann, Reza Sadjadi, Orly Elpeleg, Chia-Hsueh Lee, Hugo J. Bellen, Simon Edvardson, Florian Eichler, Teresa M. Dunn
Summary: Sphingolipids, abundant in myelin membranes, are crucial for the structural and signalling functions in the mammalian nervous system. Serine palmitoyltransferase (SPTSSA) is the enzyme responsible for the rate-limiting reaction in sphingolipid synthesis and its activity is tightly regulated by ORMDL proteins. Excessive sphingolipid synthesis due to impaired homeostatic regulation of serine palmitoyltransferase was found to be responsible for defects in early brain development and function. SRivastava et al. identified SPTSSA variants that disrupt ORMDL-mediated regulation of SPT, leading to hereditary spastic paraplegia.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yihong Yue, Huanan Rong, Zhihong Yang, Xueyang Pan, Yin Chen, Ming Yang
Summary: This study investigated the surface sediments of a typical coastal tidal flat zone in Hangzhou Bay, China. It found that the water quality was mainly polluted by excessive nutrients and potentially toxic elements, as indicated by the concentrations of chemical oxygen demand, available phosphorus, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, and sediment chromium. The study also analyzed the microbial diversity and functional profiling, revealing the effects of nutrient and toxic pollution on the selection of dominant microbial members. This provides theoretical support for future monitoring and management of coastal tidal flat ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Xueyang Pan, Debdeep Dutta, Shenzhao Lu, Hugo J. J. Bellen
Summary: Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDs) are a group of disorders that cause progressive deficits of neuronal function. Recent evidence argues that sphingolipid metabolism is affected in a surprisingly broad set of NDDs. Here, we summarize studies using fly models and/or patient samples to demonstrate the nature of the defects in sphingolipid metabolism, the organelles that are implicated, the cell types that are initially affected, and potential therapeutics for these diseases.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Linda Setiawan, Xueyang Pan, Alexis L. Woods, Michael B. O'Connor, Iswar K. Hariharan
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2018)
