Article
Cell Biology
Yang Li, Shuting Yang, Ling Qin, Shuying Yang
Summary: Chondrogenesis is regulated by the transcriptional coactivator TAZ, whose expression increases during chondrogenic differentiation. TAZ deletion impairs skeletal development, joint maintenance, and fracture healing by affecting chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, and interacting with Sox5.
Article
Cell Biology
Archya Sengupta, Deepesh Kumar Padhan, Ananya Ganguly, Malini Sen
Summary: Mutations in the CCN6 gene are linked to the musculoskeletal disorder PPRD, and a study using zebrafish as a model organism showed that CCN6 is involved in mitochondrial respiratory complexes in muscle. Depletion of Ccn6 in muscle led to reduced mitochondrial activity and abundance, resulting in muscle abnormalities. This suggests that defects in mitochondrial function could contribute to muscle weakness and skeletal system failure in PPRD.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Xiaolin Jin, Junjun Liu, Shuo Wang, Jiale Shi, Chengtian Zhao, Haibo Xie, Yunsi Kang
Summary: The multifunctional transcription factor E2f4 plays an important role in zebrafish development, particularly in otolith formation and ciliary beating. Its absence leads to abnormal expression of ciliary motility genes, growth retardation, intestinal microvilli damage, reduced cell proliferation, and increased cell apoptosis. These findings challenge the traditional notion of E2f4 as a transcription repressor.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Elmira Ahmady, Alexandre Blais, Patrick G. Burgon
Summary: Mlip is a recently discovered protein that interacts directly with chromatin and may function as a transcriptional co-factor. In C2C12 myoblasts, blocking Mlip expression down-regulates myogenic regulatory factors and inhibits myogenic differentiation and myotube formation.
Article
Biology
Wenghong Wong, Yike Huang, Zhuanbin Wu, Yu Kong, Jing Luan, Qiaoan Zhang, Jiewen Pan, Kexiang Yan, Zhenghua Zhang
Summary: The mvda gene plays an essential role in the early development of zebrafish, with its deficiency leading to abnormalities in epidermis, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. This study provides insights into the biological function of the human MVD gene.
BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naoki Ito, Yuko Miyagoe-Suzuki, Shin'ichi Takeda, Akira Kudo
Summary: In this study, the protective role of periostin, a matricellular protein, in skeletal muscle regeneration was identified. Periostin-null mice showed decreased muscle weight due to the loss of muscle fibers during repeated muscle regeneration. The decrease in CD31-positive blood vessels during muscle regeneration in periostin-null mice suggests that the decreased nutritional supply may be the cause of muscle fiber loss.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Fabian Montecino, Natalia Gonzalez, Natasha Blanco, Manuel J. Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez-Martin, Alejandra R. Alvarez, Hugo Olguin
Summary: The study reveals the role of c-Abl in regulating myogenic progression in satellite cells (SCs) by controlling Pax7 function and expression, affecting the activity and muscle regeneration of SCs.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Francesca Tonelli, Laura Leoni, Valentina Daponte, Roberta Gioia, Silvia Cotti, Imke A. K. Fiedler, Daria Larianova, Andy Willaert, Paul J. Coucke, Simona Villani, Bjoern Busse, Roberta Besio, Antonio Rossi, P. Eckhard Witten, Antonella Forlino
Summary: This study used zebrafish to investigate the role of TRIC-B in skeletal tissue. The researchers found that the tmem38b gene is expressed at early developmental stages in zebrafish, while tmem38a gene is not. Mutations in tmem38b resulted in under-modified collagen type I and intracellular retention. These findings contribute to our understanding of the importance of TRIC-B in bone cell differentiation.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoriko Sato, Keisuke Kawashima, Emiko Fukui, Hiromichi Matsumoto, Fumiaki Yoshizawa, Yusuke Sato
Summary: In this study, the function of Tinagl1 in skeletal muscle and capillary development was investigated. The results showed that Tinagl1 is important for normal muscle and capillary development and regulates myogenic differentiation, proliferation, metabolism, and angiogenesis through the activation of the ERK signaling pathway.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Elena Nikonova, Amartya Mukherjee, Ketaki Kamble, Christiane Barz, Upendra Nongthomba, Maria L. Spletter
Summary: Protein isoform transitions can confer distinct properties to muscle fibers and are regulated by differential transcription and alternative splicing. In this study, the researchers found that Rbfox1 contributes to adult muscle diversity in Drosophila by regulating fiber type-specific splicing and expression dynamics of identity genes and structural proteins.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Belle Yu-Hsuan Wang, Allen Wei-Ting Hsiao, Nicodemus Wong, Yi-Fan Chen, Chien-Wei Lee, Wayne Yuk Wai Lee
Summary: This study compared naturally aged mice and dexamethasone-induced mice as models for primary and secondary sarcopenia, respectively. The results showed similar muscle qualities between the two models, suggesting that the dexamethasone-induced mouse model could serve as an alternative model for primary sarcopenia.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC TRANSLATION
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Carlos Camacho-Macorra, Marcos Sintes, Noemi Tabanera, Irene Grasa, Paola Bovolenta, Marcos J. Cardozo
Summary: Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is highly regulated and mutations in its components can lead to a variety of congenital malformations. Mosmo, a modulator of the Hh pathway, plays a role in down-modulating pathway activation. Studies in zebrafish embryos suggest that MOSMO may be a candidate gene for uncharacterized forms of human congenital craniofacial malformations.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Rosaly Correa-de Araujo, William J. Evans, Roger A. Fielding, Venkatesh Krishnan, Robert H. Carter, James Appleby, Jack Guralnik, Lloyd B. Klickstein, Peter Marks, Alison A. Moore, Sue Peschin, Shalender Bhasin
Summary: Functional limitations and physical disabilities caused by aging and chronic diseases are significant issues that require the expedited development of function-promoting therapies. Collaboration among stakeholders is necessary to address this complex public health problem.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hai P. Nguyen, Sneha Damal Villivalam, Byung Chul Jung, Dongjoo You, Frances Lin, Danielle Yi, Anna Pi, Katherine Ma, Sunhee Jung, Sang-Hee Park, Cholsoon Jang, Hei Sook Sul, Sona Kang
Summary: AIFM2 is selectively induced in glycolytic muscles during exercise, and overexpression of AIFM2 increases glucose utilization through elevated NAD(+)-NADH ratio. Depletion of Aifm2 in muscles decreases exercise capacity and glucose utilization, while introduction of NDE1 ameliorates these impairments.
Article
Cell Biology
Nicole K. Nakamura, Darcy S. Tokunaga, Herena Y. Ha, Noemi Polgar
Summary: In obesity, chronic localization of CD36 translocase enhances FFA uptake and lipid accumulation in cells, leading to insulin resistance. This study reveals the importance of the exocyst complex in CD36 membrane trafficking and FFA uptake in muscle cells.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Christoph S. Clemen, Andreas Schmidt, Lilli Winter, Fabio Canneva, Ilka Wittig, Lore Becker, Roland Coras, Carolin Berwanger, Andreas Hofmann, Britta Eggers, Katrin Marcus, Valerie Gailus-Durner, Helmut Fuchs, Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Marcus Kruger, Stephan von Horsten, Ludwig Eichinger, Rolf Schroder
Summary: The study investigated N471D Washc5 knock-in and knock-out mice as models for SPG8. Knock-in mice exhibited mild clinical and laboratory abnormalities, but not a typical SPG8 phenotype. Knock-out mice showing normal WASHC5 levels could not be bred to homozygosity, suggesting essential role of WASHC5 in development.
NEUROPATHOLOGY AND APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Johanna Stachelscheid, Qu Jiang, Christoph Aszyk, Kathrin Warner, Nadine Bley, Tony Mueller, Olga Vydzhak, Konstantinos Symeonidis, Giuliano Crispatzu, Petra Mayer, Stuart James Blakemore, Gudrun Goehring, Sebastian Newrzela, Stephanie Hippler, Sandra Robrecht, Karl-Anton Kreuzer, Christian Pallasch, Marcus Krueger, Axel Lechner, Kirsten Fischer, Stephan Stilgenbauer, Dirk Beutner, Michael Hallek, Daniel Auguin, Stefan Huettelmaier, Johannes Bloehdom, Elena Vasyutina, Marco Herling
Summary: Upregulation of TCL1A is associated with various B-cell and T-cell malignancies. It exerts a strong transforming impact via nuclear topography. TCL1A interacts with cell cycle and DNA repair regulators, particularly CDC20, leading to accelerated cell cycle transition, chromosome missegregation, and cellular aneuploidy.
Article
Cell Biology
Giulia L. M. Boezio, Shengnan Zhao, Josephine Gollin, Rashmi Priya, Shivani Mansingh, Stefan Guenther, Nana Fukuda, Felix Gunawan, Didier Y. R. Stainier
Summary: The epicardium, the outermost layer of the heart, plays an important role in regulating cardiac regeneration. This study investigated the interaction between the epicardium and myocardium during development by creating three models of epicardial impairment in zebrafish. The results showed that the epicardium is required for cardiomyocyte growth during early cardiac morphogenesis and identified FGF and VEGF signaling pathways as important regulators of ventricular growth.
DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
David C. Lennermann, Mark E. Pepin, Markus Grosch, Laura Konrad, Elena Kemmling, Joshua Hartmann, Janica L. Nolte, Sandra Clauder-Muenster, Elham Kayvanpour, Farbod Sedaghat-Hamedani, Jan Haas, Benjamin Meder, Malou van den Boogaard, Ahmad S. Amin, Matthias Dewenter, Marcus Krueger, Lars M. Steinmetz, Johannes Backs, Maarten M. G. van den Hoogenhof
Summary: This study investigates sex differences in RBM20 cardiomyopathy in an animal model and a patient cohort. The findings suggest that there are no functional differences between male and female RBM20 knockout mice, indicating that treatment should not differ between sexes. The study also shows that male RBM20 cardiomyopathy patients do not exhibit worse cardiac function compared to female patients.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Juan, Agatha Ribeiro da Silva, Barbara Cardoso, SoEun Lim, Violette Charteau, Didier Y. R. Stainier
Summary: Cardiac valves play a vital role in ensuring unidirectional blood flow through the heart. Researchers have identified several mechanosensory genes as key regulators of valve development, expanding our understanding of this process.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcus Krueger
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Martin R. Spaeth, K. Johanna R. Hoyer-Allo, Lisa Seufert, Martin Hoehne, Christina Lucas, Theresa Bock, Lea Isermann, Susanne Brodesser, Jan-Wilm Lackmann, Katharina Kiefer, Felix C. Koehler, Katrin Bohl, Michael Ignarski, Petra Schiller, Marc Johnsen, Torsten Kubacki, Franziska Grundmann, Thomas Benzing, Aleksandra Trifunovic, Marcus Krueger, Bernhard Schermer, Volker Burst, Roman-Ulrich Mueller
Summary: By studying the kidneys of mice under conditions of hypoxia and caloric restriction (CR), researchers discovered the significant role of the KYNU gene in the nephroprotective effect of CR. They also found that CR induces a novel pathway for NAD+ synthesis, which was also observed in humans.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Melina Hussmann, Dorte Schulte, Sarah Weischer, Claudia Carlantoni, Hiroyuki Nakajima, Naoki Mochizuki, Didier Y. R. Stainier, Thomas Zobel, Manuel Koch, Stefan Schulte-Merker, Victoria L. Bautch
Summary: This study reveals the critical roles of Svep1 and Tie1 in the development of specific subpopulations of the zebrafish facial lymphatic network. It also shows that this aspect of the network is formed independently of Vegfc signaling. The findings demonstrate the importance of Tie1 signaling in lymphangiogenesis and blood vessel development in zebrafish.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Marcus Krueger, Sascha Kopp
Review
Cell Biology
Thomas J. Corydon, Herbert Schulz, Peter Richter, Sebastian M. Strauch, Maik Boehmer, Dario A. Ricciardi, Markus Wehland, Marcus Krueger, Gilmar S. Erzinger, Michael Lebert, Manfred Infanger, Petra M. Wise, Daniela Grimm
Summary: Microgravity has a significant impact on the health of space explorers, affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, and growth. With the planning of deep space exploration and the commercialization of space travel, researchers are focusing on gene regulation in cells and organisms exposed to real and simulated microgravity. Cancer and metastasis research in particular benefit from these findings.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jordan M. Welker, Vahan Serobyan, Elhamalsadat Zaker Esfahani, Didier Y. R. Stainier
Summary: Transcriptional adaptation (TA) is a mechanism that modulates gene expression in response to mutations in mRNA. Researchers found a 25-base pair element in the regulatory region of the adapting gene that showed similarity to a sequence in the mutant mRNA. This element can induce ectopic expression of a fluorescent reporter gene, indicating its importance in TA.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvana Miranda, Shannon Marchal, Lina Cumps, Jenne Dierckx, Marcus Kruger, Daniela Grimm, Sarah Baatout, Kevin Tabury, Bjorn Baselet
Summary: The lunar dust problem arose from NASA's Apollo missions in 1969, as exposure to lunar dust became unavoidable. Several astronauts suffered allergy-like symptoms due to lunar dust inhalation. Research into the toxic effects of lunar dust gained significant interest and expanded to include other organ systems. With plans for future moon missions and potentially Mars missions, dust mitigation strategies are crucial for sustainable space exploration.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mengjie Zhu, Fabian Metzen, Mark Hopkinson, Janina Betz, Juliane Heilig, Jassi Sodhi, Thomas Imhof, Anja Niehoff, David E. Birk, Yayoi Izu, Marcus Krueger, Andrew A. Pitsillides, Janine Altmueller, Gerjo J. V. M. van Osch, Volker Straub, Gudrun Schreiber, Mats Paulsson, Manuel Koch, Bent Brachvogel
Summary: This study investigated the role of collagen XII in joint pathophysiology by analyzing collagen XII deficient mice and human patients. Collagen XII was found to be widely expressed in developing joints. Lack of collagen XII in mice destabilized tendons and femoral trochlear groove, leading to patellar subluxation. This clinical feature was also identified in human patients with collagen XII deficiency, providing an explanation for joint hyperlaxity.
Meeting Abstract
Dermatology
T. Leibing, C. Manta, J. Krzistetzko, M. Adrian, C. Kirkamm, C. Sticht, S. Tonack, H. Nolte, M. Krueger, S. Offermanns, K. Schledzewski, S. Goerdt, C. Geraud
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jose Luis Cortes-Sanchez, Daniela Melnik, Viviann Sandt, Stefan Kahlert, Shannon Marchal, Ian R. D. Johnson, Marco Calvaruso, Christian Liemersdorf, Simon L. Wuest, Daniela Grimm, Marcus Krueger
Summary: In the preparation of space and microgravity experiments, the use of ground-based facilities for initial experiments and feasibility studies is common. One approach to simulate microgravity conditions on Earth is to use a random positioning machine (RPM) as a rotary bioreactor. Combined with a suitable low-mass model system, such as cell cultures, these devices have been shown to produce results similar to those obtained in actual space experiments under real microgravity conditions. The RPM serves as a simulator of microgravity by randomizing the impact of Earth's gravity vector especially for suspended cells, and it also simulates physiological shear forces on the adherent cell layer.