Article
Developmental Biology
Andreia C. Oliveira, Catarina C. F. Homem
Summary: This study demonstrates how neural stem cells coordinate their division rate with the pace of body growth, and identifies the important role of the steroid hormone ecdysone in regulating neuroblast division and maintaining the number of differentiated neurons.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qian Dong, Michael Zavortink, Francesca Froldi, Sofya Golenkina, Tammy Lam, Louise Y. Cheng
Summary: This study investigates the non-autonomous regulation of neural stem cell proliferation by glial cells, revealing the crucial roles of lipid droplets and the Hedgehog signaling molecule in this process. By modulating Hh signaling, glial cells have the ability to influence the proliferation of neural stem cells and their neuron-producing capability.
Article
Cell Biology
Eleni Dapergola, Pamela Menegazzi, Thomas Raabe, Anna Hovhanyan
Summary: Endogenous clocks regulate cellular processes, metabolism, and behavior, with dysregulation leading to metabolic disorders. In mouse and Drosophila, the circadian clock influences ribosome biogenesis factors and protein synthesis. Nutrition signals modulate cellular metabolism and growth through the InR/TOR pathways. disruptions to the circadian clock affect neural stem cell growth and proliferation, impacting ribosomal biogenesis and protein biosynthesis regulators.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Heather Q. Pollington, Austin Q. Seroka, Chris Q. Doe
Summary: This article reviews the progress made in understanding how Drosophila stem cells generate distinct neurons through the expression of specific temporal transcription factors. These factors play a crucial role in specifying the birth order and temporal identity of neurons. The study also highlights the importance of these mechanisms in promoting proper circuit assembly within the central nervous system.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Valentina Palmerini, Silvia Monzani, Quentin Laurichesse, Rihab Loudhaief, Sara Mari, Valentina Cecatiello, Vincent Olieric, Sebastiano Pasqualato, Julien Colombani, Ditte S. Andersen, Marina Mapelli
Summary: The Drosophila tumour necrosis factor (TNF) system consists of a single ligand, Eiger (Egr), and two receptors. The crystallographic structure of Egr in complex with the extracellular domain of the receptor Grindelwald suggests that distinct affinities of TNF ligand for its receptors mediate non-redundant functions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Arjun Rajan, Lucas Anhezini, Noemi Rives-Quinto, Jay Y. Chhabra, Megan C. Neville, Elizabeth D. Larson, Stephen F. Goodwin, Melissa M. Harrison, Cheng-Yu Lee
Summary: The coordinated regulation of gene activity through transcriptional and translational mechanisms allows stem cells to undergo timely cell-state transitions during differentiation. In this study, the researchers investigated the fine-tuning of gene transcription in fly neural stem cells during the commitment of intermediate neural progenitors. They found that a transcription factor called Fruitless(C) (Fru(C)) binds to cis-regulatory elements of genes that are uniquely transcribed in neural stem cells. The researchers demonstrated that Fru(C) negatively regulates gene expression by promoting low-level enrichment of the repressive histone mark H3K27me3 in the cis-regulatory regions of genes. They propose that this low-level enrichment of H3K27me3 fine-tunes gene transcription in stem cells, a mechanism that may be conserved from flies to humans.
Review
Immunology
Ismael Morin-Poulard, Yushun Tian, Nathalie Vanzo, Michele Crozatier
Summary: In adult mammals, blood cells are formed from hematopoietic stem progenitor cells, which are controlled by a complex cellular microenvironment called niche. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model organism to decipher the mechanisms controlling hematopoiesis, due to its limited number of blood cell lineages and the conservation of genes and signaling pathways throughout bilaterian evolution. Hematopoiesis in Drosophila occurs in two waves – during embryogenesis and at larval stages, regulated by distinct niches in different hematopoietic sites.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Aliabbas Zia, Ali Mohammad Pourbagher-Shahri, Tahereh Farkhondeh, Saeed Samarghandian
Summary: Aging is the primary risk factor for age-related diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, understanding the mechanisms behind aging is crucial for brain health. Brain aging is characterized by a decline in neurophysiological functions, impaired neuroplasticity, dysregulation of neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis, and other factors. Various pathways contribute to brain aging, including oxidative stress, inflammation, energy metabolism disturbances, and the involvement of key modulators in metabolic control.
BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Zhen-Kai Ngian, Wei-Qi Lin, Chin-Tong Ong
Summary: Neuronal dosage of NELF-A in Drosophila has a significant impact on various aspects of aging by regulating transcription of Hsp genes in the brain, which suggests a potential therapeutic strategy against age-related diseases like neurodegeneration. The effects of NELF-A depletion on enhancing resistance to oxidative stress and reconfiguring the epigenome are highly conserved and can also be observed in human cells.
Article
Biology
Bharath Sunchu, Nicole MynYi Lee, Jennifer A. Taylor, Roberto Carlos Segura, Chantal Roubinet, Clemens Cabernard
Summary: In this study, a hybrid fly cell model was used to investigate the recognition and segregation of chromosomes of different origins. The findings suggest that alignment and separation of endogenous and ectopic chromatin in neural stem cell and ganglion mother cell hybrid cells is facilitated by centrosomes and spindles, as well as microtubule-dependent chromatin retention and nuclear envelope boundaries.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amit Jangid, Suriya Selvarajan, Ram Ramaswamy
Summary: By studying a population-based cellular model, it is found that nucleus position and noise play crucial roles in determining stem cell genealogies, leading to symmetric or asymmetric divisions based on different nucleus positions. The simulation results show a decrease in the number of clones over time, while the average clone size increases, which is consistent with experimental results.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zihao Xia, Manman Gao, Peng Sheng, Mengmeng Shen, Lin Zhao, Lizeng Gao, Bingchun Yan
Summary: This study found that Fe3O4 nanozymes can promote neuronal differentiation in the dentate gyrus of aged mice and improve blood-brain barrier damage. It was also discovered that Fe3O4 nanozymes can alleviate neuronal damage caused by aging by regulating oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas Leech, Laurin McDowall, Kevin P. Hopkins, Steven M. Sait, Xavier A. Harrison, Amanda Bretman
Summary: Social environments can alter the microbiome composition of fruit flies, affecting immune responses and ageing. The microbiome of male fruit flies is more sensitive to social contact, a sensitivity that can be partially mitigated by housing them with younger individuals instead of peers.
Article
Biology
Ezgi Oztas, Mehtap Kara, Tugce Boran, Enes Bisirir, Ecem Fatma Karaman, Engin Kaptan, Gul Ozhan
Summary: Acetamiprid, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, has been found to be associated with neurological symptoms and cell death in neural cells by increasing cellular stress and promoting apoptosis. Additional studies are needed to fully understand its molecular mechanisms and the potential harm it may cause to mammals.
Review
Cell Biology
Kenji Kimura, Fumio Motegi
Summary: The development of complex multicellular organisms relies on the spatial arrangement of cellular architecture and functions. Recent studies have shown that dynamic changes in cytoplasmic fluid flow play a crucial role in driving long-range transport of molecules within the cell. Experimental advances in understanding cytoplasmic flows and their contributions to intracellular patterning have focused on feedback mechanisms between fluid flow properties and biochemical signaling during animal cell polarization.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Kelsey Bolin, Nicholas Rachmaninoff, Kea Moncada, Katharine Pula, Jennifer. Kennell, Laura Buttitta
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2016)
Review
Developmental Biology
Dan Sun, Laura Buttitta
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yiqin Ma, Laura Buttitta
EPIGENETICS & CHROMATIN
(2017)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haruko Takahashi, Kenji Yumoto, Kazuma Yasuhara, Enrico T. Nadres, Yutaka Kikuchi, Russell S. Taichman, Kenichi Kuroda
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Frank C. Cackowski, Yugang Wang, Joseph T. Decker, Christopher Sifuentes, Steven Weindorf, Younghun Jung, Yu Wang, Ann M. Decker, Kenji Yumoto, Nicholas Szerlip, Laura Buttitta, Kenneth J. Pienta, Todd M. Morgan, Russell S. Taichman
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yiqin Ma, Daniel J. McKay, Laura Buttitta
Article
Biology
Shyama Nandakumar, Olga Grushko, Laura A. Buttitta
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Darleny Y. Lizardo, Chaoyuan Kuang, Suisui Hao, Jian Yu, Yi Huang, Lin Zhang
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-REVIEWS ON CANCER
(2020)
Article
Oncology
Younghun Jung, Frank C. Cackowski, Kenji Yumoto, Ann M. Decker, Yu Wang, Megan Hotchkin, Eunsohl Lee, Laura Buttitta, Russell S. Taichman
Summary: The study reveals that ABA can induce PCa cellular dormancy by regulating PPAR gamma receptor signaling and suppressing phosphorylation of mTOR/p70S6K signaling. ABA inhibits PCa cell proliferation and prolongs the G(0) cell cycle arrest.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peng Zhang, Alexia J. Katzaroff, Laura A. Buttitta, Yiqin Ma, Huaqi Jiang, Derek W. Nickerson, Jan Inge Ovrebo, Bruce A. Edgar
Summary: The study identified Cabut as a positive regulator of cell cycle gene expression and cell proliferation, by regulating a large set of E2F1 target genes independently of E2F1. This finding suggests a distinct mechanism for cell cycle regulation with potential implications in normal and cancerous cell cycles.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Chaoyuan Kuang, Yongseok Park, Ryan C. Augustin, Yan Lin, Douglas J. Hartman, Lindsey Seigh, Reetesh K. Pai, Weijing Sun, Nathan Bahary, James Ohr, John C. Rhee, Stanley M. Marks, H. Scott Beasley, Yongli Shuai, James G. Herman, Hassane M. Zarour, Edward Chu, James J. Lee, Anuradha Krishnamurthy
Summary: This study investigated the activity and tolerability of pembrolizumab plus azacitidine in patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The combination therapy showed a modest clinical activity, with an overall response rate of 3%, a median progression-free survival of 1.9 months, and a median overall survival of 6.3 months. The demethylation of tumor DNA was associated with tumor-immune modulation.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hang Ruan, Brian J. Leibowitz, Yingpeng Peng, Lin Shen, Lujia Chen, Charlie Kuang, Robert E. Schoen, Xinghua Lu, Lin Zhang, Jian Yu
Summary: Mutant KRAS plays a crucial role in colorectal cancer by promoting Myc translation and Myc-dependent stress adaptation and proliferation. The combination of two FDA-approved drugs, Bortezomib and Everolimus, has been found to be highly effective against mutant KRAS colorectal cancer cells. This combination rapidly depletes Myc protein and induces cell death through various pathways. The study also shows that mutant KRAS colorectal cancer cells with elevated basal Myc and p-eIF2 alpha are more sensitive to the BR combination and exhibit characteristics of stress adaptation and cell death.
MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Chaoyuan Kuang, Kevin Quann, Agnes K. Liman, Roy Frye, Nawras Alshoubaki, Mohan Ramkumar, Andrew D. Liman
CLINICAL CASE REPORTS
(2020)
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Chaoyuan Kuang, Yongseok Park, Nathan Bahary, Weijing Sun, James Ohr, John C. Rhee, Stanley M. Marks, H. Scott Beasley, Yongli Shuai, Yan Lin, Reetesh K. Pai, Anuradha Krishnamurthy, Hassane M. Zarour, James Herman, Edward Chu, James J. Lee
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiangping Song, Lin Shen, Jingshan Tong, Chaoyuan Kuang, Shan Zeng, Robert E. Schoen, Jian Yu, Haiping Pei, Lin Zhang