Review
Cell Biology
Peter Fabian, J. Gage Crump
Summary: Of all the cell types arising from the neural crest, ectomesenchyme is unique as it generates connective tissue and skeletal cell types in common with mesoderm. The origin and potential of this ectoderm-derived mesenchyme is still debated, and recent studies are exploring intrinsic and extrinsic cues in determining its potential and its influence on craniofacial repair.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel A. Keuls, Young Sun Oh, Ivanshi Patel, Ronald J. Parchem
Summary: Developmental potential is restricted after germ layer specification, but cranial neural crest cells challenge this by giving rise to both ectodermal and ectomesenchymal lineages. The mechanism behind this cell differentiation is poorly understood. This study demonstrates that cranial neural crest cells have a transient state of increased chromatin accessibility, and the deletion of miR-302 leads to premature specification of the ectomesenchymal lineage.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Xuesong Feng, A. Hongjun Wang, Aster H. Juan, Kyung Dae Ko, Kan Jiang, Giulia Riparini, Veronica Ciuffoli, Aissah Kaba, Christopher Lopez, Faiza Naz, Michal Jarnik, Elizabeth Aliberti, Shenyuan Hu, Jessica Segales, Mamduh Khateb, Natalia Acevedo-Luna, Davide Randazzo, Tom H. Cheung, Pura Munoz-Canoves, Stefania Dell'Orso, Vittorio Sartorelli
Summary: Polycomb Ezh1 maintains quiescence of murine muscle stem cells (MuSCs) through a non-canonical function by regulating gene expression of the Notch signaling pathway. Loss of Ezh1 leads to premature exit from quiescence, depletion of MuSCs, and impaired muscle regeneration. Selective restoration of Notch signaling corrects stem cell number and restores quiescence in Ezh1-/- MuSCs.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Joey J. Ghersi, Gabriel Baldissera, Jared Hintzen, Stephanie A. Luff, Siyuan Cheng, Ivan Fan Xia, Christopher M. Sturgeon, Stefania Nicoli
Summary: Ghersi et al. have found that the diversity of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells is established at the haemogenic endothelium level and is regulated by microRNA-128-mediated modulation of Wnt and Notch signalling. Haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) generate different lineages and are produced in the embryo through the transformation of haemogenic endothelial cells in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM). The researchers discovered that loss of microRNA-128 leads to an expansion of HSPCs in the AGM with different cell cycle states and a bias towards erythroid and lymphoid progenitors.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Rebecca A. Soto, Mohamad Ali T. Najia, Mariam Hachimi, Jenna M. Frame, Gabriel A. Yette, Edroaldo Lummertz da Rocha, Kryn Stankunas, George Q. Daley, Trista E. North
Summary: The study uncovered a mechanistic role for the epigenetic regulator Ezh1 in vertebrate HSPC production by regulating hematopoietic commitment. Loss of ezh1 promoted hematopoietic and HSPC fate, while overexpression hindered hematopoietic progression.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristbjorn Orri Gudmundsson, Yang Du
Summary: The quiescence of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) provides protection but may also lead to therapy resistance and disease relapse in leukaemia patients. Recent studies have suggested potential differences between LSCs and HSCs, which could be exploited for future therapeutic strategies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shinichiro Ochi, Keisuke Sekiya, Naoki Abe, Yu Funahashi, Hiroshi Kumon, Yuta Yoshino, Tasuku Nishihara, Shuken Boku, Jun-ichi Iga, Shu-ichi Ueno
Summary: The pathophysiology of delayed carbon monoxide (CO) encephalopathy is unclear. This study investigated the effects of CO exposure on the dentate gyrus (DG) in a Wistar rat model. Results showed cognitive impairment and dysregulated adult hippocampal neurogenesis and glial changes in delayed CO encephalopathy.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Yinan Zhao, Dandan Bai, You Wu, Dan Zhang, Mengying Liu, Yingpu Tian, Jinhua Lu, Haibin Wang, Shaorong Gao, Zhongxian Lu
Summary: This study elucidates the importance of maternal epigenetic modifications during embryonic development. By deleting the Ezh1 and Ezh2 genes from mouse oocytes, the researchers found that the absence of Ezh1/2 resulted in the loss of H3K27me2 and H3K27me3, leading to impaired early and late embryonic development and potential genetic effects on gene expression.
Article
Cell Biology
Masahiro Otsu, Zubair Ahmed, Daniel Fulton
Summary: A simple method was developed to generate immature oligodendrocyte lineage cells from mouse ESC-derived neural stem cells, which showed potential for differentiation into mature OPC under specific conditions. Interestingly, these cells retained multipotentiality and could differentiate into neurons or astrocytes. However, their efficiency in myelinating axons was lower compared to primary OPC.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Yu Chen, Jie Sun, Zhenyu Ju, Zhao-Qi Wang, Tangliang Li
Summary: This study reveals the essential role of the DNA double-strand repair molecule Nbs1 in embryonic HSC development and hematopoiesis. Nbs1 deficiency leads to persistent DNA breaks in embryonic HSCs, affecting their development and causing perinatal lethality in mice. Additionally, the discrepancies in response to DNA damages between Nbs1 null HSCs and hematopoietic progenitors may be mediated by different levels of p53 signaling.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Subba Reddy Palli
Summary: Modifications to DNA and core histones play crucial roles in chromatin organization and gene expression, affecting various biological processes. Studies have identified genes encoding enzymes that modify core histones in multiple insect genomes, with some enzymes contributing to post-embryonic development. Research on epigenetic modifiers could help identify inhibitors that may be used to control pests and disease vectors.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Yan Li, Jianan Tang, Xu Ji, Min-Min Hua, Miao Liu, Lu Chang, Yihua Gu, Changgen Shi, Wuhua Ni, Jing Liu, Hui-juan Shi, Xuefeng Huang, Christopher O'Neill, Xingliang Jin
Summary: The translation initiation factor eIF4E plays a crucial role in cap-dependent translation and the transition from maternal to embryonic control of mouse embryo development. Inhibiting eIF4E activity leads to developmental arrest at the two-cell stage, highlighting the importance of eIF4E in early embryonic transitions. This study also shows that mTOR activity and the negative regulator 4E-BP1 are involved in regulating eIF4E activity during embryonic development.
Article
Cell Biology
Raghav Ramabadran, Jarey H. Wang, Jaime M. Reyes, Anna G. Guzman, Sinjini Gupta, Carina Rosas, Lorenzo Brunetti, Michael C. Gundry, Ayala Tovy, Hali Long, Tianpeng Gu, Sean M. Cullen, Siddhartha Tyagi, Danielle Rux, Jean J. Kim, Steven M. Kornblau, Michael Kyba, Fabio Stossi, Rachel E. Rau, Koichi Takahashi, Thomas F. Westbrook, Margaret A. Goodell
Summary: Ramabadran et al. discovered that upon extrinsic stimulation, stem cells activate a program involving increased splicing efficiency mediated by DNMT3A and recruitment of SF3B1 to RNA polymerase and mRNA, promoting the activation of embryonic and hematopoietic stem cells. This DNA methylation-independent role of DNMT3A in stem cell activation and splicing regulation provides new insights into the mechanisms governing stem cell differentiation.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Xuepeng Wang, Yudan Fan, Qiang Wu
Summary: Transcription elongation is a crucial molecular process that regulates gene expression and its malfunction can lead to impaired cellular functions. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of transcription elongation in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is important for both basic research and clinical applications in regenerative medicine, as ESCs have the potential to differentiate into various cell types.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joseph Sutlive, Haning Xiu, Yunfeng Chen, Kun Gou, Fengzhu Xiong, Ming Guo, Zi Chen
Summary: Understanding the mechanical properties, generation and transmission of forces in cells and tissues, and the tools and methods for measuring and predicting these forces, is essential for comprehending the regulation and control of generated forces during morphogenesis.
Article
Cell Biology
Vanessa Lundin, Wade W. Sugden, Lindsay N. Theodore, Patricia M. Sousa, Areum Han, Stephanie Chou, Paul J. Wrighton, Andrew G. Cox, Donald E. Ingber, Wolfram Goessling, George Q. Daley, Trista E. North
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2020)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Saireudee Chaturantabut, Arkadi Shwartz, Maija K. Garnaas, Kyle LaBella, Chia-Cheng Li, Kelli J. Carroll, Claire C. Cutting, Nadine Budrow, Amrita Palaria, Daniel A. Gorelick, Kimberly D. Tremblay, Trista E. North, Wolfram Goessling
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kailong Li, Yuxuan Liu, Hui Cao, Yuannyu Zhang, Zhimin Gu, Xin Liu, Andy Yu, Pranita Kaphle, Kathryn E. Dickerson, Min Ni, Jian Xu
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Oncology
Kailong Li, Yuannyu Zhang, Xin Liu, Yuxuan Liu, Zhimin Gu, Hui Cao, Kathryn E. Dickerson, Mingyi Chen, Weina Chen, Zhen Shao, Min Ni, Jian Xu
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Michael J. Chen, Edroaldo Lummertz da Rocha, Patrick Cahan, Caroline Kubaczka, Phoebe Hunter, Patricia Sousa, Nathaniel K. Mullin, Yuko Fujiwara, Minh Nguyen, Yuqi Tan, Yi Zhou, Trista E. North, Leonard Zon, George Q. Daley, Thorsten M. Schlaeger
Article
Cell Biology
Jenna M. Frame, Caroline Kubaczka, Timothy L. Long, Virginie Esain, Rebecca A. Soto, Mariam Hachimi, Ran Jing, Arkadi Shwartz, Wolfram Goessling, George Q. Daley, Trista E. North
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vladimir Nosi, Alessandri Luca, Melissa Milan, Maddalena Arigoni, Silvia Benvenuti, Davide Cacchiarelli, Marcella Cesana, Sara Riccardo, Lucio Di Filippo, Francesca Cordero, Marco Beccuti, Paolo M. Comoglio, Raffaele A. Calogero
Summary: The study utilized neural networks to detect MET exon 14 skipping events with high detection rate, and observed that some false positive samples may have specific transcription features. The results suggest that neural networks and autoencoders can serve as tools for quick classification and effective discovery of pathological transcription events.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
M. Cesana, L. Vaccaro, M. J. Larsen, M. Kibaek, L. Micale, S. Riccardo, P. Annunziata, C. Colantuono, L. Di Filippo, D. De Brasi, M. Castori, C. Fagerberg, F. Acquaviva, D. Cacchiarelli
Summary: This study applied integrated genomic approaches to identify a novel neuro-pathogenic role for the MAP4K4 gene by analyzing blood samples of two unrelated individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. The study demonstrated the efficacy of exome and transcriptome sequencing in resolving undiagnosed cases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcella Cesana, Gennaro Tufano, Francesco Panariello, Nicolina Zampelli, Susanna Ambrosio, Rossella De Cegli, Margherita Mutarelli, Lorenzo Vaccaro, Micheal J. Ziller, Davide Cacchiarelli, Diego L. Medina, Andrea Ballabio
Summary: The transcription factor EB (TFEB) is an important regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy and plays a major role in cancer-associated diseases. The nutrient-sensitive kinase complex mTORC1 regulates TFEB at the posttranslational level, but the regulation of TFEB transcription is not well understood. In this study, the immediate-early gene EGR1 was identified as a positive regulator of TFEB expression and its absence impaired TFEB-mediated transcriptional response to starvation. Inhibition of EGR1, either genetically or pharmacologically using the MEK1/2 inhibitor Trametinib, significantly reduced the proliferation of cells with constitutive activation of TFEB, including those from a patient with Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome. This suggests that targeting the EGR1-TFEB axis may be a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer-associated conditions with constitutive TFEB activation.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Haojie Chen, Shiqi Tu, Chongze Yuan, Feng Tian, Yijing Zhang, Yihua Sun, Zhen Shao
Summary: Researchers have developed a statistical tool called HyperChIP for identifying hypervariable regions in tumor samples, which is crucial for revealing cancer subtypes and associated epigenetic markers.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Gang Liu, Yana Li, Tengjiao Zhang, Mushan Li, Sheng Li, Qing He, Shuxin Liu, Minglu Xu, Tinghui Xiao, Zhen Shao, Weiyang Shi, Weida Li
Summary: This study found sexually dimorphic transcriptomes in mouse beta cells, indicating sex-based differences in T2D susceptibility and pathogenesis. In a high-fat diet-induced T2D mouse model, sex-dependent T2D altered genes were identified, suggesting differences in the pathological mechanisms of T2D. Through islet transplantation experiments, it was shown that sex-mismatched islet transplants in diabetic mice led to impaired glucose tolerance, highlighting the importance of considering sex in T2D treatment.
GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chongze Yuan, Haojie Chen, Shiqi Tu, Hsin-Yi Huang, Yunjian Pan, Xiuqi Gui, Muyu Kuang, Xuxia Shen, Qiang Zheng, Yang Zhang, Chao Cheng, Hui Hong, Xiaoting Tao, Yizhou Peng, Xingxin Yao, Feilong Meng, Hongbin Ji, Zhen Shao, Yihua Sun
Summary: Our study reveals a high intertumoral epigenetic heterogeneity in LUAD patients, leading to a new epigenetic classification defining two subgroups with distinct clinical outcomes. We also identify group-specific core regulators and demonstrate the regulatory role of CLU as a novel tumor suppressor in LUAD. Our findings provide insights into the epigenetic alterations during LUAD progression and offer a promising model for predicting patient prognosis.
Article
Hematology
William Marion, Steffen Boettcher, Sonya Ruiz-Torres, Edroaldo Lummertz da Rocha, Vanessa Lundin, Vivian Morris, Stephanie Chou, Anna M. Zhao, Caroline Kubaczka, Olivia Aumais, Yosra Zhang, Akiko Shimamura, Thorsten M. Schlaeger, Trista E. North, Benjamin L. Ebert, Susanne Wells, George Q. Daley, R. Grant Rowe
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xin Liu, Yong Chen, Yuannyu Zhang, Yuxuan Liu, Nan Liu, Giovanni A. Botten, Hui Cao, Stuart H. Orkin, Michael Q. Zhang, Jian Xu