Article
Cell Biology
Nian Wu, Yingshi Li, Xiangyue He, Jiayi Lin, Denglu Long, Xin Cheng, Beate Brand-Saberi, Guang Wang, Xuesong Yang
Summary: Excessive caffeine intake affects chest wall deformities in developing chicken embryos and reduces mRNA expressions of genes involved in myogenesis. Caffeine exposure suppresses somitogenesis by interfering with crucial genes modulating apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation of myogenic progenitors in differentiating somites. Additionally, excess retinoic acid levels, possibly induced by caffeine, play a role in these phenotypes, highlighting the negative impact of caffeine on myogenic progenitor development.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Oscar A. Pena, Alexandra Lubin, Jasmine Rowell, Yvette Hoade, Noreen Khokhar, Hanna Lemmik, Christopher Mahony, Phoebe Dace, Chianna Umamahesan, Elspeth M. Payne
Summary: Germline loss or mutation of one copy of the transcription factor GATA2 in humans results in clinical phenotypes affecting hematopoietic, lymphatic, and vascular systems. In this research, zebrafish with two copies of the Gata2 gene were used to investigate the effects of these genes on hematopoiesis during development, revealing unique roles at different stages and a potential redundancy between the two genes. The study also showed defects in the myeloid compartment in adult zebrafish with combined heterozygosity loss, similar to GATA2 loss in humans, adding to our understanding of GATA2 deficiency and its developmental effects.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marie Berenguer, Gregg Duester
Summary: The role of retinoic acid (RA) and Meis1/2 in limb development is complex, with RA activating Meis1/2 in the proximal limb bud mesoderm while FGF8 represses Meis1/2 in the distal limb to generate proximodistal patterning.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Reza Zolfaghari, Jessica A. Bonzo, Frank J. Gonzalez, A. Catharine Ross
Summary: HNF4 alpha regulates lipid and glucose metabolism genes. RA can act as an antagonist for HNF4 alpha in genes lacking RARE and as an agonist for RARE-containing genes. Overall, RA may interfere with HNF4 alpha function and deregulate genes important for lipid and glucose metabolism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew R. Hawkins, Rebecca A. Wingert
Summary: Retinoic acid, a metabolite of vitamin A, plays a significant role in development, influencing differentiation, patterning, and organogenesis. The conservation of RA and its pathways from zebrafish to humans makes zebrafish a valuable translational model for investigating the functions of RA and associated diseases. This review explores both foundational and recent studies using zebrafish to understand RA at the molecular and organismal level.
Article
Cell Biology
Hiroki Yoshioka, Yurie Mikami, Sai Shankar Ramakrishnan, Akiko Suzuki, Junichi Iwata
Summary: The study indicates that excess intake of all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) causes cleft palate in mice through the induction of miR-124-3p, while miR-27a-3p and miR-27b-3p do not significantly affect cell proliferation.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Shumpei Yamakawa, Hiroshi Wada
Summary: A recent genomic survey has found that retinoic acid (RA) signaling, previously thought to be unique to chordates, has an ancient evolutionary origin in the animal kingdom. Echinoderms, a basal group of deuterostomes, are of particular interest in studying the evolutionary history of RA signaling. Previous research suggests that echinoderms may possess the ancestral function of RA signaling in regulating metamorphosis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jerry Maria Sojan, Giorgia Gioacchini, Elisabetta Giorgini, Patrick Orlando, Luca Tiano, Francesca Maradonna, Oliana Carnevali
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of probiotic treatment on zebrafish caudal fin regeneration and found that it increased the regenerated area and changed the morphology of the fins. Probiotics also modulated osteoblast differentiation, cell cycle, and phosphate homeostasis, contributing to accelerated bone regeneration.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah Greaves, Katherine S. Marsay, Peter N. Monk, Henry Roehl, Lynda J. Partridge
Summary: CD9 expression is important for sperm-egg fusion in mice, but its role in fish fertility is more complex. Knockout of cd9b in zebrafish leads to decreased egg numbers and fertilization rates. These effects are not due to alterations in primordial germ cells. The fertility defects can be rescued by crossing with wildtype partners. In vitro fertilization experiments confirm the reduced egg numbers and fertilization rates in cd9b mutants are not solely due to mating behavior. CD9 plays a role in fish fertility in both males and females.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hans-Martin Pogoda, Iris Riedl-Quinkertz, Matthias Hammerschmidt
Summary: The vertebral column is the key feature of the vertebrate phylum, and its development differs between amniotes and teleosts. In teleosts, BMPs have been shown to directly signal chordoblasts and play a vital role in notochord sheath mineralization. This study focuses on BMP-RA interplay in zebrafish and reveals that BMPs promote sustained matrix production and mineralization in chordoblasts, while RA affects chordoblasts' progression after they have received BMP signals. This research provides insights into the early steps of vertebral column segmentation and has implications for human bone diseases related to BMP signaling.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Physiology
Anqun Chen, Yu Liu, Yu Lu, Kyung Lee, John Cijiang He
Summary: Retinoic acid (RA) has dual effects in kidney disease, providing renal protection while also potentially inducing podocyte injury and apoptosis, highlighting the need to target specific RA-mediated pathways for effective therapeutic treatments.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-RENAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Laura M. M. Samrani, Florent Dumont, Nina Hallmark, Helen Tinwell, Marc Pallardy, Aldert H. Piersma
Summary: The zebrafish embryo model was used to study the role of retinoic acid signaling pathway (RA-SP) related genes in embryonic development. Exposure to teratogenic concentrations of valproic acid (VPA) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) regulated 248 genes specifically, which were involved in the development of mesodermal tissues. These genes provide potential molecular biomarkers of mesodermal tissue and organ (mal)formation in the early vertebrate embryo.
REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hong Ma, Ziqing Liu, Yuchen Yang, Dong Feng, Yanhan Dong, Tiffany A. Garbutt, Zhiyuan Hu, Li Wang, Changfei Luan, Cynthia D. Cooper, Yun Li, Joshua D. Welch, Li Qian, Jiandong Liu
Summary: Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals the diversity and subpopulation distribution of non-cardiomyocytes during cardiac regeneration, with macrophages playing a key role in activating fibroblast and endothelial cell subpopulations. The study also identifies dynamic transitions between macrophage functional states and factors associated with mRNA processing and transcriptional regulation. A blueprint for interrogating the molecular and cellular basis of cardiac regeneration is provided.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peiguo Yuan, Eli Borrego, Yong -Soon Park, Zachary Gorman, Pei-Cheng Huang, Jordan Tolley, Shawn A. Christensen, Jantana Blanford, Aruna Kilaru, Robert Meeley, Hisashi Koiwa, Stefan Vidal, Alisa Huffaker, Eric Schmelz, Michael Kolomiets
Summary: Researchers discovered that a tonoplast-localized enzyme, ZmLOX5, and its product, 9,10-KODA, in corn have insect resistance properties and enhance the production of defense metabolites. Additionally, ZmLOX5 contributes to insect defense by modulating the signaling of another enzyme, ZmLOX10. This study revealed a novel anti-herbivory mechanism and hormone-like signaling activity.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shenglong Zhu, Jingwei Zhang, Doudou Zhu, Xuan Jiang, Lengyun Wei, Wei Wang, Yong Q. Chen
Summary: Retinoic acid (RA) has therapeutic effects in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by inhibiting adipogenesis and inducing fatty acid oxidation. This study found that chronic administration of RA improved NAFLD in obese mice induced by high-fat diet (HFD), with white adipose tissue (WAT) browning being the primary contributor.