Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhangqi Xu, Min Liu, Cheng Gao, Wenjun Kuang, Xiying Chen, Feifei Liu, Bai Ge, Xiaoyi Yan, Tianhua Zhou, Shanshan Xie
Summary: Deletion of the For20 gene results in embryonic growth arrest and lethality, impaired left-right patterning, reduced cilia, and disrupted angiogenesis in mammals, highlighting a critical role of For20 in early embryonic development.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xin-Xin Fu, Ding-Hao Zhuo, Ying-Jie Zhang, Yun-Fei Li, Xiang Liu, Yan-Yi Xing, Ying Huang, Yi-Fan Wang, Tao Cheng, Dan Wang, Si-Han Chen, Yi-Jian Chen, Guan-Nan Jiang, Fu- Lu, Yu Feng, Xiao Huang, Jun Ma, Wei Liu, Ge Bai, Peng-Fei Xu
Summary: The emergence of left-right (LR) asymmetry in a patterning field along the anterior-posterior axis is still an unresolved problem in developmental biology. This study identifies Follistatin (Fst) as a regulator that restricts the propagation of Nodal ortholog Southpaw (Spaw) in the right lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) and facilitates the establishment of a robust LR asymmetric Nodal patterning. Furthermore, Fst inhibits the Activin-Nodal signaling pathway in the forebrain, contributing to the orderly propagation of asymmetric Nodal activation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Taylor M. Guertin, Amrita Palaria, Jesse Mager, Lisa L. Sandell, Paul A. Trainor, Kimberly D. Tremblay
Summary: Retinoic acid (RA), a metabolite of vitamin A, plays a crucial role in embryonic development. This study reveals that RA signaling is required for hepatic induction in mammals, and the generation of normal RA gradients is essential for hepatic patterning, specification, and growth.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Paul W. Chrystal, Curtis R. French, Francesca Jean, Serhiy Havrylov, Suey van Baarle, Ann-Marie Peturson, Pengfei Xu, J. Gage Crump, David B. Pilgrim, Ordan J. Lehmann, Andrew J. Waskiewicz
Summary: The study demonstrates the crucial role of the FOXC1 gene in left-right organ positioning in zebrafish, with mutations leading to abnormal cardiac, liver, and pancreas situs. Overexpression of FOXC1 affects the positioning of visceral organs relative to the midline. Disruption of left-right patterning components, potentially contributing to the incidence of congenital heart defects in Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome patients, is observed in FOXC1 mutants.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Markus Maerker, Maike Getwan, Megan E. Dowdle, Jason C. McSheene, Vanessa Gonzalez, Jose L. Pelliccia, Danielle S. Hamilton, Valeria Yartseva, Charles Vejnar, Melanie Tingler, Katsura Minegishi, Philipp Vick, Antonio J. Giraldez, Hiroshi Hamada, Rebecca D. Burdine, Michael D. Sheets, Martin Blum, Axel Schweickert
Summary: The authors demonstrate that post-transcriptional regulation of the cilia-driven leftward flow gene dand5 is crucial for symmetry breakage in frogs, fish, and mice, with Pkd2 playing a regulatory role. This process is mediated by a 139 nt Bicc1 responsive element in the dand5 3 ' UTR.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
John R. Wells, Maria B. Padua, Stephanie M. Ware
Summary: This article summarizes the recent genetic discoveries in heterotaxy, including genetic architecture, regulation of cilia formation, conservation of LR patterning, insights into LR signaling pathways, and previously associated genes with laterality phenotypes in humans.
CURRENT OPINION IN GENETICS & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
X. Wang, Y. Liang, Z. Zhu, W. Li, B. Shi, Y. Deng, C. Li, O. Sha
Summary: This study demonstrates that fibronectin 1 (Fn1) synthesized by neural crest cells (NCCs) plays a crucial role in regulating the patterning of the third pharyngeal pouch and the morphogenesis of the thymus/parathyroid.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Min Liu, Xinyu Zou, Mao Fu, Xinping Bai, Yongyan Zhao, Xin Chen, Xiaoyu Wang, Peijian Wang, Sizhou Huang
Summary: This study reveals the tissue-specific role of cold stress in early development, showing that mild cold stress does not affect multiple-organ progenitor specification but disrupts organ left-right patterning. The mechanism involves the downregulation of cell-adhesion genes and the disturbance of cell clustering movement, leading to defects in Kupffer's vesicle/cilia development and subsequent organ patterning.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shicheng Zhu, Hanjing Song, Liangjun Zhong, Suman Huo, Yukun Fang, Wanxin Zhao, Xueqin Yang, Zhong-Min Dai, Rui He, Mengsheng Qiu, Zunyi Zhang, Xiao-Jing Zhu
Summary: The study reveals that MSX1 plays a crucial role in palate development. It regulates the anterior-posterior growth and patterning of the secondary palate, affecting cell proliferation and cell death in the palatal mesenchyme. It also influences palatine bone formation by modulating the expression of osteogenic genes. Furthermore, it is found that MSX1 can directly repress the expression of medial-posterior palate genes, contributing to the regulation of palate development.
JOURNAL OF GENETICS AND GENOMICS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Xin Huang, Qiongqiong Ren, Yiquan Wang, Sebastian M. Shimeld, Guang Li
Summary: Gli transcription factors are the key mediators of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. In amphioxus, which split from the vertebrate lineage early in evolution, there is only one Gli gene that can be alternatively spliced to yield two isoforms. Knockout of the Gli gene in amphioxus results in major developmental defects, particularly in left-right asymmetry. However, the effects of Hh and Gli knockout differ in the pharynx and neural tube, suggesting that the isoforms of amphioxus Gli may have different functions.
MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yiran Sun, Jiayu Pei, Xi Chen, Mengwen Lin, Yun Pan, Yingying Zhang, Wenlin Bai, Xingfan Zhou, Wenping Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of CPF on depressive-like behavior in mice and the role of gut microbiota in this behavior. The results showed that CPF caused depressive-like behaviors with pathological changes in the hippocampus and colon. CPF also induced changes in gut microbiota, including 49 differential bacteria. Correlation analysis demonstrated that 18 differentially abundant bacteria were correlated with CPF-induced depression.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aleksandra Paterek, Marta Okninska, Michal Maczewski, Urszula Mackiewicz
Summary: This study found that right ventricular failure caused by left ventricular failure cannot be solely explained by a decline in cardiomyocyte function. Other factors may play a role, highlighting the need for further research to better understand the biology of right ventricular failure and develop targeted therapies.
Article
Cell Biology
Tao Cheng, Yan-Yi Xing, Cong Liu, Yun-Fei Li, Ying Huang, Xiang Liu, Ying-Jie Zhang, Guo-Qin Zhao, Yang Dong, Xin-Xin Fu, Yi-Meng Tian, Li-Ping Shu, Sean G. Megason, Peng-Fei Xu
Summary: Progress has been made in generating analogs of early embryos in vitro, but there is still a lack of understanding on how to mimic the cell movements of gastrulation and induce head formation. In this study, a regional Nodal gradient was applied to a zebrafish animal pole explant, resulting in the generation of a structure that recapitulates key cell movements of gastrulation. Through analysis of cell fates and patterning, it was found that overexpression of certain genes can induce the formation of a complete or partial head structure in zebrafish embryos.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Binia Stieger, Rupert Palme, Sylvia Kaiser, Norbert Sachser, S. Helene Richter
Summary: Spontaneous limb preferences exist in numerous species. This study aimed to investigate the impact of shifting paw preferences via training on spontaneous behavior, anxiety-like behavior, exploratory locomotion, learning performance, and stress hormones in laboratory mice. The results showed that most mice were successfully trained and the effects of training persisted after the training period. However, RL mice had a lower training success rate and left paw training led to more self-grooming behavior and more time spent in the light compartment. Overall, there was no systematic influence of training on behavioral measures and stress hormones.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Richard Hawkes
Summary: The cerebellar cortex is highly compartmentalized, divided into five anteroposterior units and 20 parasagittal stripes, forming complex topography. Development of the cerebellum involves interactions between two parallel pathways, one for inhibitory neurons and the other for excitatory neurons. Both pathways are spatially patterned and contribute to the overall pattern formation of the adult cerebellum.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Genetics & Heredity
Manuel Viotti
JOURNAL OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS
(2019)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Manuel Viotti
Article
Biology
Nestor Saiz, Laura Mora-Bitria, Shahadat Rahman, Hannah George, Jeremy P. Herder, Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
Review
Biology
Nestor Saiz, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2020)
Biographical-Item
Cell Biology
Ruth M. Arkell, Sally L. Dunwoodie, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis, Elizabeth J. Robertson
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Manuel Viotti, Andrea R. Victor, Frank L. Barnes, Christo G. Zouves, Andria G. Besser, James A. Grifo, En-Hui Cheng, Maw-Sheng Lee, Jose A. Horcajadas, Laura Corti, Francesco Fiorentino, Francesca Spinella, Maria Giulia Minasi, Ermanno Greco, Santiago Munne
Summary: This study investigated how the attributes of mosaicism identified during preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy are related to clinical outcomes, and formulated a ranking system for mosaic embryos. The results showed that euploid embryos had significantly better outcomes compared to mosaic embryos, with outcomes influenced by the level and type of mosaicism. Combining mosaic level, type, and embryo morphology revealed a ranking of subcategories regarding the likelihood of positive outcome.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Sophie M. Morgani, Jie Su, Jennifer Nichols, Joan Massague, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
Summary: Rreb1 is essential for mouse embryonic development, and its loss leads to various defects and embryonic lethality.Understanding the function of Rreb1 in development may provide insights into its role in diseases involving loss of epithelial integrity.
Article
Biology
Sophie M. Morgani, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
Summary: Research reveals that early PGCs in mouse embryos exhibit lower BMP and MAPK responses compared to neighboring cells, while showing similar responses to WNT, indicating distinct signaling regulatory mechanisms between germline and soma cells. Additionally, canonical BMP signaling is not autonomously required for directing PGC-like differentiation.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Manuel Viotti, Rajiv C. McCoy, Darren K. Griffin, Francesca Spinella, Ermanno Greco, Mitko Madjunkov, Svetlana Madjunkova, Clifford L. Librach, Andrea R. Victor, Frank L. Barnes, Christo G. Zouves
Summary: Chromosomal mosaicism, the coexistence of cells with different chromosomal content in human embryos, has been documented for 30 years. Early versions of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy did not accurately identify mosaicism, potentially leading to misdiagnoses. Modern techniques can recognize mosaicism and its specific features, which are associated with clinical outcomes, suggesting that mosaicism should be considered in embryo selection for better clinical results.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Ariad, Stephanie M. Yan, Andrea R. Victor, Frank L. Barnes, Christo G. Zouves, Manuel Viotti, Rajiv C. McCoy
Summary: This study presents a statistical approach, LD-informed PGT-A (LD-PGTA), for distinguishing meiotic and mitotic aneuploidies as well as genome-wide ploidy abnormalities. The method can maintain high accuracy even at low coverage of 0.05x and has the potential to improve outcomes in IVF by providing fundamental insights into human chromosome abnormalities.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abderhman Abuhashem, Vidur Garg, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
Summary: The coordinated regulation of transcriptional networks is crucial for cellular identity and developmental progression. Pol II pausing, a prevalent mechanism for controlling and synchronizing transcription, regulates the productive elongation step of transcription in response to various signaling pathways. Recent advances in understanding the molecular basis and function of Pol II pausing in organismal development highlight the potential of combining genomics approaches and perturbation systems to further expand our knowledge in this field.
Review
Biology
Sayali Chowdhary, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
Summary: The blastocyst is a significant stage in mammalian embryo development, consisting of three cell lineages formed through binary cell fate specification. During this stage, cells differentiate and mature as the embryo implants into the maternal uterus.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Alexandre Francou, Kathryn Anderson, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
Summary: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process in which epithelial cells transform into mesenchymal phenotypes and gain the ability to migrate. This phenomenon is crucial in gastrulation, a highly conserved developmental process. The ingress of epiblast cells at the primitive streak is asynchronous and involves the contraction of apical surfaces through shrinkage of apical junctions. An analysis of apical proteins revealed the enrichment of actomyosin network and Crumbs2 complexes, which may regulate the asynchronous shrinkage of cell junctions. Loss of function experiments demonstrated that Crumbs2 is required for myosin II localization and activity at apical junctions, suggesting its role in actomyosin anisotropy.
Article
Cell Biology
Abderhman Abuhashem, Alexandra G. Chivu, Yixin Zhao, Edward J. Rice, Adam Siepel, Charles G. Danko, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
Summary: This study reveals that RNA Pol II pausing plays a critical role in the pluripotency continuum of mouse embryos. The researchers show that in the absence of NELF, pluripotent stem cells fail to balance the levels of induced and repressed genes and enhancers. Additionally, they find an increase in chromatin-associated NELF during the transition from the naive to later pluripotent states.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Abderhman Abuhashem, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
Summary: This article provides a step-by-step protocol for generating genetically engineered mouse models with a degradation tag, enabling the control of degradation of endogenous proteins, which is crucial for studying protein function.