Article
Microbiology
Anna-Lisa E. Lawrence, Ryan P. Berger, David R. Hill, Sha Huang, Veda K. Yadagiri, Brooke Bons, Courtney Fields, Gautam J. Sule, Jason S. Knight, Christiane E. Wobus, Jason R. Spence, Vincent B. Young, Mary X. O'Riordan, Basel H. Abuaita
Summary: This study investigated the impact of neutrophils on Salmonella infection using a human intestinal organoid model. The findings revealed that neutrophils enhanced epithelial defenses, including promoting cell extrusion to reduce bacterial burden and close association with the epithelium.
Article
Developmental Biology
Alessio Paolini, Dinara Sharipova, Tim Lange, Salim Abdelilah-Seyfried
Summary: This study reveals that the paralogous genes wnt9a/b and both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways are required for the migration of cardiomyocyte progenitor cells and the formation of the cardiac tube in zebrafish. They regulate the timing of cardiac progenitor cell differentiation and activate downstream pathways to direct cardiac morphogenesis.
Article
Developmental Biology
Adam Packard, William H. Klein, Frank Costantini
Summary: Research has shown that Ret signaling in kidney development is crucial for maintaining tip cells in the ureteric bud. Cells genetically forced to maintain Ret expression exhibit a tip-seeking behavior and self-organize into dense clusters in organoids. This suggests that Ret-dependent cell behaviors play a significant role in normal branching morphogenesis.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Junxiang Huang, James O. Cochran, Suzanne M. Fielding, M. Cristina Marchetti, Dapeng Bi
Summary: This study investigates the mechanical properties of confluent tissues under shear deformation using a computational model. The findings show that undeformed tissues acquire finite rigidity above a critical strain and exhibit shear-driven rigidity and nonlinear response.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
D. Wenzel, A. Voigt
Summary: Using multiphase field models, the study simulates structural arrangements and collective flows in cell monolayers and epithelia tissues, investigating the influence of microscopic details on active forces. By comparing different approaches, the importance of microscopic details in predictive simulations of patterns and correlations in cell colonies is highlighted.
Article
Biology
Michele Romanos, Guillaume Allio, Myriam Roussigne, Lea Combres, Nathalie Escalas, Cathy Soula, Francois Medevielle, Benjamin Steventon, Ariane Trescases, Bertrand Benazeraf
Summary: The study reveals that cell-to-cell heterogeneity in gene expression levels of Sox2 and Bra in progenitors plays a crucial role in guiding cell motility and tissue integration, with Sox2/Bra ratio influencing whether cells stay in the progenitor zone or exit to integrate neural or mesodermal tissues. Mathematical modeling suggests that randomness in Sox2/Bra cell-to-cell distribution favors cell rearrangements and tissue shape conservation during this process.
Article
Cell Biology
Yildiz Koca, Linh T. Vuong, Jaskirat Singh, Edward Giniger, Marek Mlodzik
Summary: This study reveals the regulatory role of Abl kinase in the process of ommatidial rotation (OR) during Drosophila eye development. Abl kinase acts downstream of Notch pathway in R4 cells to fine-tune OR through its effect on adherens junctions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anukul T. Shenoy, Carolina Lyon De Ana, Emad I. Arafa, Isabelle Salwig, Kimberly A. Barker, Filiz T. Korkmaz, Aditya Ramanujan, Neelou S. Etesami, Alicia M. Soucy, Ian M. C. Martin, Brian R. Tilton, Anne Hinds, Wesley N. Goltry, Hasmeena Kathuria, Thomas Braun, Matthew R. Jones, Lee J. Quinton, Anna C. Belkina, Joseph P. Mizgerd
Summary: The study demonstrates that lung epithelial cells play a crucial role in maintaining the function and phenotype of pulmonary T-RM cells through antigen presentation, highlighting the importance of epithelial-CD4(+) T-RM cell immune interactions in barrier immunity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Louis S. Prahl, Catherine M. Porter, Jiageng Liu, John M. Viola, Alex J. Hughes
Summary: Tissue boundaries and interfaces play a crucial role in morphogenesis in vivo. However, controlling cell positioning within tissue constructs is still a challenge in tissue engineering. This study presents a new approach that combines DNA velcro patterning and ECM functionalization to achieve precise control of cell placement, adhesion, and mechanics in engineered tissues.
Article
Developmental Biology
Maxwell G. Heiman
Summary: Neurons and epithelia share some characteristics, such as tight junctions and apical-basal polarity, while still maintaining their neuronal features. Studying these specialized neurons helps us understand their development and raises questions about the establishment of cell polarity.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Jordi Comelles, S. S. Soumya, Linjie Lu, Emilie Le Maout, S. Anvitha, Guillaume Salbreux, Frank Juelicher, Mandar M. Inamdar, Daniel Riveline
Summary: The study shows that the elongation of epithelial tissues in vitro is primarily caused by cell elongation, and the direction of elongation is correlated with the anisotropy of cell elongation. By applying an external periodic stretch, the axis of global symmetry breaking can be modified, leading to elongation primarily due to oriented neighbor exchange. A vertex model for collective cell behavior is used to confirm these different behaviors, providing a framework for understanding autonomous tissue elongation and its origins.
Article
Developmental Biology
Ido Regev, Karine Guevorkian, Anupam Gupta, Olivier Pourquie, L. Mahadevan
Summary: This study investigates the effects of cell motility gradients on body elongation using the chicken embryo as a model. The combination of electroporation and time-lapse imaging techniques reveals that random cell motility induced by a cellular signal (FGF) and geometric confinement play important roles in tissue elongation. Both experimental observations and theoretical models demonstrate that the continuous addition of cells at the tail bud, combined with lateral confinement, results in directed movement and body elongation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akiko Suzuki, Kenichi Ogata, Junichi Iwata
Summary: Research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of mammalian salivary gland development, with recent studies elucidating the identity of stem cells and the process of cell fate decisions in SMGs, contributing to a deeper understanding of organ development.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Neil M. Neumann, Daniel M. Kim, Robert J. Huebner, Andrew J. Ewald
Summary: In this study, the process of bifurcation of mammary epithelium was investigated. The researchers observed changes in cell migration speed and the role of TGF-0 signaling in this process, revealing the mechanism behind mammary epithelial bifurcation.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Fankhaenel, Farahnaz S. Golestan Hashemi, Larissa Mourao, Emily Lucas, Manal M. Hosawi, Paul Skipp, Xavier Morin, Colinda L. G. J. Scheele, Salah Elias
Summary: Oriented cell divisions, crucial for structured epithelial formation and maintenance, rely on polarised anchoring of force generators to the cell cortex. This anchoring is regulated by the interaction between the G(alpha i) subunit, LGN, and the nuclear mitotic apparatus protein. Annexin A1 is identified as an interactor of LGN, able to instruct cortical accumulation of LGN and the nuclear mitotic apparatus protein for proper spindle alignment. Loss of Annexin A1 disrupts spindle orientation, resulting in epithelial architectural and luminogenic defects in mammary epithelial cells in three-dimensional cultures.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carla Prat-Rojo, Philippe-Alexandre Pouille, Javier Buceta, Enrique Martin-Blanco
Article
Biology
Antonio Galeone, Joshua M. Adams, Shinya Matsuda, Maximiliano F. Presa, Ashutosh Pandey, Seung Yeop Han, Yuriko Tachida, Hiroto Hirayama, Thomas Vaccari, Tadashi Suzuki, Cathleen M. Lutz, Markus Affolter, Aamir Zuberi, Hamed Jafar-Nejad
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Federica Mangione, Enrique Martin-Blanco
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2020)
Letter
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Guy A. Rutter, Nikolay Ninov, Victoria Salem, David J. Hodson
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yannick Mesrouze, Gustavo Aguilar, Fedir Bokhovchuk, Typhaine Martin, Clara Delaunay, Frederic Villard, Marco Meyerhofer, Catherine Zimmermann, Patrizia Fontana, Roman Wille, Thomas Vorherr, Dirk Erdmann, Pascal Furet, Clemens Scheufler, Tobias Schmelzle, Markus Affolter, Patrick Chene
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Zhenguo Yang, Shuilong Wu, Federica Fontana, Yanyu Li, Wei Xiao, Zhangdai Gao, Alice Krudewig, Markus Affolter, Heinz-Georg Belting, Salim Abdelilah-Seyfried, Jingjing Zhang
Summary: The research reveals a non-canonical role of claudin-5 in zebrafish vasculogenesis, where it regulates adhesive forces between arterial endothelial cells, limiting cell motility and affecting lumen formation in the artery.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Maria P. Kotini, Felix Bachmann, Jochen Spickermann, Paul M. McSheehy, Markus Affolter
Summary: Derazantinib (DZB), an inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptors and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, may have a potential dual role as an anti-angiogenic treatment. The study demonstrated in a zebrafish embryo model that DZB interferes with various angiogenic processes linked to FGF and VEGF signaling.
Article
Developmental Biology
M. Alessandra Vigano, Clara-Maria Ell, Manuela M. M. Kustermann, Gustavo Aguilar, Shinya Matsuda, Ning Zhao, Timothy J. Stasevich, Markus Affolter, George Pyrowolakis
Summary: Protein interactions play a crucial role in cellular development and function, and the development of specific protein binders has created a new toolbox for direct protein manipulation. Single short tags have been shown to efficiently bind and manipulate proteins of interest in living cells, opening up new possibilities for studying dynamic cellular processes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luis Fernando Delgadillo-Silva, Mohammad Nadeem Akhtar, Emirhan Tasoez, Nikolay Ninov
Summary: This study successfully investigated beta-cell function in vivo using the optical transparency of zebrafish larvae, revealing the response of beta-cells to glucose stimulation in terms of Ca2+ influx. It is important for understanding how environmental and genetic factors affect beta-cell function.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
John Robert Davis, Anna P. Ainslie, John J. Williamson, Ana Ferreira, Alejandro Torres-Sanchez, Andreas Hoppe, Federica Mangione, Matthew B. Smith, Enrique Martin-Blanco, Guillaume Salbreux, Nicolas Tapon
Summary: This research on Drosophila reveals that the development of adult abdominal epidermis is driven by cell divisions initiated by enzymes secreted by neighboring larval epidermal cells. The study also shows that the development involves changes in the tissue microenvironment and a rapid exit from the cell cycle.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katerina Karkali, Enrique Martin-Blanco
Summary: Although we have a better understanding of the gene networks controlling specific cell responses during developmental processes, we still need to determine how these networks cooperate and how signals become integrated. The JNK pathway, a key element in modulating cellular responses during development, interacts with additional regulators whose mechanisms remain largely unknown. In studying the regulation of puc expression, it was found that the JNK activity responds to some, but not all, specific enhancers, highlighting the complexity of puc expression regulation and the involvement of JNK activities in previously unknown processes during Drosophila development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Marsal, Amayra Hernandez-Vega, Philippe-Alexandre Pouille, Enrique Martin-Blanco
Summary: The remodelling of membranes plays a crucial role in directing cell and tissue mechanics during epiboly in early embryos. Experimental analyses and modeling have shown that endocytosis is essential for the removal of external membrane layers and the regulation of mechanical tension, which is critical for proper embryo development.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Katerina Karkali, Prabhat Tiwari, Anand Singh, Sham Tlili, Ignasi Jorba, Daniel Navajas, Jose J. Munoz, Timothy E. Saunders, Enrique Martin-Blanco
Summary: During development, organs can achieve precise shapes and sizes not only through growth but also through condensation. A study on the embryonic ventral nerve cord (VNC) in Drosophila embryos reveals that the condensation process occurs through oscillatory contractions. The mechanical properties of the VNC vary spatially and temporally, and forces along its longitudinal axis are heterogeneous. This condensation process depends on the coordinated mechanical activities of neurons and glia, and can be explained by a viscoelastic model.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katerina Karkali, Timothy E. Saunders, George Panayotou, Enrique Martin-Blanco
Summary: The morphogenesis of the Central Nervous System (CNS) follows precise architectural rules, but the mechanisms governing these rules are still unknown. Studying the development of the Drosophila embryo Ventral Nerve Cord (VNC), researchers discovered that JNK signaling in a specific subset of pioneer neurons plays a critical role in achieving the final architecture of the VNC. Disruption of this signaling pathway leads to defects in axonal fasciculation and subsequent structural organization of the axonal network, ultimately affecting the condensation of the nervous system.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuting Lei, Yuwei Huang, Ke Yang, Xueya Cao, Yuzhao Song, Enrique Martin-Blanco, Jose Carlos Pastor-Pareja
Summary: Understanding adipogenetic mechanisms is crucial for studying and treating metabolic conditions and adipose tissue health. The study on Drosophila reveals that mature adipose tissue in larvae and adults originate from undifferentiated mesodermal precursors that migrate during metamorphosis. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling guides their migration and regulates adhesion to the substrate. After spreading, precursor differentiation involves fat accumulation and cell fusion. Impaired adult adipogenesis leads to ectopic fat accumulation and decreased resistance to starvation. This study demonstrates the physiological significance of adult adipogenesis.