Issues

Summary: Homeodomain factors Msx1 and Meox2, acting in addition to Pax3 and Six1/4, fine-tune the entry of progenitor cells into myogenesis at early stages of forelimb development via modulation of limb enhancer gene Myf5.

Summary: This study proposes a model for repetitive tooth formation in which the epithelium can grow by the movement of epithelial cells followed by infolding and stratification of Sox2/Sox9 positive cells.

Summary: In this study, we identified behaviors that produce maximum activation of muscles to test hypotheses of the specific behaviors that influenced the evolution of the human musculoskeletal system.

Summary: We test friction as a proxy of adhesion, comparing arboreal and burrower tarantulas climbing on different surfaces and at different angles.

Summary: We inspected the functional significance of both vibroacoustic and chemical communication channels in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), confirming the hypothesis that these are not exclusive but rather complementary processes.

Summary: Synaptamide, an omega-3 fatty acid metabolite, promotes axon growth while Shh antagonizes synaptamide-mediated axon growth by a SMO-independent, non-canonical pathway.

Summary: Metabolomic ‘snapshots’ from developing cod larvae reflect the temperature and diet experienced from hatching to juvenile and provide insight into how important processes such as osmoregulation and muscle development might be affected.

Summary: Dual acylation (i.e. myristoylation and palmitoylation) regulates the atypical localization of sperm-specific hexokinase 1 isoform and thus is essential for ‘rewiring’ of glycolytic network.

Summary: Brain and head regeneration in the acoel Symsagittifera roscoffensis is coordinated with restoration of directed navigation behavior, suggesting that the regenerative capacity of different sensory modalities follows distinct paths. 

Summary: Highly polarized Drosophila bristle cells reveal that dynamic microtubule organization and mitochondrial transport are regulated by distinct Kinesin-1 pathways, and a novel mode of coordination between Khc and Dhc in mitochondrial transport.

Summary: Leg expression of the selector gene midline in Drosophila is controlled both by transcriptional regulation and by the lack of mixing between dorsal and ventral cells in the distal leg.

Summary: For the first time, the hydrodynamic properties of a fossil fish, Saurichthys, have been investigated using computational fluid dynamics. Low drag coefficient and small area of flow disturbance prove fast-start predatory adaptation.

Summary: The ossification of intermuscular bones in teleost fish appears to be induced by mechanical force loadings produced by swimming.

Summary: Primary cilia stiffness can be modulated, affecting the cellular responsiveness to mechanical signals. We identify a potential mechanism that regulates cellular mechanosensitivity.

Summary: This study, using a temperature sensitive mec1 mutant, reveals that inactivation of Mec1 leads to S phase arrest, and that genome duplication in the absence of Mec1/ATR is exquisitely sensitive to small changes in dNTP levels.

Summary: This is the first report of urinary cell-induced pluripotent stem cells being used as resources for investigation of the pathological mechanisms of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia.

Summary: During embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster, without involving the nervous system, somatic muscles control terminal differentiation of the airway system by stimulating gas-filling before hatching.

Summary: Introducing mutations of the TCF4 gene found in human patients into its fly orthologue daughterless allows the generation of Drosophila models for research into Pitt-Hopkins syndrome.

Summary: Our work represents the first continuous analysis of neural progenitor behaviour in X. laevis from early embryogenesis to juvenile stage and identifies two phases of neurogenesis interrupted by a phase of slow increase of the progenitor pool.

Summary: We describe a novel role for BMP activity in promoting a direct and cell type-independent mechanism for apical constriction, cell elongation and epithelial invagination, separate from acquisition of placode-specific identities.

Summary: SUN-domain protein Sun4 is essential for sperm head formation. Sun4 deficiency interferes with the organization of the microtubule manchette and leads to a globozoospermia-like phenotype and infertility.