Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: 3D-printed feeding organ (radula) of the gastropod Vittina (powder-print), displaying tooth types with highly pronounced differences in shape and size. The radular movement of this and 19 other Molluscan species was documented in detail in a paper by Scheel et al., contributing to the topic of substrate-tooth interaction. Image licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
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EDITORIAL
MEETING REVIEW
Shifting away from the business-as-usual approach to research conferences
Summary: This meeting review provides details on a potential future direction for scientific conferences that incorporates restrictions relevant to the current pandemic and climate change.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Molecular determinants that govern scaRNA processing by Drosha/DGCR8
Summary: Our findings clearly establish that the Drosha/DGCR8 complex processes a subset of scaRNAs, and further strengthens the connection between CBs and the miRNA processing machinery.
The Rab11 effectors Fip5 and Fip1 regulate zebrafish intestinal development
Summary: The Rab11 effectors fip5a and fip5b function in parallel to regulate apical trafficking and microvilli establishment during zebrafish intestinal development. Moreover, cells upregulate Fip1 to compensate for loss of Fip5.
Not just scratching the surface: distinct radular motion patterns in Mollusca
Summary: The radula is the food-processing organ in Mollusca and one key innovation. By employing high resolution video footage we documented distinct motion patterns while feeding and discovered that the animals can use the radula as counter bearings enabling the tearing of large food items.
Age-dependent degeneration of an identified adult leg motor neuron in a Drosophila SOD1 model of ALS
Summary: A Drosophila gene-replacement model of ALS exhibits age-dependent dismantling of the neuromuscular junction.
‘Whip from the hip’: thigh angular motion, ground contact mechanics, and running speed
Summary: This investigation examined running speed, thigh motion and vertical force determinants. Results suggest thigh angular velocity is strongly correlated to speed and the lower limb impact kinematics underlying force application.
Osteogenic differentiation potential of porcine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell subpopulations selected in different basal media
Summary: Basal media influence differentiation potential of porcine mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs). We report here αMEM/aDMEM generates pMSC subpopulations expressing osteogenic markers and differentiate efficiently to osteogenic cells.
Maternal glucocorticoid levels during incubation predict breeding success, but not reproductive investment, in a free-ranging bird
Summary: Levels of the stress biomarker corticosterone predict breeding success in female tree swallows. However, correlations between hormone levels and fitness differ between life-history stages.
De novo design, retrosynthetic analysis and combinatorial synthesis of a hybrid antiviral (VTAR-01) to inhibit the interaction of SARS-CoV2 spike glycoprotein with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
Summary: SARS-CoV2 has caused an outbreak globally and is responsible for high mortality and morbidity. Interaction of the receptor-binding domain of spike protein of this virus with human angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) is vital for the infection. Hence, a de novo designed hybrid antiviral molecule (VTAR-01) targeting RBD-ACE2 interaction may play a very significant role in controlling the COVID-19 disease.
From pathogen to a commensal: modification of the Microbacterium nematophilum–Caenorhabditis elegans interaction during chronic infection by the absence of host insulin signalling
Summary: The consequences that an intestinal bacterium will cause on host longevity and health exist in a continuum. Host genetics is important to determine where a bacterial strain may lie in this continuum.
Alpha-synuclein aggresomes inhibit ciliogenesis and multiple functions of the centrosome
Summary: Aggresomes of alpha-synuclein – the main component of the Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease – prevent microtubule nucleation by the centrosome and inhibit cells, including olfactory neurons, from making cilia.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
Quantitative analysis of subcellular distributions with an open-source, object-based tool
Summary: The SubcellularDistribution pipeline is an open-source, automated, and customizable tool that guides users through image segmentation, data processing and visualization to analyze object-based colocalization within fluorescence microscopy images.
A node-based informed modularity strategy to identify organizational modules in anatomical networks
Summary: A new method to identify modules in anatomical networks without optimization and statistically assess their degree of overlap. This method will assist researchers in identifying meaningful biological modules.
Quantifying Drosophila adults with the use of a smartphone
Summary: We offer a highly accurate and efficient method for an automatic calculation of Drosophila melanogaster imagoes with the use of the SeedCounter application for mobile devices running Android operating system.
Stable integration of an optimized inducible promoter system enables spatiotemporal control of gene expression throughout avian development
Summary: We have designed an optimized and integrating inducible-promoter system to control the timing, spatial domains, and levels of gene misexpression throughout avian development.
FIRST PERSON
PUBLISHER'S NOTES
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