Branching morphogenesis is a complex developmental process that has been studied thoroughly in the kidney, lung and mammary gland. But Pei-Hsin Huang and colleagues have been investigating branching morphogenesis in the mouse submandibular gland (SMG) - the salivary gland under the floor of the mouth -and on p. 2935,report the role of semaphorin signalling during the first step of SMG branching morphogenesis: the process of cleft formation. Semaphorin, together with its receptors neuropilin (Npn) and plexin (Plxn), is well known for its role in the nervous system and is involved in branching morphogenesis in other tissues. By downregulating or overexpressing combinations of these molecules in ex vivo SMG culture, the researchers show that the semaphorins Sema3A and Sema3C, the neuropilin Npn1 and the plexins PlxnA2 and PlxnD1, are specifically required for cleft formation. But the researchers were surprised to find that Sema3A and Sema3C function additively, with Npn1 mediating...
The Company of Biologists Workshops
For the last 15 years, our publisher, The Company of Biologists, has provided an apt environment to inspire biology and support biologists through our Workshops series. Read about the evolution of the Workshop series and revisit JEB's experience with hosting the first Global South Workshop.
Call for papers – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues
Development invites you to submit your latest research to our upcoming special issue – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues. This issue will be coordinated by Guest Editors Meritxell Huch (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Germany) and Mansi Srivastava (Harvard University and Museum of Comparative Zoology, USA), working alongside our team of academic Editors. Submit your articles by 30 May 2025.
Meet our 2025 Pathway to Independence (PI) fellows
We are delighted to announce our third cohort of PI fellows - researchers whom we will be supporting as they transition from postdoc to Principal Investigator. Read about the eight talented fellows chosen, whom we're excited to be working with as they navigate the job market.
A case for broadening our view of mechanism in developmental biology
In this Perspective, B. Duygu Özpolat and colleagues survey researchers on their views on what it takes to infer mechanism in developmental biology. They examine what factors shape our idea of what we mean by ‘mechanism’ and suggest a path forward that embraces a broad outlook on the diversity of studies that advance knowledge in our field.
the Node: Have your say
Our community site, the Node, is conducting a user survey about the content and the design of the site. Help us shape the Node's future and thank you for being a part of the Node over the last 15 years.
Social media
