Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Double staining of laryngeal cartilages (SOX9+, green) and laryngeal muscles (MF20+, red) and of nuclei (DAPI, blue) in a β-catenin conditional knockout mouse at E16.5. Ablation of β-catenin in vocal fold epithelial progenitors during early stages of vocal fold development leads to serious defects in differentiation of surrounding mesenchyme. See Research article by Lungova et al. (dev157677).
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
EDITORIAL
SPOTLIGHT
DEVELOPMENT AT A GLANCE
REVIEW
Autophagy in stem cells: repair, remodelling and metabolic reprogramming
Summary: This Review summarizes the role of autophagy in embryonic, adult and cancer stem cells and cellular reprogramming, and highlights the consequences of autophagy dysregulation on tissue development and homeostasis.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
TCF7L1 suppresses primitive streak gene expression to support human embryonic stem cell pluripotency
Summary: TCF7L1 represses PS gene expression to maintain the primed, pluripotent state, with relief of this repression by BMP4 leading to upregulation of PS-promoting genes (including NODAL, WNT3 and BMP4) to drive hESC differentiation.
STEM CELLS AND REGENERATION
Podoplanin regulates mammary stem cell function and tumorigenesis by potentiating Wnt/β-catenin signaling
Highlighted Article: This study reveals a role for the transmembrane glycoprotein podoplanin in mammary stem cell function and tumorigenesis through the positive regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
H3K9 demethylase KDM4E is an epigenetic regulator for bovine embryonic development and a defective factor for nuclear reprogramming
Summary: RNA-dependent KDM4E chromatin localization is essential for active H3K9 demethylation during bovine embryonic genome activation, an observation that could improve outcomes in cloned cattle production.
ES cell-derived presomitic mesoderm-like tissues for analysis of synchronized oscillations in the segmentation clock
Highlighted Article: Embryonic stem cell-derived presomitic mesoderm-like tissues exhibit synchronized Hes7 oscillations, anterior-posterior-like axis formation and segment formation, and are suitable for chemical-library screening for detailed analysis of the segmentation clock.
RESEARCH REPORT
Microbiota promote secretory cell determination in the intestinal epithelium by modulating host Notch signaling
Highlighted Article: Investigations in gnotobiotic zebrafish reveal that resident intestinal microbes determine intestinal secretory cell fate by modulating host Notch signaling, a highly conserved pathway involved in myriad host cell fate decisions.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Connexin 30 controls astroglial polarization during postnatal brain development
Summary: Connexin 30 sets the orientation of astroglial motile protrusions during polarized migration in vitro and contributes in vivo to the establishment of hippocampal astrocyte polarity during postnatal maturation.
Forced lipophagy reveals that lipid droplets are required for early embryonic development in mouse
Summary: A forced lipophagy system, established by expressing an autophagy adaptor on the surface of lipid droplets, demonstrates that depletion of lipid droplets in fertilized mouse embryos causes developmental retardation.
Lsd1 interacts with cMyb to demethylate repressive histone marks and maintain inner ear progenitor identity
Summary: In chick inner ear development, cMyb is identified as a novel Lsd1-interacting partner that recruits Lsd1 to promoter regions of actively transcribed genes to control H3K9 demethylation.
Mesenchymal Wnt/β-catenin signaling limits tooth number
Summary: Using mouse models to investigate serial tooth formation reveals that contrasting changes in tooth number associated with human mutations in AXIN2 and RUNX2 result from modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in dental mesenchyme.
β-Catenin signaling is essential for mammalian larynx recanalization and the establishment of vocal fold progenitor cells
Summary: The first demonstration that β-catenin signaling contributes to vocal fold morphogenesis by regulating proliferation and epithelial progenitor establishment, shedding light on the etiology of poorly understood congenital laryngeal malformations.
The ELMO-MBC complex and RhoGAP19D couple Rho family GTPases during mesenchymal-to-epithelial-like transitions
Summary: Rac and Rho activities during dorsal closure are coordinated by the atypical Rac GEF, the ELMO-MBC complex and the Rho GAP RhoGAP19D during in vivo Drosophila mesenchymal-to-epithelial-like transitions.
TECHNIQUES AND RESOURCES
Genome and epigenome engineering CRISPR toolkit for in vivo modulation of cis-regulatory interactions and gene expression in the chicken embryo
Summary: The use of an optimised toolkit for efficient genome and epigenome engineering using CRISPR in chicken embryos is demonstrated, focussing on probing gene regulatory interactions during neural crest development.
Validating upstream regulators of Yorkie activity in Hippo signaling through scalloped-based genetic epistasis
Summary: Analysis of double-mutant clones of sd and putative Yki regulators provides a simple and efficient strategy to validate upstream regulators of Yki activity in Hippo signaling.
A genetically encoded fluorescent probe for imaging of oxygenation gradients in living Drosophila
Summary: DsRed FT forms the basis of a simple and robust method for direct visualization of oxygenation exposure that is applicable to whole animals with single-cell precision.
CORRECTION
Biologists @ 100 - join us in Liverpool in March 2025
We are excited to invite you to a unique scientific conference, celebrating the 100-year anniversary of The Company of Biologists, and bringing together our different communities. The conference will incorporate the Spring Meetings of the BSCB and the BSDB, the JEB Symposium Sensory Perception in a Changing World and a DMM programme on antimicrobial resistance. Find out more and register your interest to join us in March 2025 in Liverpool, UK.
Pathway to independence: perspectives on the future
In this Perspective, our second cohort of Pathway to Independence (PI) fellows showcase their research interests and thoughts on the future of the field of developmental biology. These talented postdocs cover topics as diverse as plant development, tissue engineering and adaptation to climate change. Look out for an announcement about the next call for applications later this year to become a Pathway to Independence fellow.
Development presents…
Development is excited to host a webinar series showcasing the latest developmental biology and stem cell research. The webinars are chaired each month by a different Development Editor, who invites talks from authors of exciting new papers and preprints. Visit Development presents... on the Node to see which topics are coming up and to catch up on recordings of past webinars.
The fascinating world of developmental biology
Development, British Society of Developmental Biology and Cambridge Filmworks teamed up to produce a documentary showcasing the wonder and the importance of the developmental biology field. We hope this video will help to promote our field and inspire the next generation of developmental biologists. We invite you to watch, enjoy and – most importantly - share this movie.
Modelling Plant Stem Cells: Evolution, Development and Regeneration
Early-career researchers can now apply for a funded place for the Modelling Plant Stem Cells: Evolution, Development and Regeneration Workshop happening on 18-21 May 2025. This is a great opportunity that could enhance your career in various ways. Application deadline: Friday 15 November 2024.