Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Dorsal (top) and transverse (bottom) views of zebrafish embryos expressing fluorescent reporters that allow direct visualisation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during neural crest development. These embryos were used in a phenotype-based chemical screen to identify small-molecule inhibitors of EMT in vivo. This approach led to the discovery of a multi-kinase inhibitor, called TP-0903, which inhibits cranial neural crest EMT through activation of the retinoic acid transcriptional response. TP-0903 is also a potent inhibitor of EMT in human cancer cells and is progressing toward a first-in-human study in a number of advanced malignancies. See article by Jimenez et al. on page 389.
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A MODEL FOR LIFE
Building genetic tools in Drosophila research: an interview with Gerald Rubin
Drosophila Collection: Ross Cagan spoke to Gerry Rubin about his career path and the story behind some of his key breakthroughs, as well as his unique and successful approach to management and mentorship.
REVIEW
Using Drosophila to discover mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes
Drosophila Collection: Studies in Drosophila hold the potential to transform our understanding of the genetics of diabetes. We review important findings and provide a framework for diabetes gene discovery in the fly.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of adrenoleukodystrophy: the roles of the Bubblegum and Double bubble acyl-CoA synthetases
Drosophila Collection: A new Drosophila model of ALD reveals dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism as causal of neurodegenerative pathologies and has led to the identification of a new candidate gene for ALD in humans.
Phenotypic chemical screening using a zebrafish neural crest EMT reporter identifies retinoic acid as an inhibitor of epithelial morphogenesis
Editors' choice: Generation and characterization of a novel neural crest EMT reporter for rapid in vivo drug screening in zebrafish that identifies a small-molecule EMT inhibitor that blocks this process by activating retinoic acid signaling.
5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors as hypothalamic targets of developmental programming in male rats
Summary: Maternal protein restriction increases fetal brain 5-HT and might contribute to changes in production and function of hypothalamic 5-HT2C and 5-HT2A receptors in the offspring later in life.
Common arterial trunk and ventricular non-compaction in Lrp2 knockout mice indicate a crucial role of LRP2 in cardiac development
Summary: This paper sheds a new light on the role of the second heart field and neural crest cells in outflow tract formation in the mouse embryo. Depletion of the LPR2 results in a disturbed contribution pattern and subsequent common arterial trunk.
Depletion of regulatory T cells leads to an exacerbation of delayed-type hypersensitivity arthritis in C57BL/6 mice that can be counteracted by IL-17 blockade
Summary: This paper increases the understanding of disease drivers and regulators in delayed-type hypersensitivity arthritis, a robust and reproducible arthritis model in C57BL/6 mice.
Angiotensin-(1-7) attenuates disuse skeletal muscle atrophy in mice via its receptor, Mas
Summary: In this article, the authors demonstrate that a peptide with actions mainly in the cardiovascular system prevents the skeletal muscle damage induced by disuse.
RESOURCE ARTICLES
Decreased N-TAF1 expression in X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism patient-specific neural stem cells
Summary: This study describes a new iPSC model of X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP), which was initially validated by demonstrating a similar transcriptional defect as has been previously reported in XDP brain tissue.
New Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rat transgenic models with ubiquitous expression of green fluorescent protein
Summary: We have created two transgenic models expressing ubiquitous GFP in WKY and SHR rat lines to support in vivo and ex vivo studies. We show their characterisation and discuss their potential use for translational research.
Multimodal analysis of ocular inflammation using the endotoxin-induced uveitis mouse model
Summary: A refined platform approach for endotoxin-induced uveitis, using multimodal ex vivo and in vivo assessment, to improve quantification and phenotyping in this ocular model of compartmentalised tissue inflammation.
DMM Journal Meeting 2024: Pre-clinical Modelling of Human Genetic Disease and Therapy

Register your interest for our 2024 Journal Meeting. Rapid advances in gene editing and genetic technologies have revolutionised our ability to model human genetic disease and provided new hope for gene therapies. At this Meeting, we will present the very latest advances in modelling human genetic disease. Find more information here.
A new call for papers is underway

Showcase your latest research in our upcoming special issue Translating Multiscale Research in Rare Disease, coordinated by DMM Editors Monica Justice, Karen Liu and Monkol Lek, and Guest Editor Kate Rauen. The deadline for submitting articles to the special issue is Monday 6 November 2023.
Moving towards heart success – Disease Models & Mechanisms Special Issue

DMM's most recent special issue compiles articles that aim to move heart failure to heart success by fundamentally addressing the roots of failure to identify curative strategies.
Adult zebrafish as advanced models of human disease

Editor-in-Chief Liz Patton and Editorial Board member Rich White discuss the unique advantages of adult zebrafish for studying human disease biology. Read the Open Access Editorial here.
The Forest of Biologists

The Forest of Biologists is a biodiversity initiative created by The Company of Biologists, with support from the Woodland Trust. For every Research and Review article published in Disease Models & Mechanisms a native tree is planted in a UK forest. In addition to this we are protecting and restoring ancient woodland and are dedicating these trees to our peer reviewers. Visit our virtual forest to learn more.