FUTURE LEADER REVIEW
- Cardiac myosin super relaxation (SRX): a perspective on fundamental biology, human disease and therapeutics
Summary: A discussion of the role and regulation of myosin super relaxation in biology, evolution, human disease, and cardiac therapeutics.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- Stability of amino acids and related amines in human serum under different preprocessing and pre-storage conditions based on iTRAQ®-LC-MS/MS
Summary: We investigated the stability of amino acids in serum samples that underwent prolonged storage at 4°C and 22°C, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles at −80°C using stable isotope iTRAQ labeling and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
- Segregation of brain and organizer precursors is differentially regulated by Nodal signaling at blastula stage
Summary: Nodal signaling is involved in the delimitation of the blastula cell populations that give rise to the brain and axial mesoderm in Xenopus.
- Tetraspanin18 regulates angiogenesis through VEGFR2 and Notch pathways
Summary: Tspan18 is a transmembrane protein with highly restricted expression in endothelial cells and a critical regulator of VEGF and Notch pathways. It regulates artery–vein specification, vessel patterning and vessel stability.
- Unique histological features of the tail skin of cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) related to caudal autotomy
Summary: The unique histological structures in derimis, subcutis and coccygeal artery of the tail skin are related to the caudal autotomy mechanism in the cotton rat.
- Sex differences in postprandial blood glucose and body surface temperature are contingent on flight in the fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx
Summary: The level of sex differences in metabolic traits is affected by flight in Cynopterus sphinx, a finding that has general implications for sex-specific life-history evolution in fruit bats.
- Smoking flies: testing the effect of tobacco cigarettes on heart function of Drosophila melanogaster
Summary: Nicotine, a substance present in tobacco, resembles insecticide compounds such as neonicotinoids, and affects the heart function in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Single-cell sequencing reveals the potential oncogenic expression atlas of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
Summary: The single-cell expression atlas in the cardiomyocytes generated from human iPSCs provide potential carcinogenic information for the clinical application of human iPSC-derived cells.
- Quantified growth of the human embryonic heart
Summary: This paper provides quantitative data on the growth of 58 structures of the human embryonic heart between weeks 4 and 8 of development.
- Dissecting dynamics and differences of selective pressures in the evolution of human pigmentation
Summary: This study developed a novel approach to estimate selection strength over time and applied it on the evolution of human pigmentation.
- A method to culture human alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines as rhabdospheres demonstrates an enrichment in stemness and Notch signaling
Summary: Here we report on a method to culture human PAX3-FOXO1 fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma cells in three dimensions, and use these rhabdospheres as a novel tool to study their stemness and chemoresistance signaling mechanisms.
- Auxin confers protection against ER stress in Caenorhabditis elegans
Summary: Auxin, commonly used to induce conditional protein degradation, promotes ER stress resistance in C. elegans through the unfolded protein response (UPR).
- A modifier screen identifies regulators of cytoskeletal architecture as mediators of Shroom-dependent changes in tissue morphology
Summary: Using Drosophila as a model system, we identify F-actin and microtubules as important determinants of how cells and tissues respond to Shroom induced contractility.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
- Three-dimensional model of glioblastoma by co-culturing tumor stem cells with human brain organoids
Summary: We describe a method to co-culture glioblastoma stem cells with human cerebral organoids in order to model tumor complexity and recapitulate cellular heterogeneity in vitro.
- Monitoring Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome stress by visualizing end-binding protein Ku
Summary: The authors describe a fluorescently tagged Ku70 protein to monitor replication stress in live S. pombe cells.
- Design of a 3D printed, motorized, uniaxial cell stretcher for microscopic and biochemical analysis of mechanotransduction
Summary: Description and testing of a 3D printed uniaxial stretcher designed for the microscopic and biochemical analysis of mammalian cells subjected to mechanical stretch.
This issue
Other journals from The Company of Biologists
Biology Open and COVID-19
We are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on researchers worldwide. The Editors of all The Company of Biologists’ journals have been considering ways in which we can alleviate concerns that members of our community may have around publishing activities during this time. Read about the actions we are taking at this time.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the Editorial Office if you have any questions or concerns.
Future Leader Review - Cardiac myosin super relaxation
A new Future Leader Review by Manuel Schmid and Christopher Toepfer discusses the rapidly-expanding field of myosin super relaxation in the context of cardiovascular disease. Read the full Review and their accompanying interview.
Find out more about our Future Leader Reviews – they are an exclusive opportunity for early-career researchers who want to establish themselves in their field.
An interview with Roberta Azzarelli
In an interview, first author Roberta Azzarelli discusses her 3D model of glioblastoma and shares her thoughts on how to improve the professional lives of early-career researchers: formal mentorship programmes, a clearly structured career path and taking part in initiatives such as the Node Network.
News from our sister journals
Development continues to run a successful new webinar series, Development presents…, while Journal of Cell Science has recently welcomed Esperanza Agullo-Pascual as FocalPlane’s new Community Manager. Journal of Experimental Biology’s new special issue highlights the role of comparative biology in tackling climate change and Liz Patton, the new Editor-in-Chief of Disease Models & Mechanisms, sets out her visions and priorities.