EDITORIAL
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- Fine-tuning the onset of myogenesis by homeobox proteins that interact with the Myf5 limb enhancer
Summary: Homeodomain factors Msx1 and Meox2, acting in addition to Pax3 and Six1/4, fine-tune the entry of progenitor cells into myogenesis at early stages of forelimb development via modulation of limb enhancer gene Myf5.
- Epithelial topography for repetitive tooth formation
Summary: This study proposes a model for repetitive tooth formation in which the epithelium can grow by the movement of epithelial cells followed by infolding and stratification of Sox2/Sox9 positive cells.
- Muscle activation during maximal effort tasks: evidence of the selective forces that shaped the musculoskeletal system of humans
Summary: In this study, we identified behaviors that produce maximum activation of muscles to test hypotheses of the specific behaviors that influenced the evolution of the human musculoskeletal system.
- Tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae) use different adhesive pads complementarily during climbing on smooth surfaces: experimental approach in eight arboreal and burrower species
Summary: We test friction as a proxy of adhesion, comparing arboreal and burrower tarantulas climbing on different surfaces and at different angles.
- The nature of alarm communication in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Blattodea: Termitoidea: Termitidae): the integration of chemical and vibroacoustic signals
Summary: We inspected the functional significance of both vibroacoustic and chemical communication channels in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), confirming the hypothesis that these are not exclusive but rather complementary processes.
- N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine regulates Hedgehog signaling and promotes growth of cortical axons
Summary: Synaptamide, an omega-3 fatty acid metabolite, promotes axon growth while Shh antagonizes synaptamide-mediated axon growth by a SMO-independent, non-canonical pathway.
- 1H NMR metabolic profiling of cod (Gadus morhua) larvae: potential effects of temperature and diet composition during early developmental stages
Summary: Metabolomic ‘snapshots’ from developing cod larvae reflect the temperature and diet experienced from hatching to juvenile and provide insight into how important processes such as osmoregulation and muscle development might be affected.
- Novel myristoylation of the sperm-specific hexokinase 1 isoform regulates its atypical localization
Summary: Dual acylation (i.e. myristoylation and palmitoylation) regulates the atypical localization of sperm-specific hexokinase 1 isoform and thus is essential for ‘rewiring’ of glycolytic network.
- Functional brain regeneration in the acoel worm Symsagittifera roscoffensis
Summary: Brain and head regeneration in the acoel Symsagittifera roscoffensis is coordinated with restoration of directed navigation behavior, suggesting that the regenerative capacity of different sensory modalities follows distinct paths.
- Dynamic microtubule organization and mitochondrial transport are regulated by distinct Kinesin-1 pathways
Summary: Highly polarized Drosophila bristle cells reveal that dynamic microtubule organization and mitochondrial transport are regulated by distinct Kinesin-1 pathways, and a novel mode of coordination between Khc and Dhc in mitochondrial transport.
- The expression of the T-box selector gene midline in the leg imaginal disc is controlled by both transcriptional regulation and cell lineage
Summary: Leg expression of the selector gene midline in Drosophila is controlled both by transcriptional regulation and by the lack of mixing between dorsal and ventral cells in the distal leg.
- The invisible fish: hydrodynamic constraints for predator-prey interaction in fossil fish Saurichthys compared to recent actinopterygians
Summary: For the first time, the hydrodynamic properties of a fossil fish, Saurichthys, have been investigated using computational fluid dynamics. Low drag coefficient and small area of flow disturbance prove fast-start predatory adaptation.
- Different ossification patterns of intermuscular bones in fish with different swimming modes
Summary: The ossification of intermuscular bones in teleost fish appears to be induced by mechanical force loadings produced by swimming.
- The primary cilium is a self-adaptable, integrating nexus for mechanical stimuli and cellular signaling
Summary: Primary cilia stiffness can be modulated, affecting the cellular responsiveness to mechanical signals. We identify a potential mechanism that regulates cellular mechanosensitivity.
- S phase block following MEC1ATR inactivation occurs without severe dNTP depletion
Summary: This study, using a temperature sensitive mec1 mutant, reveals that inactivation of Mec1 leads to S phase arrest, and that genome duplication in the absence of Mec1/ATR is exquisitely sensitive to small changes in dNTP levels.
- Urine-derived induced pluripotent stem cells as a modeling tool for paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia
Summary: This is the first report of urinary cell-induced pluripotent stem cells being used as resources for investigation of the pathological mechanisms of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia.
- Differentiated muscles are mandatory for gas-filling of the Drosophila airway system
Summary: During embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster, without involving the nervous system, somatic muscles control terminal differentiation of the airway system by stimulating gas-filling before hatching.
- Introducing Pitt-Hopkins syndrome-associated mutations of TCF4 to Drosophila daughterless
Summary: Introducing mutations of the TCF4 gene found in human patients into its fly orthologue daughterless allows the generation of Drosophila models for research into Pitt-Hopkins syndrome.
- Analysis of neural progenitors from embryogenesis to juvenile adult in Xenopus laevis reveals biphasic neurogenesis and continuous lengthening of the cell cycle
Summary: Our work represents the first continuous analysis of neural progenitor behaviour in X. laevis from early embryogenesis to juvenile stage and identifies two phases of neurogenesis interrupted by a phase of slow increase of the progenitor pool.
- Apical constriction and epithelial invagination are regulated by BMP activity
Summary: We describe a novel role for BMP activity in promoting a direct and cell type-independent mechanism for apical constriction, cell elongation and epithelial invagination, separate from acquisition of placode-specific identities.
- The LINC complex component Sun4 plays a crucial role in sperm head formation and fertility
Summary: SUN-domain protein Sun4 is essential for sperm head formation. Sun4 deficiency interferes with the organization of the microtubule manchette and leads to a globozoospermia-like phenotype and infertility.
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Biology Open and COVID-19
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Developing a scientific research question
Dr Steven Kelly, Editor-in-Chief of Biology Open, explains the components of a good research question.
Interviews – Jing, Akash, Alicia, Hao, Tamsin, Chiara
Catch up on the latest interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in BiO. The authors talk about their work in and out of the lab, the journeys that led them to where they are now and the issues they feel are priorities for early-career researchers.