RESEARCH ARTICLES
- The neurotoxic effects of hydrogen peroxide and copper in Retzius nerve cells of the leech Haemopis sanguisuga
Summary: This characterization of the early changes in physiological membrane properties of Retzius neurons provides evidence for the oxidative modification of outward potassium channels.
- Preparation, anti-biofouling and drag-reduction properties of a biomimetic shark skin surface
Summary: Specific microstructures of the shark skin surface have certain effects on surface wettability, and play a key role in reducing drag and anti-biofouling properties.
- Planar cell polarity: the Dachsous/Fat system contributes differently to the embryonic and larval stages of Drosophila
Summary: Drosophila utilises the Ds/Ft system differently as it develops. Localised expression of four-jointed in the tendon cells may help polarise all rows of denticles in late larval stages.
- Cross-species functional analyses reveal shared and separate roles for Sox11 in frog primary neurogenesis and mouse cortical neuronal differentiation
Summary: Sox11 acts to designate neurons in both mouse and frog brains, but orthologs are not functionally redundant. These data show evolutionary conservation of Sox11 function with molecular divergence.
- Establishment and evaluation of a transgenic mouse model of arthritis induced by overexpressing human tumor necrosis factor alpha
Summary: We describe the establishment of a human TNFα transgenic arthritis mouse model with applications for understanding the role of TNFα in disease progression and developing therapeutic strategies.
- The carboxyl terminal mutational hotspot of the ciliary disease protein RPGRORF15 (retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator) is glutamylated in vivo
Summary: This study shows that the mutational hotspot of ciliary protein RPGRORF15, commonly associated with severe blindness, is posttranslationally glutamylated at its C-terminus and is a target of GT335.
- Sortilin is associated with the chlamydial inclusion and is modulated during infection
Summary: The acid sphingomyelinase trafficking protein sortilin is modulated by chlamydial infection. RNAi-mediated depletion of sortilin does not, however, perturb chlamydial infection.
- Estimating energetics in cetaceans from respiratory frequency: why we need to understand physiology
Summary: Accounting for changes in tidal volume and gas exchange improves the ability to estimate field metabolic rate from respiratory frequency in cetaceans.
- Post-hatching development of mitochondrial function, organ mass and metabolic rate in two ectotherms, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Summary: Unlike endothermic species, there is little change in skeletal and cardiac muscle mitochondrial function from the embryonic stage through the first year of life in ectothermic alligators and snapping turtles.
- Dlc1 interaction with non-muscle myosin heavy chain II-A (Myh9) and Rac1 activation
Summary: Dlc1 interacts with several actin filament-associated proteins including Myh9, spectrin and plectin. Transient overexpression of Dlc1 induces an elongated phenotype with elevated Rac1 activation.
- A role for PDGF-C/PDGFRα signaling in the formation of the meningeal basement membranes surrounding the cerebral cortex
Summary: Developmental expression of Pdgfc and Pdgfra is necessary for the development of meninges and the glia limitans basement membrane. Failure of these processes leads to neuronal over-migration.
- Impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on brain and retina
Summary: Our results suggest that the same animal model of chronic neonatal hyperoxia can be used to simultaneously study lung, brain and retinal injuries related to hyperoxia.
- Exosomes from high glucose-treated glomerular endothelial cells activate mesangial cells to promote renal fibrosis
Summary: In this study, we demonstrate that TGF-β1-containing exosomes from high glucose-treated glomerular endothelial cells can activate glomerular mesangial cells to promote renal fibrosis.
- Knockdown of TC-1 enhances radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway
Summary: TC-1 silencing inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) both in vitro and in vivo through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby increasing the susceptibility of NSCLC to radiotherapy.
- Association between tensin 1 and p130Cas at focal adhesions links actin inward flux to cell migration
Summary: Tensin 1 links phosphorylated Cas to actin inward flux, facilitating the force transmission from the motile system (i.e. actomyosin contraction) to the stationary parts (i.e. adhesion complexes) in migrating cells.
- Response of garlic (Allium sativum L.) bolting and bulbing to temperature and photoperiod treatments
Summary: We show that a higher temperature and longer photoperiod are essential for garlic bolting and bulbing. Varied endogenous phytohormone and MeJA levels might lead to the different responses of the studied cultivars to treatments.
- Biosafety of biotechnologically important microalgae: intrinsic suicide switch implementation in cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Summary: Biosafety of biotechnologically important microalgae was addressed by suicide switch implementation in cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. This is the first report of biocontainment safeguards in cyanobacteria.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
- NGT-3D: a simple nematode cultivation system to study Caenorhabditis elegans biology in 3D
Summary: We have designed a three dimensional nematode habitat for use in the lab, called NGT-3D, where growth, fertility and lifespan are comparable with the traditional two dimensional lab environment.
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.
New funding scheme supports sustainable events
As part of our Sustainable Conferencing Initiative, we are pleased to announce funding for organisers that seek to reduce the environmental footprint of their event. The next deadline to apply for a Scientific Meeting grant is 26 March 2021.
Future Leader Review – early neurodegeneration of Alzheimer’s disease
A new Future Leader Review from Olayemi Olajide, Marcus Suvanto and Clifton Andrew Chapman evaluates the molecular mechanisms that may explain the vulnerability and susceptibility of the entorhinal cortex to early neurodegeneration during the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
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.
First author interviews
Catch up on our latest first author interviews to go behind the scenes of our latest research, find out more about the authors and hear from early-career researchers themselves how they’re finding life at the bench.
Retinal degeneration in Drosophila
Thank you to Elisabeth Knust and her team for their confocal image of a longitudinal section of an adult Drosophila retina, which brightens the cover of our latest issue. Read the research behind the cover.