CORRESPONDENCE
- Sun proteins and Dpy19l2 forming LINC-like links are critical for spermiogenesis
Summary: In this response to Pasch et al.’s (2015) discovery that Sun4 is essential for sperm head formation, the authors highlight that like Sun4, Dpy19l2 has a likely LINK-like function and that it also plays a crucial role in spermiogenesis and male infertility.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- C. elegans flavin-containing monooxygenase-4 is essential for osmoregulation in hypotonic stress
Summary: C. elegans lacking fmo-4 fail to clear body water following hypotonic exposure resulting in rapid swelling and rupture, indicating that FMO-4 is required in the hypoosmotic stress response.
- Feliform carnivores have a distinguished constitutive innate immune response
Summary: The innate immunocompetence of six free-ranging carnivores is independent of their foraging behaviour, body mass or social organisation but reflects their phylogenetic relatedness.
- Training differentially regulates elastin level and proteolysis in skeletal and heart muscles and aorta in healthy rats
Summary: Endurance training increases elastin content in muscles but not in the aorta. The activities of enzymes responsible for ECM remodeling increase only in skeletal muscle. These changes seem to be adaptive.
- MicroRNA-204 modulates colorectal cancer cell sensitivity in response to 5-fluorouracil-based treatment by targeting high mobility group protein A2
Summary: miR-204 upregulates 5-Fu chemosensitivity via the downregulation of HMGA2 in colorectal cancer and provides significant insight into the mechanism of 5-Fu resistance in colorectal cancer patients.
- VEGF-A isoforms program differential VEGFR2 signal transduction, trafficking and proteolysis
Summary: We show that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) isoforms program differential tyrosine phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, endocytosis and proteolysis of the receptor tyrosine kinase, VEGFR2.
- Trim37-deficient mice recapitulate several features of the multi-organ disorder Mulibrey nanism
Summary: A congenic Trim37-deficient mouse model recapitulates several features of the human disorder Mulibrey nanism, and thus provides a good model to study disease pathogenesis related to TRIM37 deficiency.
- Survival of glucose phosphate isomerase null somatic cells and germ cells in adult mouse chimaeras
Summary: Some Gpi1−/− somatic cells, lacking the glycolytic enzyme GPI, survived in mouse chimaeras. Breeding experiments showed that some GPI-null oocytes and spermatozoa were viable and functional.
- Olfactory organ of Octopus vulgaris: morphology, plasticity, turnover and sensory characterization
Summary: A 3D reconstruction of the Octopus vulgaris olfactory organ, as well as the localization of PCNA and (for the first time) OMP-like proteins in cephalopod mature olfactory chemosensory neurons are described.
- CLIC1 regulates dendritic cell antigen processing and presentation by modulating phagosome acidification and proteolysis
Summary: DC phagosomes from CLIC1−/− mice display impaired acidification and in vivo and in vitro antigen processing and presentation, revealing CLIC1−/− as a potential therapeutic target in reducing the adaptive immune response in autoimmune diseases.
- Garlic exerts allelopathic effects on pepper physiology in a hydroponic co-culture system
Summary: Garlic exerts allelopathic effects on pepper physiology in a hydroponic co-culture system, with low concentrations of garlic root promoting pepper growth, but high concentrations having deleterious effects.
- Simultaneous optimisation of earwig hindwings for flight and folding
Summary: Adjustments of the wing structure in earwig hindwings enable passive wing control during flapping flight. With an expansion of the claval flexion line, the highly foldable wing can withstand deformations during flapping flight and stay unfolded.
- PRDM14 promotes RAG-dependent Notch1 driver mutations in mouse T-ALL
Summary: PRDM14 promotes an epigenetic state that facilitates RAG-dependent Notch1 driver mutations, coupling progenitor cell expansion with genomic instability to produce T-ALL with shorter latency than other NOTCH1-driven mouse models.
- Time-resolved functional analysis of acute impairment of frataxin expression in an inducible cell model of Friedreich ataxia
Summary: The use of a new mammalian cell model with inducible homozygous and heterozygous frataxin knockout allows new insights into the chronology and causes of the disease Friedreich ataxia.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
- Functional characterisation of human synaptic genes expressed in the Drosophila brain
Summary: This report describes a resource collection of Drosophila melanogaster strains expressing human synaptic genes and methods that can be applied in order to investigate the genes' function.
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.
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.