RESEARCH ARTICLES
- No discrimination shock avoidance with sequential presentation of stimuli but shore crabs still reduce shock exposure
Summary: There was no discrimination shock avoidance with sequential presentation of stimuli but, consistent with pain, shore crabs used other tactics to reduce shock exposure.
- IF-combined smRNA FISH reveals interaction of MCPIP1 protein with IER3 mRNA
Summary: We identify IER3 mRNA as a newly discovered MCPIP1 target using recently described IF-based procedures, and also identify a conserved element involved in MCPIP1-dependent IER3 transcript destabilization.
- Combined cisplatin and aurora inhibitor treatment increase neuroblastoma cell death but surviving cells overproduce BDNF
Summary: Cisplatin increases endogenous BDNF in MYCN-expanded neuroblastoma cells. Additional treatment with aurora kinase inhibitor PHA-680632 increases cell death but surviving cells overproduce BDNF, mainly by increased translation of exon 6.
- Metabolite profile of a mouse model of Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2D neuropathy: implications for disease mechanisms and interventions
Summary: A metabolomics analysis of a mouse model of Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2D neuropathy revealed a clear distinction between mutant and control samples, and the therapeutic potential of a subset of these changes was explored.
- Habitat-specific foraging strategies in Australasian gannets
Summary: Australasian gannets from two colonies in south-eastern Australia were equipped with GPS and miniature video data loggers to record foraging location and the prey preference.
- Early development of Drosophila embryos requires Smc5/6 function during oogenesis
Summary: Early emerging problems during oogenesis, such as DNA double-strand breaks, can affect chromosome duplication and segregation in embryogenesis in Drosophila. Moreover, environmental cues including temperature are important for proper oogenesis.
- A genetic link between epigenetic repressor AS1-AS2 and a putative small subunit processome in leaf polarity establishment of Arabidopsis
Summary: This paper reports the importance of cooperative action between the nucleus-localized epigenetic repressor and the nucleolus-localized proteins involved in ribosomal RNA processing for polarity establishment of Arabidopsis leaves.
- Metabolic cost of osmoregulation in a hypertonic environment in the invasive African clawed frog Xenopus laevis
Summary: A significant increase in energy expenditure of Xenopus laevis exposed to hyperosmotic conditions is associated with urea concentration and a long-term effect of increasing the metabolic enzyme activities of liver and heart.
- Expression and preliminary characterization of human MICU2
Summary: Ca2+ induces a monomer-dimer switch of MICU2, with the associated conformational change governed by its first EF-hand, but not influenced by the C-helix domain. A disulfide bond and salt bridge each contribute to MICU1-MICU2 heterodimer formation.
- Differences in cardiovascular toxicities associated with cigarette smoking and snuff use revealed using novel zebrafish models
Summary: We analyze common and distinct developmental and cardiovascular toxicities caused by cigarette smoke and snuff, and include a new zebrafish embryo model for studying abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- A lipidomics study reveals hepatic lipid signatures associating with deficiency of the LDL receptor in a rat model
Summary: An LDL receptor knockout rat model was generated which offers a new hypercholesterolemia model. A lipidomics analysis reveals hepatic lipid signatures associating with LDLR deficiency in rats.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
- An antibody toolkit for the study of membrane traffic in Drosophila melanogaster
Summary: We report the generation and characterization of set of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for labeling the major compartments of the secretory and endocytic pathways in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Laser-based technique for controlled damage of mesenchymal cell spheroids: a first step in studying reparation in vitro
Summary: The technique of precise nanosecond laser microsurgery of mesenchymal cell spheroids was used to develop a new simple reproducible model for studying repair and regeneration in vitro.
- PFA fixation enables artifact-free super-resolution imaging of the actin cytoskeleton and associated proteins
Summary: We show that proper PFA fixation allows high-quality super-resolution imaging of the actin cytoskeleton and can outperform gold-standard glutaraldehyde fixation for imaging of actin-binding proteins.
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.
Interview – Savant Thakur
Savant Thakur was a Ph.D. student in Professor Gordon S. Lynch’s lab (The University of Melbourne) working towards understanding the mechanisms of defective muscle repair in muscle diseases and wasting disorders. Sadly, Savant passed away on June 16, 2019 and so one of his supervisors, Professor Lynch, spoke to BiO about Savant's work and character.
A day in the life of a returning spider lab
Back in 2016, two PhD students in Alistair McGregor’s lab at Oxford Brookes shared a day in the life of a spider lab on the Node. Four years and one pandemic later, we caught up with Alistair to find out how his lab has responded to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.