RESEARCH ARTICLES
- Testing a key assumption in animal communication: between-individual variation in female visual systems alters perception of male signals
Summary: Animal communication studies often assume receiver perception is equal across individuals; we found females vary in their visual physiology and perception of male signals which could influence their mating decisions.
- A computational study on the influence of insect wing geometry on bee flight mechanics
Summary: A morphologically accurate insect wing cross-section is compared with common cross-sections reported in the literature. It was found that misrepresenting the insect wing cross-section can result in different aerodynamics. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper as part of the supplementary information.
- The addition of a developmental factor, unc-62, to already long-lived worms increases lifespan and healthspan
Summary: This work uses a modular approach to combine five genes together to build worms that are long lived and much healthier than control animals, without a significant reduction in fertility. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper as part of the supplementary information.
- Cohesin mediates Esco2-dependent transcriptional regulation in a zebrafish regenerating fin model of Roberts Syndrome
Summary: This study reveals an underlying mechanism of RBS in which ESCO2 mutation results in cohesin-dependent dysregulation of transcriptional programs that include the clinically relevant signaling molecule CX43. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper as part of the supplementary information.
- Cell membrane disruption stimulates cAMP and Ca2+ signaling to potentiate cell membrane resealing in neighboring cells
Summary: Real-time imaging showed that cell membrane disruption induced cAMP and Ca2+ signaling in neighboring MDCK cells. These responses were required for faster cell membrane repair in neighboring cells.
- Optogenetic activation of EphB2 receptor in dendrites induced actin polymerization by activating Arg kinase
Summary: We describe here a new technique to control EphB2 signaling via light and apply this new technique to investigate EphB2's functions in synaptogenesis.
- Mitochondrial dynamics and respiration within cells with increased open pore cytoskeletal meshes
Summary: We assessed the effect of cytoskeletal inhibitors and the use of a calcium ionophore as an additional stressor on mitochondrial motility and bioenergetic function in fibroblasts and fibrosarcoma cells.
- The kinase domain residue serine 173 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Chk1 kinase is critical for the response to DNA replication stress
Summary: Mutation of serine-173 in the kinase domain of Chk1 increases genomic instability as it abolishes the response to DNA lesions that arise while chromosomes are being copied.
- Regulation of cortical stability by RhoGEF3 in mitotic Sensory Organ Precursor cells in Drosophila
Summary: RhoGEF3 is a developmentally regulated Cdc42 GEF that contributes to cortical stability during asymmetric divisions of Sensory Organ Precursor cells in Drosophila.
- Frizzled-7 is required for Xenopus heart development
Summary: Wnt signalling has been shown to be important in heart development. Here, we demonstrate that the wnt receptor fzd7 is required in mediating these Wnt signals.
- Bax-inhibiting peptide attenuates bleomycin-induced lung injury in mice
Summary: The inhibiting peptide for Bax, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, ameliorates bleomycin-induced lung injury in mice via apoptosis suppression in epithelial cells.
- Myotube migration to cover and shape the testis of Drosophila depends on Heartless, Cadherin/Catenin, and myosin II
Summary: Drosophila testes and mammalian seminiferous tubules are surrounded by a muscle layer. Drosophila myotubes migrate towards testes in dependence of the FGF receptor Heartless, myosin II and Cadherin-N.
- How does the canine paw pad attenuate ground impacts? A multi-layer cushion system
Summary: This study examines the micro-scale structural characteristics of the digitigrade paw pad and analyses how these structures work together to further clarify the paw pad cushioning mechanism.
- Elimination of classically-activated macrophages in tumor-conditioned medium by alternatively-activated macrophages
Summary: Cell-autonomous death and engulfment could play an important role in regulating tumor progression and should be taken into account when considering the behavior of pro- and anti-tumoral cells in the complex tumor environment. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper as part of the supplementary information.
- Transcriptome sequencing of the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and identification of hypoxia tolerance genes
Summary: The identified differentially expressed genes in naked mole rat exposed to hypoxia may provide an important genetic resource for further analyses of mammalian tolerance to hypoxia and molecular targets for the prevention of ischemic diseases. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper as part of the supplementary information.
- Competitive pressures affect sexual signal complexity in Kurixalus odontotarsus: insights into the evolution of compound calls
Summary: Competitive pressure influences the temporal structure and complexity of vocal signals. The evolution of sexual signal complexity may be susceptible to selection for plasticity related to adjusting performance to the level of competition.
- Contextual interference during adaptation to asymmetric split-belt treadmill walking results in transfer of unique gait mechanics
Summary: Specific biomechanical gait adaptations occur as a result of variance of stepping errors during walking. Humans optimize a novel gait pattern based on different levels of error variance.
- FGF8 morphogen gradients are differentially regulated by heparan sulphotransferases Hs2st and Hs6st1 in the developing brain
Summary: Regulating the fine structure of cell surface carbohydrates provides a mechanism for fine tuning the formation of morphogen gradients in the embryonic mouse fore-brain.
- High salinity conveys thermotolerance in the coral model Aiptasia
Summary: High salinity can be a factor contributing to increased cnidarian thermal tolerance, as indicated by reduced algal endosymbiont loss and reduced photosynthetic impairment in the sea anemone Aiptasia. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper as part of the supplementary information.
- Directional vibration sensing in the leafcutter ant Atta sexdens
Summary: Leafcutter ants communicate via substrate vibrations. Here we show that time delays between legs are used for orientation in a foraging context and that alarm pheromones interfere by changing the social context.
- Investigating trehalose synthesis genes after cold acclimation in the Antarctic nematode Panagrolaimus sp. DAW1
Summary: Functional genomics was used to investigate trehalose synthesis genes after cold acclimation in Panagrolaimus sp. DAW1, an Antarctic nematode with the ability to survive intracellular freezing.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
- Quantitative control of mitochondria transfer between live single cells using a microfluidic device
Summary: We developed a novel mitochondria transfer platform using a microfluidic device, and succeeded in single mitochondrion transfer between live single cells.
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.
2020 at The Company of Biologists
Despite 2020’s challenges, we achieved a lot at The Company of Biologists. In the midst of the pandemic, we have seen long-term projects and new ventures come to fruition. Read our full lowdown of 2020.
Interview- Sebastian Markert
Sebastian Markert is first author of a paper in BiO using C. elegans to model amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In an interview, he talks about the potential implications of his work and his future plans.
Three communities to support biologists to everywhere
Online communities have never been more important. If you’re looking for somewhere to meet fellow scientists, take part in topical discussions and find virtual events in your field, take a look at each of our community sites:
- The Node: the community site for and by developmental biologists
- preLights: the preprint highlights service run by the biological community
- FocalPlane: the community site for microscopists and biologists alike