RESEARCH ARTICLES
- A neurodevelopmental TUBB2B β-tubulin mutation impairs Bim1 (yeast EB1)-dependent spindle positioning
Summary: Patients with intellectual disabilities carry a F265L mutation in TUBB2B β-tubulin gene. Yeast used as a cellular model reveals spindle mis-positioning associated with reduced yeast EB1 affinity for microtubule plus-ends.
- Plasmodium centrin PbCEN-4 localizes to the putative MTOC and is dispensable for malaria parasite proliferation
Summary: This study examines the localization of malaria parasite centrin PbCEN4 at the parasite MTOC during closed endomitosis and shows it to be dispensable for proliferation.
- E-cadherin, actin, microtubules and FAK dominate different spheroid formation phases and important elements of tissue integrity
Summary: The phases of spheroid formation resemble different stages of cell contact formation. This facilitates studying the temporal contribution of molecules in this process.
- Folic acid modifies the shape of epithelial cells during morphogenesis via a Folr1 and MLCK dependent mechanism
Summary: This manuscript describes a putative mechanism by which folic acid modifies epithelial cell shape during morphogenesis, shedding light onto the mechanism by which folic acid may prevent neural tube defects.
- Three-dimensional movements of the pectoral fin during yaw turns in the Pacific spiny dogfish, Squalus suckleyi
Summary: Pacific spiny dogfish rotate the inside pectoral fin consistently about three axes during yaw turning, which correlates with turning performance. Stimulation experiments confirm hypotheses about muscle function in controlling actuation.
- Maintenance of cell fates and regulation of the histone variant H3.3 by TLK kinase in Caenorhabditis elegans
Summary: Histone H3 chaperone CAF1 maintains cell fate by repressing ectopic expression of genes for cell fate-specifying transcription factors. Accumulation of histone variant H3.3 correlates with defects in cell-fate maintenance.
- IL-31 plays dual roles in lung inflammation in an OVA-induced murine asthma model
Summary: IL-31 plays dual roles, acting as an early inflammatory mediator promoting the secretion of chemokines to recruit inflammatory cells and subsequent negative feedback pathway for suppressing the magnitude of type 2 inflammation.
- The 17β-estradiol induced upregulation of the adhesion G-protein coupled receptor (ADGRG7) is modulated by ESRα and SP1 complex
Summary: Estrogen plays a significant role in AIS and studying the regulation of ADGRG7 by E2 in AIS cells is essential for understanding molecular mechanisms underlying AIS pathogenesis.
- Local deformation and stiffness distribution in fly wings
Summary: We determined mechanical properties of wings under load in three fly species. Fly wings broadly deform similar to homogenous beams. Veins and joints shape wing mechanics and govern wing deformation during flapping flight.
- Treatment with methyl-β-cyclodextrin prevents mechanical allodynia in resiniferatoxin neuropathy in a mouse model
Summary: The role and mechanism of cholesterol-rich membrane integrity in pain development for small-fiber neuropathy remains unclear. Depletion of membrane cholesterol contents preserves functional PAP profiles and the antinociceptive effect after RTX neuropathy.
- The role of retrograde intraflagellar transport genes in aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death
Summary: Here we show that both retrograde intraflagellar transport motor proteins and IFT-A adaptor molecules play a role in aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death, seemingly through regulating aminoglycoside uptake.
- Influence of substrate orientation on tadpoles' feeding efficiency
Summary: We provide new insights on species' niche partitioning as we show that the orientation of substrates can affect the growth rates of tadpoles with different oral morphologies.
- Roles of Keber's valve and foot chamber for foot manipulation in the mussel Nodularia douglasiae
Summary: Opening and closing of Keber's valve in the mussel was visualized using MRI. Keber's valve and the foot chamber are essential for circulation at rest and during foot extension and retraction.
- The ATPase TER94 regulates Notch signaling during Drosophila wing development
Summary: Our study demonstrates that the ATPase TER94 and the p47 adaptor positively regulate Notch signaling during Drosophila wing development, thus establishing a functional interaction between TER94 and Notch signaling activity.
- Contribution of non-circadian neurons to the temporal organization of locomotor activity
Summary: Here we characterized the impact of different putative postsynaptic partners of the sLNvs on the control of rhythmic locomotor behavior. We found that some of these novel neuronal clusters are relevant for the control of locomotor activity.
- Localized disorganization of the cochlear inner hair cell synaptic region after noise exposure
Summary: Hearing deficits after noise exposure are linked to afferent terminal loss. We show that afferent terminal loss is concomitant with changes to inner hair cell pre-synaptic ultrastructure indicating vesicle-recycling deficits.
- Genome-wide identification of lncRNAs and mRNAs differentially expressed in non-functioning pituitary adenoma and construction of an lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network
Summary statement: We identified long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs differentially expressed in non-functioning pituitary adenomas via microarray analyses, and provided working hypotheses for how these RNAs may function via co-expression network analyses.
- Integral gene drives for population replacement
Summary: Here, we describe and model a novel gene drive strategy – integral gene drive – for population replacement based on the hijacking of endogenous genes.
- Development and characterization of a new cell line derived from European eel Anguilla anguilla kidney
Summary: The first visceral cell line of an endangered species, Anguilla anguilla has been established; this aneuploid cell line is fibroblast-like, and suitable for gene expression and virus isolation.
- Glucose starvation triggers filamentous septin assemblies in an S. pombe septin-2 deletion mutant
Summary: We present a correlative electron tomography and light microscopy study on yeast cells under glucose starvation. We visualized several novel effects such as septin bundling and mitochondrial fission followed by ribosome decoration.
- Hypoxia evokes increased PDI and PDIA6 expression in the infarcted myocardium of ex-germ-free and conventionally raised mice
Summary: We identified PDIA6 as a hypoxia-induced element of the unfolded protein response in cardiomyocytes and infarcted mouse hearts. PDIA6 expression and ejection fractions were reduced in infarcted ex-germ-free mouse hearts.
- Development and validation of RdRp Screen, a crystallization screen for viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases
Summary: We have developed a 96-well crystallization screen for viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). The screen provides a convenient platform for streamlining the crystallisation of RdRps and implementing structure-based drug discovery programs.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
- GFP-Forked, a genetic reporter for studying Drosophila oocyte polarity
Summary: The novel asymmetric Forked network could be used as a genetic reporter for visualizing and studying oocyte polarity.
- Improved dynamic monitoring of transcriptional activity during longitudinal analysis in the mouse brain
Summary: A platform for pin-point monitoring transcription activity in the deep brain of the mouse with high spatiotemporal resolution was developed, which is adaptable to various transcription factor arrays and targets.
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