RESEARCH ARTICLES
- Multi-modal and multiscale imaging approaches reveal novel cardiovascular pathophysiology in Drosophila melanogaster
Summary: Mutant troponin I increases aortic and myocardial stiffness and engenders histologic abnormalities in fruit flies.
- Accuracy of fruit-fly eclosion rhythms evolves by strengthening circadian gating rather than developmental fine-tuning
Summary: Fruit fly populations that have evolved greater accuracy of eclosion rhythms show enhanced gating of their eclosion by circadian clocks but not reduced variation in clock-independent developmental processes.
- Unique trophoblast chromatin environment mediated by the PcG protein SFMBT2
Summary: The PcG protein SFMBT2, essential for placenta development, is distributed mainly to repetitive elements in trophoblast stem cells, arguing for an architectural role in stem cell maintenance.
- A Plasmodium berghei putative serine-threonine kinase 2 (PBANKA_0311400) is required for late liver stage development and timely initiation of blood stage infection
Summary: Requirement of a putative serine threonine kinase 2 (PBANKA_0311400) for Plasmodium berghei liver stage development.
- EGFP insertional mutagenesis reveals multiple FXR2P fibrillar states with differing ribosome association in neurons
Summary: A mutagenesis study reveals that the higher-order structural states of the RBP FXR2P in neurons can be regulated by manipulation of the LC and RNA-binding domains.
- Role of Dach1 revealed using a novel inner ear-specific Dach1-knockdown mouse model
Summary: Inner ear-specific downregulation of Dach1 reveals that the epithelial–mesenchymal transition is crucial for the generation of the stria vascularis.
- Mechanical stress-induced cell death in breast cancer cells
Summary: Dynamic mechanical compressive stress loading applied to two different breast cancer cell lines results in mechanical stress-induced cell damage (MSICD) composed of apoptosis and necrosis.
- Exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field at 100 µT exerts no DNA damage in cardiomyocytes
Summary: The current study shows that neither continuous nor intermittent exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field at 100 µT induces DNA damage in cardiomyocytes.
- Inhalation of marijuana affects Drosophila heart function
Summary: Marijuana induces early arrhythmogenesis and increases contractility in Drosophila. Our approach using this animal model allows us to carry out screenings to explore the impact of cannabinoids.
- The ventral epithelium of Trichoplax adhaerens deploys in distinct patterns cells that secrete digestive enzymes, mucus or diverse neuropeptides
Summary: The external digestive epithelium of the primitive animal Trichoplax adhaerens includes secretory cell types and secretory products much like those in the internal digestive systems of other animals.
- Independent evolution for sex determination and differentiation in the DMRT family in animals
Summary: Three DMRT family genes, vertebrate dmrt1, arthropod dsx and nematode mab-3, involved in sex determination and primary sex differentiation have no orthologous relationships, indicating independent evolution in bilaterian animals.
- HDAC3 and HDAC8 are required for cilia assembly and elongation
Summary: We identified that HDAC3 and HDAC8 are required for the assembly and elongation of the primary cilia.
- YFR016c/Aip5 is part of an actin nucleation complex in yeast
Summary: YFR016c/Aip5 binds to the polarisome components Bud6 and Spa2 and supports the polarisome in the formation of actin cables in yeast cells.
- Discoidin domain receptor 1 deficiency in vascular smooth muscle cells leads to mislocalisation of N-cadherin contacts
Summary: Here we show for the first time that discoidin domain receptor 1 associates with and stabilizes N-cadherin cell–cell contacts in vascular smooth muscle cells.
- The Col4a2em1(IMPC)Wtsi mouse line: lessons from the Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders program
Summary: We define the spectrum of phenotypic abnormalities linked with Col4a2 disruption and demonstrate the opportunities the Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD) program offers for exploring rare human diseases.
- MicroRNA-138 negatively regulates the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α to suppress melanoma growth and metastasis
Summary: Our study demonstrates the role and clinical relevance of miRNA-138 and HIF1α in melanoma cell growth and metastasis, providing a novel therapeutic target for suppression of melanoma growth and metastasis.
- Reduced mTORC1-signalling in retinal progenitor cells leads to visual pathway dysfunction
Summary: Conditional deletion of Rptor in retinal progenitor cells demonstrates that mTORC1-signalling is critical for visual pathway development and function.
- Comparing 3D ultrastructure of presynaptic and postsynaptic mitochondria
Summary: Our 3D ultrastructural analysis of multiple brain regions shows distinctively different sizes and shapes of mitochondria in the presynaptic terminal and postsynaptic dendrite.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
- Three-dimensional analysis of single molecule FISH in human colon organoids
Summary: We present a sensitive single-molecule (sm)FISH application for the identification of individual mRNA transcripts and their spatial distribution in 3D in whole human colon organoids.
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.
It’s a time of turmoil for young scientists
“My students are my priority – they are on the brink of their careers.”
Dr Jodie Rummer (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University) talks about the importance of her role as a supervisor in supporting graduate students and post docs financially, intellectually and emotionally during this period of uncertainty.
Gap junctions: historical discoveries and new findings in the C. elegans nervous system
Following the announcement of Biology Open’s new Future Leader Review articles, we are thrilled to publish our first one! Jin, Park, Lyu et al. highlight the diverse roles of gap junctions and innexins in the C. elegans nervous system, contributing to fundamental understanding of gap junctions in all animals.
Interview - Jessica Kabutomori
First author Jessica Kabutomori talks about her latest paper in BiO, which investigates murine urea transporters, sharing the biggest surprise of her work and what she has planned for the future.