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Tgfbr1 controls developmental plasticity between the hindlimb and external genitalia by remodeling their regulatory landscape
Development of hindlimbs and external genitalia share several regulatory factors. Lozovska et al. show that Tgfbr1 controls the response to those factors; embryos lacking Tgfbr1 develop two sets of hindlimbs at the expense of the external genitalia.
- Anastasiia Lozovska
- , Artemis G. Korovesi
- & Moisés Mallo
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Suppression of apoptosis impairs phalangeal joint formation in the pathogenesis of brachydactyly type A1
Authors explore the biological mechanisms underlying a missing digit joint in Brachydactyly type A1. They showed that excess Indian Hedgehog proteins suppress the apoptosis level needed for the progression of digit joint development in a mouse model.
- Adrian On Wah Leung
- , Andrew Chung Hin Poon
- & Danny Chan
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JAK-STAT-dependent contact between follicle cells and the oocyte controls Drosophila anterior-posterior polarity and germline development
The authors identified a cell population in Drosophila follicles that elaborate filopodia penetrating the oocyte they are contacting. These somatic cells are essential during oogenesis to regulate polarity and germline development of the future embryo.
- Charlotte Mallart
- , Sophie Netter
- & Marianne Malartre
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SMCHD1 has separable roles in chromatin architecture and gene silencing that could be targeted in disease
Here the authors reveal that a neomorphic mutation in chromatin protein SMCHD1 enhances SMCHD1-mediated gene silencing, including at the FSHD disease-relevant locus, while depleting SMCHD1-mediated chromatin interactions, suggesting these SMCHD1 functions are unlinked.
- Andres Tapia del Fierro
- , Bianca den Hamer
- & Marnie E. Blewitt
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Self-organized and directed branching results in optimal coverage in developing dermal lymphatic networks
The lymphatic system is a transport network that controls immune response and tissue fluid circulation in the body. Here the authors combine experiment and theory to reveal that developing lymphatic capillary networks exploit complementary branching strategies to optimize tissue coverage.
- Mehmet Can Uçar
- , Edouard Hannezo
- & Kari Vaahtomeri
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A spatio-temporally constrained gene regulatory network directed by PBX1/2 acquires limb patterning specificity via HAND2
Many key developmental transcriptional regulators are broadly expressed but perform distinct functions in specific tissues. Here they show that ubiquitously expressed PBX factors gain limb bud functionality by interaction with HAND2, uncovering fundamental principles of cooperation between promiscuous and tissue-specific regulators to instruct developmental programs.
- Marta Losa
- , Iros Barozzi
- & Licia Selleri
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Ripply suppresses Tbx6 to induce dynamic-to-static conversion in somite segmentation
During somitogenesis, the dynamic oscillation of the molecular clock is converted into static spatial patterns. Here, the authors show that persistent suppression of Tbx6 expression triggered by periodical Ripply1/2 gene expression is a key to this conversion.
- Taijiro Yabe
- , Koichiro Uriu
- & Shinji Takada
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Hedgehog is relayed through dynamic heparan sulfate interactions to shape its gradient
The Hedgehog morphogen creates gradients during development, but diffusion alone cannot explain its spatiotemporal dynamics. Hedgehog transport requires binding heparan sulfate sugar chains, and the authors now show that Hedgehogs can spread by interacting with sequential heparan molecules.
- Fabian Gude
- , Jurij Froese
- & Kay Grobe
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Nr6a1 controls Hox expression dynamics and is a master regulator of vertebrate trunk development
The authors identify Nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (Nr6a1) as a master regulator of elongation, segmentation, patterning and lineage allocation specifically within the trunk region of the mouse, acting downstream of the major signals known to control vertebral column formation.
- Yi-Cheng Chang
- , Jan Manent
- & Edwina McGlinn
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An NKX-COUP-TFII morphogenetic code directs mucosal endothelial addressin expression
Vascular addressins control lymphocyte homing, thus regulating immunity and inflammation, but how addressin expression is patterned remains unknown. Here the authors identify composite DNA elements (NCCEs) that bind NKX2 homeodomain proteins cooperatively with COUP-TFII to define a morphogenetic code that targets transcription of mucosal vascular addressins.
- Thanh Theresa Dinh
- , Menglan Xiang
- & Eugene C. Butcher
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The transcription factor Zfh1 acts as a wing-morph switch in planthoppers
The molecular mechanisms underlying wing polyphenism remain poorly understood. Here the authors use plant hoppers to show that the development of long and short wing morphs is balanced by the relative activities of the Zfh1-FoxO and insulin signaling cascades.
- Jin-Li Zhang
- , Sun-Jie Chen
- & Hai-Jun Xu
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ADAMTS18+ villus tip telocytes maintain a polarized VEGFA signaling domain and fenestrations in nutrient-absorbing intestinal blood vessels
The molecular mechanisms ensuring the specialized structure of small intestinal villus tip blood vessels are incompletely understood. Here the authors show that ADAMTS18+ telocytes maintain a “just-right” level and location of VEGFA signaling on intestinal villus blood vessels, thereby ensuring the presence of endothelial fenestrae for nutrient absorption, while avoiding excessive leakiness and destabilization of villus tip epithelial structures.
- Jeremiah Bernier-Latmani
- , Cristina Mauri
- & Tatiana V. Petrova
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Tig1 regulates proximo-distal identity during salamander limb regeneration
The mechanisms by which cells determine their position within the 3D space are poorly understood. Research in salamanders offers fresh insights into this question, uncovering Tig1 as a central determinant of proximo-distal identity in regeneration.
- Catarina R. Oliveira
- , Dunja Knapp
- & Maximina H. Yun
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A hemimetabolous wing development suggests the wing origin from lateral tergum of a wingless ancestor
Here, the authors investigate wing development in cricket and find support for evolution of the novel insect wing from the pre-existing dorsal body wall of a wingless ancestor by activation of an evolutionarily conserved growth mechanism.
- Takahiro Ohde
- , Taro Mito
- & Teruyuki Niimi
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Tissue fluidity mediated by adherens junction dynamics promotes planar cell polarity-driven ommatidial rotation
Ommatidial rotation in the Drosophila eye is a regulated process and a Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) cell motility model. Here, the authors show that tissue fluidity via junctional remodeling, as regulated by the PCP effector kinase Nemo, is critical for this cell motility process.
- Nabila Founounou
- , Reza Farhadifar
- & Marek Mlodzik
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Theory of branching morphogenesis by local interactions and global guidance
Many organs and cells have complex tree-like morphologies, but how these patterns emerge during development from global guidance cues and local self-organization remains unclear. Here, the authors develop a theory for the influence of both factors and test it on neuronal branching data.
- Mehmet Can Uçar
- , Dmitrii Kamenev
- & Edouard Hannezo
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Hox genes regulate asexual reproductive behavior and tissue segmentation in adult animals
Hox genes are highly conserved and well-known for their role in segmental patterning during early development. Here, the authors identify an unreported role for Hox genes in the adult tissue patterning and fission behavior required for asexual reproduction in planarian flatworms.
- Christopher P. Arnold
- , Analí Migueles Lozano
- & Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado
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Introducing dorsoventral patterning in adult regenerating lizard tails with gene-edited embryonic neural stem cells
Organisms with regenerative capacity typically regrow organs with correct axial patterning, however, regrown lizard tails lack this feature. Here the authors used neural stem cells to induce patterning in regenerating lizard tails and rescued normal skeletal morphology.
- Thomas P. Lozito
- , Ricardo Londono
- & Megan L. Hudnall
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Fluid flow-induced left-right asymmetric decay of Dand5 mRNA in the mouse embryo requires a Bicc1-Ccr4 RNA degradation complex
Questioning what regulates left-right asymmetry breaking in the mouse node: the authors identify a 200 bp stretch of the Dand5 3’UTR where Bicc1 binds, and Cnot proteins downstream of calcium flow regulate the post-transcriptional regulation of Dand5 by Bicc1.
- Katsura Minegishi
- , Benjamin Rothé
- & Hiroshi Hamada
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Feeding-dependent tentacle development in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis
How the developmental capacity of long-lived animals copes with fluctuations in the food supply is unclear. Here, the authors show using the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis that the crosstalk between Target of Rapamycin and fibroblast growth factor signalling in ring muscles links postembryonic tentacle patterning with food availability.
- Aissam Ikmi
- , Petrus J. Steenbergen
- & Matthew C. Gibson
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Cell competition corrects noisy Wnt morphogen gradients to achieve robust patterning in the zebrafish embryo
Gradients of morphogens such as Wnt provide instructive cues for cell identities during development. Here, the authors report that in the developing zebrafish embryo, cell competition and elimination of unfit cells are required for proper Wnt gradient formation.
- Yuki Akieda
- , Shohei Ogamino
- & Tohru Ishitani
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Regulatory pathways governing murine coronary vessel formation are dysregulated in the injured adult heart
How coronary vessels develop and respond to injury is not fully understood. Here, the authors use murine enhancer:reporter models to identify three transcriptional pathways active in different parts of coronary vasculature. These also contribute to neovascularization in the injured neonatal, but not adult, heart.
- Sophie Payne
- , Mala Gunadasa-Rohling
- & Sarah De Val
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An evolutionarily-conserved Wnt3/β-catenin/Sp5 feedback loop restricts head organizer activity in Hydra
Hydra regenerate various body parts on amputation by activation of the appropriate organiser, but how head formation is controlled is unclear. Here, the authors identify the transcription factor Sp5 as restricting head formation, by being activated by beta-catenin and then acting as a repressor of Wnt3.
- Matthias C. Vogg
- , Leonardo Beccari
- & Brigitte Galliot
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Image-based modeling of kidney branching morphogenesis reveals GDNF-RET based Turing-type mechanism and pattern-modulating WNT11 feedback
Many organs develop through branching morphogenesis, but whether the underlying mechanisms are shared is unknown. Here, the authors show that a ligand-receptor based Turing mechanisms, similar to that observed in lung development, likely underlies branching morphogenesis of the kidney.
- Denis Menshykau
- , Odyssé Michos
- & Dagmar Iber
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Blood flow-induced Notch activation and endothelial migration enable vascular remodeling in zebrafish embryos
The mechanisms of sensing of blood flow and responses to it in vascular remodelling are poorly understood. Here, the authors show that in zebrafish blood flow controls both the fate determination of individual blood vessels and the arterial versus venous identity of endothelial cells lining them.
- Bart Weijts
- , Edgar Gutierrez
- & Eugene Tkachenko
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Syncytial germline architecture is actively maintained by contraction of an internal actomyosin corset
Germline cells in many species are fused to form a syncytium but the mechanics behind the maintenance of these structures are poorly defined. Here, the authors propose an inner contractile actomyosin corset provides a supportive framework to maintain germline architecture in C. elegans.
- Agarwal Priti
- , Hui Ting Ong
- & Ronen Zaidel-Bar
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Synchronized mesenchymal cell polarization and differentiation shape the formation of the murine trachea and esophagus
Tracheal development arises due to tube morphogenesis but how this is regulated is unclear. Here, the authors identify polarization of smooth muscle progenitors as controlling murine tracheal development, activating noncanonical Wnt signaling followed by subepithelial morphogenesis and ring cartilage development.
- Keishi Kishimoto
- , Masaru Tamura
- & Mitsuru Morimoto
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Myosin1D is an evolutionarily conserved regulator of animal left–right asymmetry
Left-right (LR) axis specification is essential for embryonic patterning but a unifying mechanism across organisms has not been identified. Here, the authors show that Myosin1D, known to regulate Drosophila LR asymmetry, controls zebrafish LR Organizer function, and is therefore a conserved regulator of animal laterality.
- Thomas Juan
- , Charles Géminard
- & Maximilian Fürthauer
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Gon4l regulates notochord boundary formation and cell polarity underlying axis extension by repressing adhesion genes
Anteroposterior axis extension during gastrulation is dynamically coordinated, but how this is regulated at a molecular level is unclear. Here, the authors show in zebrafish that the chromatin factor Gon4l, encoded by ugly duckling, coordinates axis extension by modulating EpCAM and Integrinα3b expression.
- Margot L. K. Williams
- , Atsushi Sawada
- & Lilianna Solnica-Krezel
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The signalling receptor MCAM coordinates apical-basal polarity and planar cell polarity during morphogenesis
It is unclear if there is an interaction between apical-basal (AB) polarity and planar cell polarity (PCP) pathways during morphogenesis. Here, the authors define a role for the melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM), known to regulate PCP, in AB polarity via FGF signallingin vitroand in zebrafish.
- Qian Gao
- , Junfeng Zhang
- & Xiyun Yan
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| Open Access
Motor neurons control blood vessel patterning in the developing spinal cord
The guidance cues regulating blood vessel patterning in the central nervous system remain unclear. Here, the authors show in mice and chicken developing spinal cord that motor neurons control blood vessel patterning by an autocrine mechanism titrating VEGF via the expression of its trapping receptor sFlt1.
- Patricia Himmels
- , Isidora Paredes
- & Carmen Ruiz de Almodóvar
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PPFIA1 drives active α5β1 integrin recycling and controls fibronectin fibrillogenesis and vascular morphogenesis
During vascular development, fibronectin (FN) is polymerized at the basolateral side of endothelial cells. Here Mana et al. propose a model where PPFIA1 drives recycling of the FN receptor, a5β1 integrin, to the cell surface and enables polar secretion and fibrillogenesis of newly synthesized FN.
- Giulia Mana
- , Fabiana Clapero
- & Donatella Valdembri
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Hedgehog–BMP signalling establishes dorsoventral patterning in lateral plate mesoderm to trigger gonadogenesis in chicken embryos
Ingression of cells from the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) initiates gonad differentiation but how these events are triggered is unclear. Here, the authors show that gonadal progenitor cells at the ventromedial LPM initiate gonadogenesis, and are activated by Hedgehog and BMP4 signalling.
- Takashi Yoshino
- , Hidetaka Murai
- & Daisuke Saito
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Cdk5 controls lymphatic vessel development and function by phosphorylation of Foxc2
The mechanisms regulating lymphatic vessel development and function are still largely unknown. Here, the authors show that the protein kinase Cdk5 is required for lymphatic vessel development by regulating the activity of the transcription factor Foxc2 and its target genes.
- Johanna Liebl
- , Siwei Zhang
- & Stefan Zahler
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Cells change their sensitivity to an EGF morphogen gradient to control EGF-induced gene expression
How morphogen gradients induce complex gene expression programmes in the receiving cells is poorly understood. Here the authors use a quantitative approach to show that inC. elegansvulva induction cells control morphogen-induced gene expression by changing their sensitivity to the morphogen.
- Jeroen Sebastiaan van Zon
- , Simone Kienle
- & Alexander van Oudenaarden
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ANKS6 is the critical activator of NEK8 kinase in embryonic situs determination and organ patterning
Protein kinase NEK8 is important for cilliary function, but the mechanism by which it acts is unknown. Czarnecki et al. identify the cilliary protein ANKS6 as a target and crucial activator of NEK8 and describe the importance of this protein interaction in embryonic development and organogenesis.
- Peter G. Czarnecki
- , George C. Gabriel
- & Jagesh V. Shah
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Filopodia-based Wnt transport during vertebrate tissue patterning
Distribution of Wnt morphogens in tissues is often graded, but it is unclear how these secreted factors move to form concentration gradients. Here, the authors show that Wnt8a is transported on actin-based filopodia, known also as cytonemes, that contact the signal-receiving cells during zebrafish gastrulation.
- Eliana Stanganello
- , Anja I. H. Hagemann
- & Steffen Scholpp
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Blending of animal colour patterns by hybridization
Many animals have complex body patterns, which are fixed in some species and flexible in others. Here, using reaction-diffusion mathematical models, together with salmonid fish crosses, intermediate patterns are shown to occur in hybrid animals produced by mating species with different flexible patterns.
- Seita Miyazawa
- , Michitoshi Okamoto
- & Shigeru Kondo
Eph-ephrin signaling couples endothelial cell sorting and arterial specification