DevelopmentPub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-10-23DOI: 10.1242/dev.204330
Murugesan Pooranachithra, Erin M Jyo, Nicolas Brouilly, Nathalie Pujol, Andreas M Ernst, Andrew D Chisholm
{"title":"C. elegans epicuticlins define specific compartments in the apical extracellular matrix and function in wound repair.","authors":"Murugesan Pooranachithra, Erin M Jyo, Nicolas Brouilly, Nathalie Pujol, Andreas M Ernst, Andrew D Chisholm","doi":"10.1242/dev.204330","DOIUrl":"10.1242/dev.204330","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The apical extracellular matrix (aECM) of external epithelia often contains lipid-rich outer layers that contribute to permeability barrier function. The external aECM of nematodes is known as the cuticle and contains an external lipid-rich layer - the epicuticle. Epicuticlins are a family of tandem repeat cuticle proteins of unknown function. Here, we analyze the localization and function of the three C. elegans epicuticlins (EPIC proteins). EPIC-1 and EPIC-2 localize to the surface of the cuticle near the outer lipid layer, as well as to interfacial cuticles and adult-specific struts. EPIC-3 is expressed in dauer larvae and localizes to interfacial aECM in the buccal cavity. Skin wounding in the adult induces epic-3 expression, and EPIC proteins localize to wound sites. Null mutants lacking EPIC proteins are viable with reduced permeability barrier function and normal epicuticle lipid mobility. Loss of function in EPIC genes modifies the skin blistering phenotypes of Bli mutants and reduces survival after skin wounding. Our results suggest EPIC proteins define specific cortical compartments of the aECM and promote wound repair.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11529277/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142380270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DevelopmentPub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-11-08DOI: 10.1242/dev.202898
Bo Zhu, Zhiwei Zhang, Lakhansing Pardeshi, Yingying Chen, Wei Ge
{"title":"Y box-binding protein 1 regulates zebrafish folliculogenesis partly through p21-mediated control of follicle cell proliferation.","authors":"Bo Zhu, Zhiwei Zhang, Lakhansing Pardeshi, Yingying Chen, Wei Ge","doi":"10.1242/dev.202898","DOIUrl":"10.1242/dev.202898","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Y box-binding protein 1 (Ybx1/ybx1) regulates gene expression through DNA/RNA binding. In zebrafish, Ybx1 is highly abundant in primary growth (PG) follicles in the ovary, but decreases precipitously as the follicles enter the secondary growth (SG). To understand Ybx1 function in folliculogenesis, we created a ybx1 mutant using TALEN and observed disrupted folliculogenesis during the previtellogenic (PV) to early vitellogenic (EV) transition of SG, resulting in underdeveloped ovaries and infertility. Expression and western blot analyses revealed differential gene expression between ybx1-/- and control ovaries, with significantly increased expression of cdkn1a (p21), a cell cycle inhibitor, in ybx1-/- follicles. While cdkn1a knockout via CRISPR/Cas9 was embryonically lethal, the heterozygote (cdkn1a+/-) displayed advanced follicle activation and maturation, contrasting with the ybx1-/- phenotype. Partial loss of p21 alleviated the ybx1-/- phenotype, restoring folliculogenesis with normal PG-PV and PV-EV transitions in ybx1-/-;cdkn1a+/- mutants. While ybx1-/- mutant follicle cells displayed poor proliferation in vivo and in vitro, the cells from the ybx1-/-;cdkn1a+/- follicles resumed normal proliferation. In conclusion, Ybx1 is crucial for early folliculogenesis in zebrafish, potentially by repressing cdkn1a expression, either directly or indirectly.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142521315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DevelopmentPub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-10-30DOI: 10.1242/dev.204328
Paschalis Kratsios, Oliver Hobert
{"title":"Almost 40 years of studying homeobox genes in C. elegans.","authors":"Paschalis Kratsios, Oliver Hobert","doi":"10.1242/dev.204328","DOIUrl":"10.1242/dev.204328","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Homeobox genes are among the most deeply conserved families of transcription factor-encoding genes. Following their discovery in Drosophila, homeobox genes arrived on the Caenorhabditis elegans stage with a vengeance. Between 1988 and 1990, just a few years after their initial discovery in flies and vertebrates, positional cloning and sequence-based searches showed that C. elegans contains HOX cluster genes, an apparent surprise given the simplicity and non-segmented body plan of the nematode, as well as many other non-clustered homeobox genes of all major subfamilies (e.g. LIM, POU, etc.). Not quite 40 years later, we have an exceptionally deep understanding of homeodomain protein expression and function in C. elegans, revealing their prevalent role in nervous system development. In this Spotlight, we provide a historical perspective and a non-comprehensive journey through the C. elegans homeobox field and discuss open questions and future directions.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142544371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Allometry in limb regeneration and scale-invariant patterning as the basis of normal morphogenesis from different sizes of blastemas.","authors":"Saya Furukawa, Sakiya Yamamoto, Ayaka Ohashi, Yoshihiro Morishita, Akira Satoh","doi":"10.1242/dev.202697","DOIUrl":"10.1242/dev.202697","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) limb regeneration begins with blastemas of various sizes, in contrast to the limb developmental process. Despite this size variation, normal limb morphology, consistent with a limb stump size, is regenerated. This outcome suggests the existence of underlying scale-invariant mechanisms. To identify such mechanisms, we examined the allometric relationships between blastema size, and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 (Fgf8) expression patterns against limb stump size. We found that all factors showed allometric rather than isometric scaling; specifically, their relative sizes decrease with an increase in limb stump size. However, the ratio of Shh/Fgf8 signaling dominant region was nearly constant, independent of blastema/body size. Furthermore, the relative spatial patterns of cell density and proliferation activity, and the relative position of first digit formation were scale invariant in the summed Shh/Fgf8 crosstalk region. This scale-invariant nature may underlie the morphogenesis of normal limbs from different sizes of blastemas.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142343713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DevelopmentPub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-11-08DOI: 10.1242/dev.202775
James McGehee, Angelike Stathopoulos
{"title":"Target gene responses differ when transcription factor levels are acutely decreased by nuclear export versus degradation.","authors":"James McGehee, Angelike Stathopoulos","doi":"10.1242/dev.202775","DOIUrl":"10.1242/dev.202775","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Defining the time of action for morphogens requires tools capable of temporally controlled perturbations. To study how the transcription factor Dorsal affects patterning of the Drosophila embryonic dorsal-ventral axis, we used two light-inducible tags that trigger either nuclear export or degradation of Dorsal under blue light. Nuclear export of Dorsal leads to loss of the high-threshold, ventrally expressed target gene snail (sna), while the low-threshold, laterally expressed target gene short-gastrulation (sog) is retained. In contrast, degradation of Dorsal results in retention of sna, loss of sog, and lower nuclear levels compared to when Dorsal is exported from the nucleus. To understand why nuclear export causes loss of sna but degradation does not, we investigated Dorsal kinetics using photobleaching and found that it rapidly re-enters the nucleus even under blue-light conditions favoring export. The associated kinetics of Dorsal being rapidly imported and exported continuously are likely responsible for loss of sna but, alternatively, can support sog. Collectively, our results indicate that this dynamic patterning process is influenced by both Dorsal concentration and nuclear retention.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142460560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DevelopmentPub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-11-08DOI: 10.1242/dev.204443
{"title":"The people behind the papers - Saya Furukawa, Akira Satoh and Yoshihiro Morishita.","authors":"","doi":"10.1242/dev.204443","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.204443","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A remarkable feature of limb regeneration is the ability to regenerate normal limb morphology and anatomical patterning. Although it is thought that regeneration uses similar mechanisms to those employed during development, it is not well understood how this is achieved in the context of varying blastema size. In a new study, Akira Satoh, Yoshihiro Morishita and colleagues investigate the allometric scaling of blastema size and pattern expressions of key genes relative to the size of the limb stump in axolotls. To find out more about the work, we caught up with first author Saya Furukawa, and corresponding authors Akira Satoh, professor at Okayama University, and Yoshihiro Morishita, Principal Investigator at RIKEN, Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142603778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DevelopmentPub Date : 2024-11-01DOI: 10.1242/dev.202908
Ibrahim Kays, Brian E Chen
{"title":"Tracking and measuring local protein synthesis in vivo.","authors":"Ibrahim Kays, Brian E Chen","doi":"10.1242/dev.202908","DOIUrl":"10.1242/dev.202908","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Detecting when and how much of a protein molecule is synthesized is important for understanding cell function, but current methods either cannot be performed in vivo or have poor temporal resolution. Here, we developed a technique to detect and quantify subcellular protein synthesis events in real time in vivo. This Protein Translation Reporting (PTR) technique uses a genetic tag that produces a stoichiometric ratio of a small peptide portion of a split fluorescent protein and the protein of interest during protein synthesis. We show that the split fluorescent protein peptide can generate fluorescence within milliseconds upon binding the larger portion of the fluorescent protein, and that the fluorescence intensity is directly proportional to the number of molecules of the protein of interest synthesized. Using PTR, we tracked and measured protein synthesis events in single cells over time in vivo. We use different color split fluorescent proteins to detect multiple genes or alleles in single cells simultaneously. We also split a photoswitchable fluorescent protein to photoconvert the reconstituted fluorescent protein to a different channel to continually reset the time of detection of synthesis events.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142380275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DevelopmentPub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-11-05DOI: 10.1242/dev.202949
Sandra de Haan, Agustin A Corbat, Christopher R Cederroth, Lisa G Autrum, Simona Hankeova, Elizabeth C Driver, Barbara Canlon, Matthew W Kelley, Emma R Andersson
{"title":"Jag1 represses Notch activation in lateral supporting cells and inhibits an outer hair cell fate in the medial cochlea.","authors":"Sandra de Haan, Agustin A Corbat, Christopher R Cederroth, Lisa G Autrum, Simona Hankeova, Elizabeth C Driver, Barbara Canlon, Matthew W Kelley, Emma R Andersson","doi":"10.1242/dev.202949","DOIUrl":"10.1242/dev.202949","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Notch signaling patterns the cochlear organ of Corti, and individuals with the JAG1/NOTCH2-related genetic disorder Alagille syndrome can thus experience hearing loss. We investigated the function of Jag1 in cochlear patterning and signaling using Jag1Ndr/Ndr mice, which are a model of Alagille syndrome. Jag1Ndr/Ndr mice exhibited expected vestibular and auditory deficits, a dose-dependent increase in ectopic inner hair cells, and a reduction in outer hair cells. Single cell RNA sequencing of the organ of Corti demonstrated a global dysregulation of genes associated with inner ear development and deafness. Analysis of individual cell types further revealed that Jag1 represses Notch activation in lateral supporting cells and demonstrated a function for Jag1 in gene regulation and development of outer hair cells. Surprisingly, ectopic 'outer hair cell-like' cells were present in the medial compartment and pillar cell region of Jag1Ndr/Ndr cochleae, yet they exhibited location-dependent expression of the inner hair cell fate-determinant Tbx2, suggesting Jag1 is required for Tbx2 to drive inner hair cell commitment. This study thus identifies new roles for Jag1 in supporting cells, and in outer hair cell specification and positioning.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142380272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DevelopmentPub Date : 2024-10-31DOI: 10.1242/dev.204390
Vahid Zadmajid, Shayan Shahriar, Daniel A Gorelick
{"title":"Testosterone acts through membrane protein GPRC6A to cause cardiac edema in zebrafish embryos.","authors":"Vahid Zadmajid, Shayan Shahriar, Daniel A Gorelick","doi":"10.1242/dev.204390","DOIUrl":"10.1242/dev.204390","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Androgens are classically thought to act through intracellular androgen receptors (AR/NR3C4), but they can also trigger non-genomic effects via membrane proteins. Although several membrane androgen receptors have been characterized in vitro, their functions in vivo remain unclear. Using a chemical-genetic screen in zebrafish, we found that GPRC6A, a G-protein coupled receptor, mediates non-genomic androgen actions during embryonic development. Exposure to androgens (androstanedione, DHT, and testosterone) caused cardiac edema or tail curvature in wild-type embryos, as well as in ar mutants, suggesting AR-independent pathways. We then mutated putative membrane androgen receptors (gprc6a, hcar1-4, and zip9) and found that only gprc6a mutants exhibited a significant reduction in cardiac edema following testosterone exposure. Additionally, co-treatment of wild-type embryos with testosterone and GPRC6A antagonists significantly suppressed the cardiac edema phenotype. Using RNA-seq and RNA rescue approaches, we found that testosterone-GPRC6A causes cardiac phenotypes by reducing Pak1 signaling. Our results indicate that testosterone induces cardiac edema in zebrafish embryos through GPRC6A, independent of nuclear androgen receptors, highlighting a novel non-genomic androgen signaling pathway in embryonic development.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142544370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DevelopmentPub Date : 2024-10-29DOI: 10.1242/dev.204319
Andrea L Sposato, Hailey L Hollins, Darren R Llewellyn, Jenna M Weber, Madison N Schrock, Jeffrey A Farrell, James A Gagnon
{"title":"Germ cell progression through zebrafish spermatogenesis declines with age.","authors":"Andrea L Sposato, Hailey L Hollins, Darren R Llewellyn, Jenna M Weber, Madison N Schrock, Jeffrey A Farrell, James A Gagnon","doi":"10.1242/dev.204319","DOIUrl":"10.1242/dev.204319","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vertebrate spermatogonial stem cells maintain sperm production over the lifetime of an animal but fertility declines with age. While morphological studies have informed our understanding of typical spermatogenesis, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the maintenance and decline of spermatogenesis are not yet understood. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to generate a developmental atlas of the aging zebrafish testis. All testes contained spermatogonia, but we observed a progressive decline in spermatogenesis that correlates with age. Testes from some older males only contained spermatogonia and a reduced population of spermatocytes. Spermatogonia in older males are transcriptionally distinct from spermatogonia in testes capable of robust spermatogenesis. Immune cells including macrophages and lymphocytes drastically increase in abundance in testes that cannot complete spermatogenesis. Our developmental atlas reveals the cellular changes as the testis ages and defines a molecular roadmap for the regulation of spermatogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":11375,"journal":{"name":"Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142521314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}