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Mitochondrial trafficking through Rhot1 is involved in the aggregation of germinal granule components during primordial germ cell formation in Xenopus embryos
In this study, we focused on the mitochondrial small GTPase protein Rhot1 to inhibit mitochondrial trafficking during the germ plasm aggregation. Expression of Rhot1ΔC, which lacks the C‐terminal mitochondrial transmembrane domain, inhibited the aggregation of germline‐Mt during early development. In Rhot1‐inhibited embryos, germinal granule components did not aggregate during cleavage stages, which reduced the number of PGCs on the genital ridge at tail‐bud stage. These results suggest that mitochondrial trafficking is involved in the aggregation of germinal granule components, which are essential for the formati...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - July 31, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Haru Tada, Yuya Taira, Keisuke Morichika, Tsutomu Kinoshita Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Molecular markers for X ‐ray‐insensitive differentiated cells in the Inner and outer regions of the mesenchymal space in planarian Dugesia japonica
Planarian's strong regenerative ability is dependent on stem cells (called neoblasts) that are X‐ray‐sensitive and proliferative stem cells. In addition to neoblasts, another type of X‐ray‐sensitive cells was newly identified by recent research. Thus, planarian's X‐ray‐sensitive cells can be divided into at least two populations, Type 1 and Type 2, the latter corresponding to planarian's classically defined “neoblasts”. Here, we show that Type 1 cells were distributed in the outer region (OR) immediately underneath the muscle layer at all axial levels from head to tail, while the Type 2 cells were distribut...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - July 31, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Machiko Teramoto, Tomomi Kudome ‐Takamatsu, Osamu Nishimura, Yang An, Makoto Kashima, Norito Shibata, Kiyokazu Agata Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Lineage tracing reveals conversion of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells into hepatocytes
Although liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) have long been known to contribute to liver regeneration following injury, the exact role of these cells in liver regeneration remains poorly understood. In this work, we performed lineage tracing of LSECs in mice carrying Tie2‐Cre or VE‐cadherin‐Cre constructs to facilitate fate‐mapping of LSECs in liver regeneration. Some YFP‐positive LSECs were observed to convert into hepatocytes following a two‐thirds partial hepatectomy (PH). Furthermore, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) could be triggered to convert into cells that closely resembled hepat...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - July 31, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Zhaoli Tan, Keyan Chen, Yong Shao, Lihua Gao, Yan Wang, Jianming Xu, Yang Jin, Xianwen Hu, Youliang Wang Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Face off against ROS: Tcof1/Treacle safeguards neuroepithelial cells and progenitor neural crest cells from oxidative stress during craniofacial development
One‐third of all congenital birth defects affect the head and face, and most craniofacial anomalies are considered to arise through defects in the development of cranial neural crest cells. Cranial neural crest cells give rise to the majority of craniofacial bones, cartilages and connective tissues. Therefore, understanding the events that control normal cranial neural crest and subsequent craniofacial development is important for elucidating the pathogenetic mechanisms of craniofacial anomalies and for the exploring potential therapeutic avenues for their prevention. Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is a congenital disor...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - July 31, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Daisuke Sakai, Paul A. Trainor Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

Issue Information
Cover Photograph: Immunofluorescence of SIX1 (magenta) and CD146 (green) on the E18.5 lower first molar frontal section of the WT mouse. The section is counterstained with DAPI. SIX1 is detected in dental follicle cells and inner enamel epithelial cells. CD146 expression in the dental follicle and the dental papilla indicates vascular plexus formation (pp. 530–545). Article link here (Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation)
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - July 19, 2016 Category: Research Tags: Issue Information Source Type: research

Abnormal spermatogenesis and male infertility in testicular zinc finger protein Zfp318 ‐knockout mice
Zfp318, a mouse gene with a Cys2/His2 zinc finger motif, is mainly expressed in germ cells in the testis. It encodes two alternative transcripts, which regulate androgen receptor‐mediated transcriptional activation or repression by overexpression of them. However, the role of Zfp318 is still obscure in vivo, especially in spermatogenesis. To elucidate the role of Zfp318 during gamete production, we established a knockout mouse line. Zfp318‐null male mice exhibited infertility, whereas Zfp318‐null female mice displayed normal fertility. ZFP318 was expressed during multiple stages of spermatogenesis, from spermatocyte...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - July 6, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Masamichi Ishizuka, Eri Ohtsuka, Atsuto Inoue, Mirei Odaka, Hirotaka Ohshima, Norihisa Tamura, Kaoru Yoshida, Norihisa Sako, Tadashi Baba, Shin ‐ichi Kashiwabara, Masaru Okabe, Junko Noguchi, Hiromi Hagiwara Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Preface to the special issue, ‘Embryonic and adult neurogenesis in vertebrate’
(Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation)
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - June 20, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Harukazu Nakamura, Salvador Martinez Tags: Preface Source Type: research

Issue Information
Cover Photograph: Top left: Neuromesodermal bipotential epiblast cells develop into the neural plate when Sox2 is activated by N1 enhancer, but they develop into the paraxial mesodermwhen N1 enhancer is repressed by TBX6 (see Kondoh et al. pp. 427–436). Center left: Fgf8 signaling for the specifi cation of the midbrain and hindbrain (see Harada et al. pp. 437–445). Bottom left: Intercellular communication by gap junction in the isthmic organizer (see Bosone et al. pp. 446–455). Top right: Neurovascular unit that is formed by pericyte, endothelial cells, glial cells and neurons provides an optimal microenvironment for...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - June 20, 2016 Category: Research Tags: Issue Information Source Type: research

Tissue culture on a chip: Developmental biology applications of self ‐organized capillary networks in microfluidic devices
Organ culture systems are used to elucidate the mechanisms of pattern formation in developmental biology. Various organ culture techniques have been used, but the lack of microcirculation in such cultures impedes the long‐term maintenance of larger tissues. Recent advances in microfluidic devices now enable us to utilize self‐organized perfusable capillary networks in organ cultures. In this review, we will overview past approaches to organ culture and current technical advances in microfluidic devices, and discuss possible applications of microfluidics towards the study of developmental biology. We can use self‐org...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - June 7, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Takashi Miura, Ryuji Yokokawa Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

Tissue culture on a chip: Developmental biology applications of self‐organized capillary networks in microfluidic devices
Organ culture systems are used to elucidate the mechanisms of pattern formation in developmental biology. Various organ culture techniques have been used, but the lack of microcirculation in such cultures impedes the long‐term maintenance of larger tissues. Recent advances in microfluidic devices now enable us to utilize self‐organized perfusable capillary networks in organ cultures. In this review, we will overview past approaches to organ culture and current technical advances in microfluidic devices, and discuss possible applications of microfluidics towards the study of developmental biology. We can use self‐org...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - June 7, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Takashi Miura, Ryuji Yokokawa Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

GAP junctional communication in brain secondary organizers
Gap junctions (GJs) are integral membrane proteins that enable the direct cytoplasmic exchange of ions and low molecular weight metabolites between adjacent cells. They are formed by the apposition of two connexons belonging to adjacent cells. Each connexon is formed by six proteins, named connexins (Cxs). Current evidence suggests that gap junctions play an important part in ensuring normal embryo development. Mutations in connexin genes have been linked to a variety of human diseases, although the precise role and the cell biological mechanisms of their action remain almost unknown. Among the big family of Cxs, several a...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - June 7, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Camilla Bosone, Abraham Andreu, Diego Echevarria Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

Fgf8 signaling for development of the midbrain and hindbrain
In this paper, we review how midbrain and hindbrain are specified. Otx2 and Gbx2 are expressed from the early phase of development, and their expression abuts at the midbrain hindbrain boundary (MHB), where Fgf8 expression is induced, and functions as an organizing molecule for the midbrain and hindbrain. Fgf8 induces En1 and Pax2 expression at the region where Otx2 is expressed to specify midbrain. Fgf8 activates Ras‐ERK pathway to specify hindbrain. Downstream of ERK, Pea3 specifies isthmus (rhombomere 0, r0), and Irx2 may specify r1, where the cerebellum is formed. Fgf8 is induced at the boundary of Otx2 and Gbx2 exp...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - June 6, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Hidekiyo Harada, Tatsuya Sato, Harukazu Nakamura Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

Inhibition of the integrin signal constitutes a mouse iPS cell niche
In this study, we used three murine iPS cell lines, iPS‐MEF‐Ng‐20D‐17, iPS‐MEF‐Ng‐178B‐5 and iPS‐MEF‐Fb/Ng‐440A‐3, which were generated by different reprogramming methods. In general, these cell lines commonly need the feeder cells as a niche to culture. Recently, the effect of substrate stiffness is known in stem cell study. First, we focused on the mechanical properties of feeder cells, and then we speculated that feeder‐less culture might be made possible by using molecules in place of the mechanical properties of the niche. Finally, we found that the combination of disintegrin (echistatin) and...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - May 31, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Sayaka Higuchi, Sawako Yoshina, Shohei Mitani Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Massive excretion of calcium oxalate from late prepupal salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster demonstrates active nephridial‐like anion transport
The Drosophila salivary glands (SGs) were well known for the puffing patterns of their polytene chromosomes and so became a tissue of choice to study sequential gene activation by the steroid hormone ecdysone. One well‐documented function of these glands is to produce a secretory glue, which is released during pupariation to fix the freshly formed puparia to the substrate. Over the past two decades SGs have been used to address specific aspects of developmentally‐regulated programmed cell death (PCD) as it was thought that they are doomed for histolysis and after pupariation are just awaiting their fate. More recently,...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - May 31, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Robert Farkaš, Ludmila Pečeňová, Lucia Mentelová, Milan Beňo, Denisa Beňová‐Liszeková, Silvia Mahmoodová, Václav Tejnecký, Otakar Raška, Pavel Juda, Silvie Svidenská, Matúš Hornáček, Bruce A. Chase, Ivan Raška Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Abnormal spermatogenesis and male infertility in testicular zinc finger protein Zfp318‐knockout mice
Zfp318, a mouse gene with a Cys2/His2 zinc finger motif, is mainly expressed in germ cells in the testis. It encodes two alternative transcripts, which regulate androgen receptor‐mediated transcriptional activation or repression by overexpression of them. However, the role of Zfp318 is still obscure in vivo, especially in spermatogenesis. To elucidate the role of Zfp318 during gamete production, we established a knockout mouse line. Zfp318‐null male mice exhibited infertility, whereas Zfp318‐null female mice displayed normal fertility. ZFP318 was expressed during multiple stages of spermatogenesis, from spermatocyte...
Source: Development, Growth and Differentiation - May 31, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Masamichi Ishizuka, Eri Ohtsuka, Atsuto Inoue, Mirei Odaka, Hirotaka Ohshima, Norihisa Tamura, Kaoru Yoshida, Norihisa Sako, Tadashi Baba, Shin‐ichi Kashiwabara, Masaru Okabe, Junko Noguchi, Hiromi Hagiwara Tags: Original Article Source Type: research