Journal of Developmental Biology

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

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J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020025 - 05 Jun 2023

All living jawed vertebrates possess teeth or did so ancestrally. Integumental surface also includes the cornea. Conversely, no other anatomical feature differentiates the clades so readily as skin appendages do, multicellular glands in amphibians, hair follicle/gland complexes in mammals, feathers in birds, and [...] Read more.

All living jawed vertebrates possess teeth or did so ancestrally. Integumental surface also includes the cornea. Conversely, no other anatomical feature differentiates the clades so readily as skin appendages do, multicellular glands in amphibians, hair follicle/gland complexes in mammals, feathers in birds, and the different types of scales. Tooth-like scales are characteristic of chondrichthyans, while mineralized dermal scales are characteristic of bony fishes. Corneous epidermal scales might have appeared twice, in squamates, and on feet in avian lineages, but posteriorly to feathers. In contrast to the other skin appendages, the origin of multicellular glands of amphibians has never been addressed. In the seventies, pioneering dermal–epidermal recombination between chick, mouse and lizard embryos showed that: (1) the clade type of the appendage is determined by the epidermis; (2) their morphogenesis requires two groups of dermal messages, first for primordia formation, second for appendage final architecture; (3) the early messages were conserved during amniotes evolution. Molecular biology studies that have identified the involved pathways, extending those data to teeth and dermal scales, suggest that the different vertebrate skin appendages evolved in parallel from a shared placode/dermal cells unit, present in a common toothed ancestor, c.a. 420 mya. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of the Skin in Vertebrates)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Jak2 and Jaw Muscles Are Required for Buccopharyngeal Membrane Perforation during Mouth Development

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Amanda J. G. Dickinson

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020024 - 31 May 2023

Abstract

The mouth is a central feature of our face, without which we could not eat, breathe, or communicate. A critical and early event in mouth formation is the creation of a “hole” which connects the digestive system and the external environment. This hole, [...] Read more.

The mouth is a central feature of our face, without which we could not eat, breathe, or communicate. A critical and early event in mouth formation is the creation of a “hole” which connects the digestive system and the external environment. This hole, which has also been called the primary or embryonic mouth in vertebrates, is initially covered by a 1–2 cell layer thick structure called the buccopharyngeal membrane. When the buccopharyngeal membrane does not rupture, it impairs early mouth functions and may also lead to further craniofacial malformations. Using a chemical screen in an animal model (Xenopus laevis) and genetic data from humans, we determined that Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) has a role in buccopharyngeal membrane rupture. We have determined that decreased Jak2 function, using antisense morpholinos or a pharmacological antagonist, caused a persistent buccopharyngeal membrane as well as the loss of jaw muscles. Surprisingly, we observed that the jaw muscle compartments were connected to the oral epithelium that is continuous with the buccopharyngeal membrane. Severing such connections resulted in buccopharyngeal membrane buckling and persistence. We also noted puncta accumulation of F-actin, an indicator of tension, in the buccopharyngeal membrane during perforation. Taken together, the data has led us to a hypothesis that muscles are required to exert tension across the buccopharyngeal membrane, and such tension is necessary for its perforation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 10th Anniversary of JDB: Feature Papers)

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Open AccessArticle

Transcription of HOX Genes Is Significantly Increased during Neuronal Differentiation of iPSCs Derived from Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

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Viya B. Fedoseyeva

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Ekaterina V. Novosadova

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Valentina V. Nenasheva

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Lyudmila V. Novosadova

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Igor A. Grivennikov

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Vyacheslav Z. Tarantul

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020023 - 25 May 2023

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most serious movement disorder, but the actual cause of this disease is still unknown. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural cultures from PD patients carry the potential for experimental modeling of underlying molecular events. We analyzed the RNA-seq data [...] Read more.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most serious movement disorder, but the actual cause of this disease is still unknown. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural cultures from PD patients carry the potential for experimental modeling of underlying molecular events. We analyzed the RNA-seq data of iPSC-derived neural precursor cells (NPCs) and terminally differentiated neurons (TDNs) from healthy donors (HD) and PD patients with mutations in PARK2 published previously. The high level of transcription of HOX family protein-coding genes and lncRNA transcribed from the HOX clusters was revealed in the neural cultures from PD patients, while in HD NPCs and TDNs, the majority of these genes were not expressed or slightly transcribed. The results of this analysis were generally confirmed by qPCR. The HOX paralogs in the 3′ clusters were activated more strongly than the genes of the 5′ cluster. The abnormal activation of the HOX gene program upon neuronal differentiation in the cells of PD patients raises the possibility that the abnormal expression of these key regulators of neuronal development impacts PD pathology. Further research is needed to investigate this hypothesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2022 Feature Papers by JDB’s Editorial Board Members)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Osteoderm Development during the Regeneration Process in Eurylepis taeniolata Blyth, 1854 (Scincidae, Sauria, Squamata)

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Gennady O. Cherepanov

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Dmitry A. Gordeev

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Daniel A. Melnikov

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Natalia B. Ananjeva

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020022 - 24 May 2023

Abstract

Osteoderms are bony structures that develop within the dermal layer of the skin in vertebrates and are very often found in different lizard families. Lizard osteoderms are diverse in topography, morphology, and microstructure. Of particular interest are the compound osteoderms of skinks, which [...] Read more.

Osteoderms are bony structures that develop within the dermal layer of the skin in vertebrates and are very often found in different lizard families. Lizard osteoderms are diverse in topography, morphology, and microstructure. Of particular interest are the compound osteoderms of skinks, which are a complex of several bone elements known as osteodermites. We present new data on the development and regeneration of compound osteoderms based on the results of a histological and Computed Microtomography (micro-CT) study of a scincid lizard: Eurylepis taeniolata. The specimens studied are stored in the herpetological collections of the Saint-Petersburg State University and Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences located in St. Petersburg, Russia. The topography of osteoderms in the integuments of the original tail area and its regenerated part was studied. A comparative histological description of the original and regenerated osteoderms of Eurylepis taeniolata is presented for the first time. The first description of the development of compound osteoderm microstructure in the process of caudal regeneration is also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of the Skin in Vertebrates)

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Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of Drosophila Oocyte Determination

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Brigite Cabrita

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Rui Gonçalo Martinho

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020021 - 24 May 2023

Abstract

Primary oocyte determination occurs in many organisms within a germ line cyst, a multicellular structure composed of interconnected germ cells. However, the structure of the cyst is itself highly diverse, which raises intriguing questions about the benefits of this stereotypical multicellular environment for [...] Read more.

Primary oocyte determination occurs in many organisms within a germ line cyst, a multicellular structure composed of interconnected germ cells. However, the structure of the cyst is itself highly diverse, which raises intriguing questions about the benefits of this stereotypical multicellular environment for female gametogenesis. Drosophila melanogaster is a well-studied model for female gametogenesis, and numerous genes and pathways critical for the determination and differentiation of a viable female gamete have been identified. This review provides an up-to-date overview of Drosophila oocyte determination, with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms that regulate germ line gene expression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 10th Anniversary of JDB: Feature Papers)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Attenuation of Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in a C. elegans Parkinson’s Model through Regulation of Xanthine Dehydrogenase (XDH-1) Expression by the RNA Editase, ADR-2

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J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020020 - 22 May 2023

Abstract

Differential RNA editing by adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs) has been implicated in several neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, we report results of a RNAi screen of genes differentially regulated in adr-2 mutants, normally encoding the only catalytically active [...] Read more.

Differential RNA editing by adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs) has been implicated in several neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, we report results of a RNAi screen of genes differentially regulated in adr-2 mutants, normally encoding the only catalytically active ADAR in Caenorhabditis elegans, ADR-2. Subsequent analysis of candidate genes that alter the misfolding of human α-synuclein (α-syn) and dopaminergic neurodegeneration, two PD pathologies, reveal that reduced expression of xdh-1, the ortholog of human xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), is protective against α-synuclein-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Further, RNAi experiments show that WHT-2, the worm ortholog of the human ABCG2 transporter and a predicted interactor of XDH-1, is the rate-limiting factor in the ADR-2, XDH-1, WHT-2 system for dopaminergic neuroprotection. In silico structural modeling of WHT-2 indicates that the editing of one nucleotide in the wht-2 mRNA leads to the substitution of threonine with alanine at residue 124 in the WHT-2 protein, changing hydrogen bonds in this region. Thus, we propose a model where wht-2 is edited by ADR-2, which promotes optimal export of uric acid, a known substrate of WHT-2 and a product of XDH-1 activity. In the absence of editing, uric acid export is limited, provoking a reduction in xdh-1 transcription to limit uric acid production and maintain cellular homeostasis. As a result, elevation of uric acid is protective against dopaminergic neuronal cell death. In turn, increased levels of uric acid are associated with a decrease in ROS production. Further, downregulation of xdh-1 is protective against PD pathologies because decreased levels of XDH-1 correlate to a concomitant reduction in xanthine oxidase (XO), the form of the protein whose by-product is superoxide anion. These data indicate that modifying specific targets of RNA editing may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for PD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Caenorhabditis elegans – a Model for Understanding Development and Disease)

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Open AccessArticle

The Presence of Two MyoD Genes in a Subset of Acanthopterygii Fish Is Associated with a Polyserine Insert in MyoD1

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Lewis J. White

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Alexander J. Russell

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Alastair R. Pizzey

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Kanchon K. Dasmahapatra

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Mary E. Pownall

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020019 - 28 Apr 2023

Abstract

The MyoD gene was duplicated during the teleost whole genome duplication and, while a second MyoD gene (MyoD2) was subsequently lost from the genomes of some lineages (including zebrafish), many fish lineages (including Alcolapia species) have retained both MyoD paralogues. Here [...] Read more.

The MyoD gene was duplicated during the teleost whole genome duplication and, while a second MyoD gene (MyoD2) was subsequently lost from the genomes of some lineages (including zebrafish), many fish lineages (including Alcolapia species) have retained both MyoD paralogues. Here we reveal the expression patterns of the two MyoD genes in Oreochromis (Alcolapia) alcalica using in situ hybridisation. We report our analysis of MyoD1 and MyoD2 protein sequences from 54 teleost species, and show that O. alcalica, along with some other teleosts, include a polyserine repeat between the amino terminal transactivation domains (TAD) and the cysteine-histidine rich region (H/C) in MyoD1. The evolutionary history of MyoD1 and MyoD2 is compared to the presence of this polyserine region using phylogenetics, and its functional relevance is tested using overexpression in a heterologous system to investigate subcellular localisation, stability, and activity of MyoD proteins that include and do not include the polyserine region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 10th Anniversary of JDB: Feature Papers)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Reproductive-Toxicity-Related Endpoints in C. elegans Are Consistent with Reduced Concern for Dimethylarsinic Acid Exposure Relative to Inorganic Arsenic

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J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020018 - 26 Apr 2023

Abstract

Exposures to arsenic and mercury are known to pose significant threats to human health; however, the effects specific to organic vs. inorganic forms are not fully understood. Caenorhabditis elegans’ (C. elegans) transparent cuticle, along with the conservation of key genetic pathways [...] Read more.

Exposures to arsenic and mercury are known to pose significant threats to human health; however, the effects specific to organic vs. inorganic forms are not fully understood. Caenorhabditis elegans’ (C. elegans) transparent cuticle, along with the conservation of key genetic pathways regulating developmental and reproductive toxicology (DART)-related processes such as germ stem cell renewal and differentiation, meiosis, and embryonic tissue differentiation and growth, support this model’s potential to address the need for quicker and more dependable testing methods for DART hazard identification. Organic and inorganic forms of mercury and arsenic had different effects on reproductive-related endpoints in C. elegans, with methylmercury (meHgCl) having effects at lower concentrations than mercury chloride (HgCl₂), and sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) having effects at lower concentrations than dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Progeny to adult ratio changes and germline apoptosis were seen at concentrations that also affected gravid adult gross morphology. For both forms of arsenic tested, germline histone regulation was altered at concentrations below those that affected progeny/adult ratios, while concentrations for these two endpoints were similar for the mercury compounds. These C. elegans findings are consistent with corresponding mammalian data, where available, suggesting that small animal model test systems may help to fill critical data gaps by contributing to weight of evidence assessments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Caenorhabditis elegans – a Model for Understanding Development and Disease)

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Open AccessArticle

Selecting Normalizers for MicroRNA RT-qPCR Expression Analysis in Murine Preimplantation Embryos and the Associated Conditioned Culture Media

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David C. Hawke

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Andrew J. Watson

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Dean H. Betts

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020017 - 04 Apr 2023

Abstract

Normalizing RT-qPCR miRNA datasets that encompass numerous preimplantation embryo stages requires the identification of miRNAs that may be used as stable reference genes. A need has also arisen for the normalization of the accompanying conditioned culture media as extracellular miRNAs may serve as [...] Read more.

Normalizing RT-qPCR miRNA datasets that encompass numerous preimplantation embryo stages requires the identification of miRNAs that may be used as stable reference genes. A need has also arisen for the normalization of the accompanying conditioned culture media as extracellular miRNAs may serve as biomarkers of embryo developmental competence. Here, we evaluate the stability of six commonly used miRNA normalization candidates, as well as small nuclear U6, using five different means of evaluation (BestKeeper, NormFinder, geNorm, the comparative Delta Ct method and RefFinder comprehensive analysis) to assess their stability throughout murine preimplantation embryo development from the oocyte to the late blastocyst stages, both in whole embryos and the associated conditioned culture media. In descending order of effectiveness, miR-16, miR-191 and miR-106 were identified as the most stable individual reference miRNAs for developing whole CD1 murine preimplantation embryos, while miR-16, miR-106 and miR-103 were ideal for the conditioned culture media. Notably, the widely used U6 reference was among the least appropriate for normalizing both whole embryo and conditioned media miRNA datasets. Incorporating multiple reference miRNAs into the normalization basis via a geometric mean was deemed beneficial, and combinations of each set of stable miRNAs are further recommended, pending validation on a per experiment basis. Full article

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Open AccessCommunication

Comparison of Pronase versus Manual Dechorionation of Zebrafish Embryos for Small Molecule Treatments

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Eva H. Hasegawa

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Gist H. Farr III

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Lisa Maves

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020016 - 28 Mar 2023

Abstract

Zebrafish are a powerful animal model for small molecule screening. Small molecule treatments of zebrafish embryos usually require that the chorion, an acellular envelope enclosing the embryo, is removed in order for chemical compounds to access the embryo from the bath medium. For [...] Read more.

Zebrafish are a powerful animal model for small molecule screening. Small molecule treatments of zebrafish embryos usually require that the chorion, an acellular envelope enclosing the embryo, is removed in order for chemical compounds to access the embryo from the bath medium. For large-scale studies requiring hundreds of embryos, manual dechorionation, using forceps, can be a time-consuming and limiting process. Pronase is a non-specific protease that is widely used as an enzymatic alternative for dechorionating zebrafish embryos. However, whether pronase treatments alter the effects of subsequent small molecule treatments has not been addressed. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for large-scale pronase dechorionation of zebrafish embryos. We tested whether pronase treatment can influence the efficacy of drug treatments in zebrafish embryos. We used a zebrafish model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to investigate whether the efficacies of trichostatin-A (TSA) or salermide + oxamflatin, small molecule inhibitors known to ameliorate the zebrafish dmd muscle degeneration phenotype, are significantly altered when embryos are treated with pronase versus manual dechorionation. We also tested the effects of pronase on the ability of the anthracycline cancer drug doxorubicin to induce cardiotoxicity in zebrafish embryos. When comparing pronase- versus forceps-dechorionated embryos used in these small molecule treatments, we found no appreciable effects of pronase on animal survival or on the effects of the small molecules. The significant difference that was detected was a small improvement in the ability of salermide + oxamflatin to ameliorate the dmd phenotype in pronase-treated embryos when compared with manual dechorionation. Our study supports the use of pronase treatment as a dechorionation method for zebrafish drug screening experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish—a Model System for Developmental Biology II)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Refined Single Cell Landscape of Haematopoiesis in the Mouse Foetal Liver

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J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11020015 - 23 Mar 2023

Abstract

During prenatal life, the foetal liver is colonised by several waves of haematopoietic progenitors to act as the main haematopoietic organ. Single cell (sc) RNA-seq has been used to identify foetal liver cell types via their transcriptomic signature and to compare gene expression [...] Read more.

During prenatal life, the foetal liver is colonised by several waves of haematopoietic progenitors to act as the main haematopoietic organ. Single cell (sc) RNA-seq has been used to identify foetal liver cell types via their transcriptomic signature and to compare gene expression patterns as haematopoietic development proceeds. To obtain a refined single cell landscape of haematopoiesis in the foetal liver, we have generated a scRNA-seq dataset from a whole mouse E12.5 liver that includes a larger number of cells than prior datasets at this stage and was obtained without cell type preselection to include all liver cell populations. We combined mining of this dataset with that of previously published datasets at other developmental stages to follow transcriptional dynamics as well as the cell cycle state of developing haematopoietic lineages. Our findings corroborate several prior reports on the timing of liver colonisation by haematopoietic progenitors and the emergence of differentiated lineages and provide further molecular characterisation of each cell population. Extending these findings, we demonstrate the existence of a foetal intermediate haemoglobin profile in the mouse, similar to that previously identified in humans, and a previously unidentified population of primitive erythroid cells in the foetal liver. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Red Blood Cells Research)

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Open AccessReview

Principles of Zebrafish Nephron Segment Development

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J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11010014 - 18 Mar 2023

Cited by 2

Abstract

Nephrons are the functional units which comprise the kidney. Each nephron contains a number of physiologically unique populations of specialized epithelial cells that are organized into discrete domains known as segments. The principles of nephron segment development have been the subject of many [...] Read more.

Nephrons are the functional units which comprise the kidney. Each nephron contains a number of physiologically unique populations of specialized epithelial cells that are organized into discrete domains known as segments. The principles of nephron segment development have been the subject of many studies in recent years. Understanding the mechanisms of nephrogenesis has enormous potential to expand our knowledge about the basis of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), and to contribute to ongoing regenerative medicine efforts aimed at identifying renal repair mechanisms and generating replacement kidney tissue. The study of the zebrafish embryonic kidney, or pronephros, provides many opportunities to identify the genes and signaling pathways that control nephron segment development. Here, we describe recent advances of nephron segment patterning and differentiation in the zebrafish, with a focus on distal segment formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish—a Model System for Developmental Biology II)

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Open AccessArticle

COMMD10 Is Essential for Neural Plate Development during Embryogenesis

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J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11010013 - 16 Mar 2023

Abstract

The COMMD (copper metabolism MURR1 domain containing) family includes ten structurally conserved proteins (COMMD1 to COMMD10) in eukaryotic multicellular organisms that are involved in a diverse array of cellular and physiological processes, including endosomal trafficking, copper homeostasis, and cholesterol metabolism, among others. To [...] Read more.

The COMMD (copper metabolism MURR1 domain containing) family includes ten structurally conserved proteins (COMMD1 to COMMD10) in eukaryotic multicellular organisms that are involved in a diverse array of cellular and physiological processes, including endosomal trafficking, copper homeostasis, and cholesterol metabolism, among others. To understand the role of COMMD10 in embryonic development, we used Commd10^{Tg(Vav1-icre)A2Kio}/J mice, where the Vav1-cre transgene is integrated into an intron of the Commd10 gene, creating a functional knockout of Commd10 in homozygous mice. Breeding heterozygous mice produced no COMMD10-deficient (Commd10^Null) offspring, suggesting that COMMD10 is required for embryogenesis. Analysis of Commd10^Null embryos demonstrated that they displayed stalled development by embryonic day 8.5 (E8.5). Transcriptome analysis revealed that numerous neural crest-specific gene markers had lower expression in mutant versus wild-type (WT) embryos. Specifically, Commd10^Null embryos displayed significantly lower expression levels of a number of transcription factors, including a major regulator of the neural crest, Sox10. Moreover, several cytokines/growth factors involved in early embryonic neurogenesis were also lower in mutant embryos. On the other hand, Commd10^Null embryos demonstrated higher expression of genes involved in tissue remodeling and regression processes. Taken together, our findings show that Commd10^Null embryos die by day E8.5 due to COMMD10-dependent neural crest failure, revealing a new and critical role for COMMD10 in neural development. Full article

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Heme Oxygenase-1 Is Upregulated during Differentiation of Keratinocytes but Its Expression Is Dispensable for Cornification of Murine Epidermis

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Marta Surbek

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Supawadee Sukseree

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Attila Placido Sachslehner

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Dragan Copic

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Bahar Golabi

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Ionela Mariana Nagelreiter

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Erwin Tschachler

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Leopold Eckhart

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11010012 - 10 Mar 2023

Abstract

The epidermal barrier of mammals is initially formed during embryonic development and continuously regenerated by the differentiation and cornification of keratinocytes in postnatal life. Cornification is associated with the breakdown of organelles and other cell components by mechanisms which are only incompletely understood. [...] Read more.

The epidermal barrier of mammals is initially formed during embryonic development and continuously regenerated by the differentiation and cornification of keratinocytes in postnatal life. Cornification is associated with the breakdown of organelles and other cell components by mechanisms which are only incompletely understood. Here, we investigated whether heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), which converts heme into biliverdin, ferrous iron and carbon monoxide, is required for normal cornification of epidermal keratinocytes. We show that HO-1 is transcriptionally upregulated during the terminal differentiation of human keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated expression of HO-1 in the granular layer of the epidermis where keratinocytes undergo cornification. Next, we deleted the Hmox1 gene, which encodes HO-1, by crossing Hmox1-floxed and K14-Cre mice. The epidermis and isolated keratinocytes of the resulting Hmox1^f/f K14-Cre mice lacked HO-1 expression. The genetic inactivation of HO-1 did not impair the expression of keratinocyte differentiation markers, loricrin and filaggrin. Likewise, the transglutaminase activity and formation of the stratum corneum were not altered in Hmox1^f/f K14-Cre mice, suggesting that HO-1 is dispensable for epidermal cornification. The genetically modified mice generated in this study may be useful for future investigations of the potential roles of epidermal HO-1 in iron metabolism and responses to oxidative stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of the Skin in Vertebrates)

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Open AccessEditorial

Scientific Papers by Developmental Biologists in Japan

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Hideyo Ohuchi

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Tsutomu Nohno

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11010011 - 10 Mar 2023

Abstract

We have assembled ten interesting manuscripts submitted by developmental biologists in Japan [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scientific Papers by Developmental Biologists in Japan)

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Comparison of Sex-Specific Splicing Efficiencies of fem Pre-mRNA under Monoallelic and Heteroallelic Conditions of csd, a Master Sex-Determining Gene in the Honeybee

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Yukihiro Suzuki

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Takafumi Yamada

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Masataka G. Suzuki

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11010010 - 10 Mar 2023

Abstract

The sexual fate of honeybees is determined by the complementary sex determination (CSD) model: heterozygosity at a single locus (the CSD locus) determines femaleness, while hemizygosity or homozygosity at the CSD locus determines maleness. The csd gene encodes a splicing factor that regulates [...] Read more.

The sexual fate of honeybees is determined by the complementary sex determination (CSD) model: heterozygosity at a single locus (the CSD locus) determines femaleness, while hemizygosity or homozygosity at the CSD locus determines maleness. The csd gene encodes a splicing factor that regulates sex-specific splicing of the downstream target gene feminizer (fem), which is required for femaleness. The female mode of fem splicing occurs only when csd is present in the heteroallelic condition. To gain insights into how Csd proteins are only activated under the heterozygous allelic composition, we developed an in vitro assay system to evaluate the activity of Csd proteins. Consistent with the CSD model, the co-expression of two csd alleles, both of which lack splicing activity under the single-allele condition, restored the splicing activity that governs the female mode of fem splicing. RNA immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR analyses demonstrated that the CSD protein was specifically enriched in several exonic regions in the fem pre-mRNA, and enrichment in exons 3a and 5 was significantly greater under the heterozygous allelic composition than the single-allelic condition. However, in most cases csd expression under the monoallelic condition was capable of inducing the female mode of fem splicing contrary to the conventional CSD model. In contrast, repression of the male mode of fem splicing was predominant under heteroallelic conditions. These results were reproduced by real-time PCR of endogenous fem expression in female and male pupae. These findings strongly suggest that the heteroallelic composition of csd may be more important for the repression of the male splicing mode than for the induction of the female splicing mode of the fem gene. Full article

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Open AccessReview

Modeling Podocyte Ontogeny and Podocytopathies with the Zebrafish

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Bridgette E. Drummond

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Wesley S. Ercanbrack

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Rebecca A. Wingert

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11010009 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 3

Abstract

Podocytes are exquisitely fashioned kidney cells that serve an essential role in the process of blood filtration. Congenital malformation or damage to podocytes has dire consequences and initiates a cascade of pathological changes leading to renal disease states known as podocytopathies. In addition, [...] Read more.

Podocytes are exquisitely fashioned kidney cells that serve an essential role in the process of blood filtration. Congenital malformation or damage to podocytes has dire consequences and initiates a cascade of pathological changes leading to renal disease states known as podocytopathies. In addition, animal models have been integral to discovering the molecular pathways that direct the development of podocytes. In this review, we explore how researchers have used the zebrafish to illuminate new insights about the processes of podocyte ontogeny, model podocytopathies, and create opportunities to discover future therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2022 Feature Papers by JDB’s Editorial Board Members)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Neurogenin 2 and Neuronal Differentiation 1 Control Proper Development of the Chick Trigeminal Ganglion and Its Nerve Branches

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J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11010008 - 19 Feb 2023

Abstract

The trigeminal ganglion contains the cell bodies of sensory neurons comprising cranial nerve V, which relays information related to pain, touch, and temperature from the face and head to the brain. Like other cranial ganglia, the trigeminal ganglion is composed of neuronal derivatives [...] Read more.

The trigeminal ganglion contains the cell bodies of sensory neurons comprising cranial nerve V, which relays information related to pain, touch, and temperature from the face and head to the brain. Like other cranial ganglia, the trigeminal ganglion is composed of neuronal derivatives of two critical embryonic cell types, neural crest and placode cells. Neurogenesis within the cranial ganglia is promoted by Neurogenin 2 (Neurog2), which is expressed in trigeminal placode cells and their neuronal derivatives, and transcriptionally activates neuronal differentiation genes such as Neuronal Differentiation 1 (NeuroD1). Little is known, however, about the role of Neurog2 and NeuroD1 during chick trigeminal gangliogenesis. To address this, we depleted Neurog2 and NeuroD1 from trigeminal placode cells with morpholinos and demonstrated that Neurog2 and NeuroD1 influence trigeminal ganglion development. While knockdown of both Neurog2 and NeuroD1 affected innervation of the eye, Neurog2 and NeuroD1 had opposite effects on ophthalmic nerve branch organization. Taken together, our results highlight, for the first time, functional roles for Neurog2 and NeuroD1 during chick trigeminal gangliogenesis. These studies shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying trigeminal ganglion formation and may also provide insight into general cranial gangliogenesis and diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Cell to Embryo: A Theme Issue Honoring Professor Dr. Roberto Mayor)

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Open AccessEditorial

Introduction to the Development of Skin in Vertebrates

by

Lorenzo Alibardi

J. Dev. Biol. 2023, 11(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb11010007 - 31 Jan 2023

Abstract

The integument of vertebrates is a complex and large organ positioned at the interface with the aquatic or terrestrial environment, and is derived from the embryonic ectoderm (epidermis) and mesoderm (dermis and hypodermis) [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of the Skin in Vertebrates)

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