Recent knowledge about metamorphosis and adult organ formation of ascidians is reviewed, in order to elucidate the molecular similarities with those in vertebrates.
Polypeptides as Structural Materials via Chemoenzymatic Synthesis
Polypeptides have a rich variety of structures and functions. Their chemoenzymatic synthesis is reviewed by the Enzyme Research Team at RIKEN, Japan.
Serotonin Neuron Development: Shaping Molecular and Structural Identities
Serotonin neurons are highly plastic; their development, maturation and regeneration is controlled by a complex gene regulatory network in constant interaction with the environment. An overview article recently published in WIREs Developmental Biology offers an updated view of these fundamental developmental mechanisms, pointing to the many ways by which developmental dysfunction of serotonin systems might occur at different periods in life. This opens new possibilities for therapeutic intervention, which can range from prevention of risk to stem cell therapies.
Omics Insights into (Nano)Materials–Organism Interactions
PROTEOMICS is inviting papers for a Special Issue on Omics insights into (nano)materials–organism interactions.
Limbal Stem Cells for Treatment of Corneal Blindness
Limbal stem cells have attracted a lot of interest in the field of regenerative medicine because of their unique ability to fully restore the whole cornea upon transplantation. Several important aspects of limbal stem cell biology are reviewed such as limbal stem cell identification, developmental origin and therapeutic potential.
Hearing Crosstalk: The Molecular Conversation Orchestrating Inner Ear Dorsoventral Patterning
Schoenwolf et al. focus on the crosstalk that occurs among three families of secreted proteins to progressively polarize and pattern the developing otocyst dorsoventrally.
Advances in Deciphering the 3D Organization of Genomes
In their review in BioEssays, Sergey Ulianov et al. discuss recent developments in single cell Hi-C techniques for studying 3D chromatin organization.
mRNA Transport in Fungal Top Models
The study of simple fungal model organisms provides valuable insights into fundamental mechanisms of mRNA transport boosting the understanding of similar events in higher eukaryotes.
The “Space Bear” is Weird, but Not That Weird…
Together with many eukaryotes in which relatively large percentages of lateral gene transfer had been claimed, Tardigrades are now downgraded to normality, and here’s why…
Cyclic-di-GMP Regulation of Virulence in Bacterial Pathogens
Cyclic-di-GMP regulation of bacterial virulence is specific to each pathogen, strain, and type of infection. Differences in the composition and structure of extracellular matrix components could underlie the variation in immune response in the mammalian host.