Development of the scleral ossicles, a ring of bony elements within the sclera, is directed by a series of papillae that arise from placodes in the conjunctival epithelium over a 1.5-day induction period in the chicken embryo. The regular spacing of the papillae around the corneal-scleral limbus suggests that their induction may be regulated by a reaction-diffusion mechanism, similar to other epithelial

Twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1), a highly conserved basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, stimulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and plays a crucial role in the regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell-cell adhesion. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the functional correlation between TWIST1 and MMP genes in human ESCC cell lines, KYSE-30 and YM-1. To generate recombinant

DM-domain (Zn-finger motif domain) genes play an important role in the sex determination and differentiation among animal kingdom. In the present study, the gene of Doublesex (Cqdsx) was identified and characterized for the first time in the redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. The full-length cDNA was 1271 bp, comprising a 155 bp 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR), an 885 bp predicted open reading

Differentiation of the HSCs into myeloid lineage is primarily monitored by transcription factor PU.1. GATA1 acts as a negative regulator by antagonizing the function of PU.1 by bindings its β3/β4 domain. In this study, a mutation was induced in PU.1 which blocks its interaction with GATA1. The pure form of this mutant protein i.e Y244D was loaded on poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles to transfect

The Activating Transcription Factor 5 (ATF5) is a basic leucine-zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) with proposed stress-protective, anti-apoptotic and oncogenic roles which were all established in cell systems. In whole animals, Atf5 function seems highly context dependent. Atf5 is strongly expressed in the rodent nose and mice knockout (KO) pups have defective olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs)

The vertebrate body plan is thought to be derived during the early Cambrian from a worm-like chordate ancestor. While all three germ layers were clearly involved in this innovation, the role of the endoderm remains elusive. According to the hourglass model, the optimal window for investigating the evolution of vertebrate endoderm-derived structures during cephalochordate development is from the Spemann's

Seed germination is a multi-staged complex process during seed plant life cycle, and it is tightly regulated through a coordinated expression of diverse genes in diverse tissues. As regulatory molecules of gene expression, determination of transcription factors is crucial to understanding molecular basis and regulatory network of germination process and seedling establishment. However, limited data

The abscisic acid (ABA) receptor binds to ABA in plants and can activate the ABA signaling pathway to initiate stress resistance. Sour jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. Chou) is an economic tree crop in North China, which is strongly adapted to drought and salt stress. Here, we cloned and overexpressed the ZjPYR1 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. After ABA treatment, the accumulation

Cellular membrane asymmetry is a hallmark characteristic of all eukaryotic cells. The balance of phospholipid composition within the cytoplasmic inner leaflet and the extracellular outer leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM) maintains cellular function and vitality. The proper exposure of particular phospholipids is necessary to maintain cellular signalling, controlled apoptosis, and vesicle transportation

CPSF6 is a component of the CFIm complex, involved in mRNA 3'end processing. Despite increasing interest on this protein as a consequence of proposed roles in cancer and HIV infection, several aspects of CPSF6 biological function are poorly understood. In this work we studied the expression of the zebrafish ortholog cpsf6 in early stages of embryo development. Quantitative RT-PCR studies showed that

Core browning of 'Whangkeumbae' pear has become an urgent problem in the Chinese pear industry, which often appears after several months of low-temperature storage. However, little is known regarding the crosstalk between physiology and molecular mechanisms regulating the core browning process of the pear. In this study, the physiological and genetic responses of the core were identified during storage

Sox protein family is characterized by the presence of the conserved high-mobility group (HMG) box. Sox transcription factors are involved in diverse developmental process in animals, including sex-determination, organogenesis, embryogenesis, neurogenesis, and cell fate decision. In this study, 23 Sox genes were identified based on the Culter alburnus whole-genome sequence and categorized into six

The hierarchical interactions between the dental epithelium and dental mesenchyme represent a common paradigm for organogenesis. During tooth development, various morphogens interact with extracellular components in the extracellular matrix and on the cell surfaces to transmit regulatory signaling into cells. We recently found pivotal roles of FAM20B-catalyzed proteoglycans in the control of murine

The small muscle protein, X-linked (SMPX) gene encodes a cytoskeleton-associated protein, highly expressed in both cardiac and skeletal muscles, as well as in fetal inner ears, with suggested roles as mechanotransductor. Recently, several mutations in the SMPX gene have been associated with X-chromosomal progressive deafness in human. However, very little information is known concerning the roles of

The glucose-fructose oxidoreductase domain containing gene family (GFOD) is small and contains only two members in human (GFOD1 and GFOD2). Information about its function is scarce. As the name implies the proteins contain an enzyme-defining domain, however, if this is functional and has enzymatic activity remains to be shown. A single nucleotide polymorphism situated in an intron of GFOD1 was found

Sex determination is a rapidly evolving biological process controlled by differential gene expression. One family of transcription factors that initiate sex-specific gene expression and differentiation in many animal species are the Doublesex and Mab-3 (DM) domain proteins. While much is known about Doublesex-related proteins in various insect orders and commonly studied model systems, little is known

Cryptochromes (Cry) are ancient flavoproteins known to regulate circadian rhythms. In plants and some animals, Cry is sensitive to blue light due to its ability to bind the chromophore flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Cry is also suggested to function in magnetoreception, since it can create light-dependent radical pairs with FAD that are sensitive to magnetic fields (Ritz2000; Liedvogel et al.,

Neuron navigator 2 (NAV2, RAINB1, POMFIL2, HELAD1, unc53H2) is essential for nervous system development. In the present study the spatial distribution of Nav2 transcript in mouse CNS during embryonic, postnatal and adult life is examined. Because multiple NAV2 proteins are predicted based on alternate promoter usage and RNA splicing, in situ hybridization was performed using probes designed to the

The Nuclear factor I proteins comprise a family of transcription factors that are expressed in many developing and mature cell populations, including within the central nervous system. Within the embryonic mouse spinal cord, NFIA and NFIB are expressed by neural progenitor cells lining the central canal, where they act to promote astrocytic and oligodendrocytic lineage specification. Cells lining the

Glomerular capillary formation is one of the fundamental mysteries in renal developmental biology. However, there are still debates on this issue, and its detailed formation process has not been clarified. To resolve this problem, we performed antibody staining with ultra-thick section on embryonic and postnatal mouse kidneys. We obtained the expression patterns of several genes that play an important

The poly(C)-binding protein (PCBP) family members belong to a subtype of RNA-binding proteins that are ubiquitously expressed with diverse functions. In mammals, PCBP family, also known as hnRNP E family, is composed of four proteins, namely PCBP1, PCBP2, PCBP3 and PCBP4. So far, no study has been documented on the physiological roles of each member in vertebrate development. Here we analysed the spatiotemporal

Vasa and dazl genes have been reported to play pivotal roles in germ cell development and differentiation both in vertebrates and invertebrates; however, little is known about their functions in germ cell differentiation during gametogenesis and sex reversal in hermaphroditic fish. In the present study, vasa (Ecvasa) and dazl (Ecdazl) cDNA were cloned from orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

Myosins make up a large super family of motor proteins responsible for actin-based motility in most eukaryotic cells. Myosin VIIA is essential for the development and function of sensory hair cells in the inner ear. The role of Myosin VIIA in the development of cochleovestibular ganglion (CVG) neurons in the mouse is largely unknown. Neurons of the CVG innervate sensory hair cells of the cochlea and

In this study, we reported a novel member of Forkhead box (Fox) proteins found in model zebrafish (Danio rerio). This new gene we cloned was primarily assigned as zgc:162612, which locates on Chromosome 3 at 26,108,033-26,109,322 in the zebrafish genome, but encodes an uncharacterized protein, LOC100037333. After we determined the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of zgc:162612, we found

The forkhead-box transcription factors of O subfamily (FOXO) play important roles in regulation of various biological functions. We cloned foxo1, foxo3, foxo4, and foxo6 from Xenopus tropicalis (hereafter X. tropicalis), and examined their expression in embryos and adult tissues. Maternal transcripts of foxo1 and foxo3 genes are detected within the animal half of the early embryo, their zygotic transcripts

The Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) (JAK-STAT) pathway is shown to restrain the hair follicles in catagen and telogen and prevent anagen reentry in murine hair follicle cycling. The early roles of JAK-STAT pathway genes in skin development remain uncharacterized in mouse and chicken models. Here, we revealed the expression patterns of three JAK-STAT pathway

Previous studies identified Sox9 as a critical mediator of prostate development but the precise stage when Sox9 acts had not been determined. A genetic approach was used to delete Sox9 from mouse urogenital sinus epithelium (UGE) prior to prostate specification. All prostatic bud types (anterior, dorsolateral and ventral) were stunted in Sox9 conditional knockouts (cKOs) even though the number of prostatic

Nucleosome assembly protein 1-like (Nap1l) family plays numerous biological roles including nucleosome assembly, transcriptional regulation, and cell cycle progression. However, the tissue specific in vivo functions of the Nap1l family members remain largely unknown. In this study, we finished the complete expression patterns of nap1l1 and nap1l4a in zebrafish embryos by whole-mount in situ hybridization

Armadillo repeat and Armadillo-like helical domain containing proteins form a large family with diverse and fundamental functions in many eukaryotes. Herein we investigated the spatiotemporal expression pattern of Armadillo-like helical domain containing 4 (or Armh4) as an uncharacterized protein coding mouse gene, within the mouse embryo during the initial stages of heart morphogenesis. We found Armh4

FoxG1, a member of the Fox/Forkhead family of winged helix transcription factors, plays key roles in the induction and spatial compartmentalization of the telencephalon in vertebrates. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments have established FoxG1 as a maintenance factor for neural progenitors and a crucial player in the specification of the ventral telencephalon (subpallium). For the first time in

The insect steroid hormone ecdysone is a key regulator of oogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster and many other species. Despite the diversity of cellular functions of ecdysone in oogenesis, the molecular regulation of most ecdysone-responsive genes in ovarian cells remains largely unexplored. We performed a functional screen using the UAS/Gal4 system to identify non-coding cis-regulatory elements within

This study aims to expand the set of internal control genes used for RT-qPCR experiments with Castor bean (Ricinus communis) seeds by evaluating candidate genes across several seed tissues and developmental stages. Nine reference genes were selected, including actin-11 (ACT11), tubulin alpha-2 (Tα2), elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α), protein phosphatase 2A-2 (PP2A2), polyubiquitin-3 (PUB3) and gl

India is the second largest fish producing country in the world with production of 12.6 million tonnes (mt) in 2017-18, and Indian major carps (IMCs) contribute bulk of this fish production. Catla, Catla catla is the fastest growing species among IMCs. However, the survival rate of catla during larval rearing is normally lower than the other IMCs i.e rohu Labeo rohita, and mrigal Cirrhinus mrigala

Engulfment and cell motility (ELMO) proteins bind to Dock180, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) of the Rac family, and regulate GEF activity. The resultant ELMO/Dock180/Rac module regulates cytoskeletal reorganization responsible for the engulfment of apoptotic cells, cell migration, and neurite extension. The expression and function of Elmo family proteins in the nervous system, however,

Recent human next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies indicate a correlation between ANKEF1 (ankyrin repeat and EF-hand domain containing protein 1) expression and cilia formation or function. Additionally, a single study conducted in the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) showed ankef1 is down-regulated after pharmacological fibroblast growth factor (FGF) inhibition and plays a role in protocadherin-mediated

Cerebellar granule cell precursors (GCPs) and granule cells (GCs) constitute a good model system to investigate proliferation of neural precursors and differentiation of neurons. During development, GCPs proliferate in the outer external granule cell layer (outer EGL) and then exit the cell cycle in the inner EGL to become GCs, which inwardly migrate to the inner granule cell layer (IGL). Misregulation

PURPOSE To investigate the expression patterns of LIM Homeobox 6 (Lhx6) in the adult and developing mouse retina. METHODS The Lhx6-GFP knock-in allele was used to activate constitutive expression of a GFP reporter in Lhx6 expressing cells. Double labeling with GFP and retinal markers in the mouse retina at postnatal day 56 (P56) was performed to identify the cell types expressing Lhx6. To determine

Neural crest cells are a transient stem-like cell population that forms in the dorsal neural tube of vertebrate embryos and then migrates to various locations to differentiate into diverse derivatives such as craniofacial bone, cartilage, and the enteric and peripheral nervous systems. The current dogma of neural crest cell development suggests that there is a specific hierarchical gene regulatory

Proper cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions are vital for cell migration and patterning of the vertebrate embryo. MMPs and their inhibitors, RECK and TIMPs, are all differentially expressed during embryogenesis to regulate such ECM remodeling and cell interactions. MT1-MMP, RECK, and TIMP-2 are unique amongst other ECM-regulating proteins as they act in the pericellular space. Past studies have shown

Many aspects of the functional role of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Hectd1 in embryogenesis and in cell biology still remain to be elucidated. In order to contribute to this task we now report the generation of a new transgenic mouse model for Hectd1 using the gene trap strategy. The HECT domain deletion mutant mouse was created by inserting a β-geo cassette into the Hectd1 locus. Mice homozygous for Hectd1-mutant

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic process result in silencing of one of the two alleles (maternal or paternal) based on the parent of origin. Dysregulation of imprinted genes results in detectable developmental and differential abnormalities. Epigenetics erasure is required for resetting the cell identity to a ground state during the production of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from somatic

Formation of the calvaria is a multi-staged process and is regulated by multiple genetic factors. Disruption of normal calvarial development usually causes craniosynostosis, a prevalent birth defect characterized by premature fusion of calvarial bone. Recent studies have identified mutations of KMT2D allele in patients with craniosynostosis, indicating a potential role for Kmt2d in calvarial development

Periodic patterning of iterative structures is a fundamental process during embryonic development, since these structures are diverse across the animal kingdom. Therefore, elucidating the molecular mechanisms in the formation of these structures promotes understanding of the process of organogenesis. Periodically patterned ridges, palatal rugae (situated on the hard palate of mammals), are an excellent

The multigene family of cytoplasmic intermediate filament (IF) proteins in C. elegans covers eleven members, of which four (IFA-1 to IFA-3, IFB-1), which form an obligate heteropolymeric IF system, are essential for development. The six other C. elegans IF proteins IFB-2, IFC-1, IFC-2, IFD-1, IFD-2 and IFP-1 are co-expressed in the intestinal terminal web during different developmental stages, reveal

A correct understanding of the ABCDE model genes expression, especially genes involved in the development of the reproductive floral organs, in bolting and fertile garlic clones improves the process of its fertilization and breeding programs. Therefore, Real-Time PCR was employed to evaluate the temporal and spatial expression patterns of some floral organ identity genes in the inflorescence and different

Functional genomics in whitefly, Bemisia tabaci is gaining impetus due to its polyphagous nature, worldwide distribution and recently sequenced whole genome. These studies require an in-depth evaluation and validation of reference genes in different development stages and variable experimental setups. Normalization with reference genes is an essential step in the gene expression studies. Rather than

Rap GTPases mediate fundamental cellular processes, including cell adhesion, migration and intracellular signal transduction. The subcellular activity of these GTPases is regulated by dedicated activators (guanine nucleotide exchange factors, GEFs) and deactivators (GTPase-activating proteins, GAPs). RAPGEF5 is a potent activator of Rap proteins and mutations in RAPGEF5 have been linked to both neurological

Fos-like antigens (Fosl) including Fosl1 and Fosl2 exclusively heterodimerize with Jun members to form AP-1 complex, thereby participating in various cellular progresses including cell cycle regulation. However, expression patterns of these two genes during embryonic development remains largely unknown. In the present study, both temporal and spatial expression patterns of fosl1 and fosl2 were examined

We exploited the high Ras activity induced differentiation of supernumerary R7 cells in Drosophila eyes to examine if hsrω lncRNAs influence active Ras signaling. Surprisingly, either down- or up-regulation of hsrω lncRNAs in sev-GAL4>RasV12 expressing eye discs resulted in complete pupal lethality and substantially greater increase in R7 photoreceptor number at the expense of cone cells. Enhanced

The founding member of the sirtuin family, yeast Sir2, was the first evolutionarily conserved gene to be identified as a regulator of longevity. Sirtuins constitute a protein family of metabolic sensors, translating changes in NAD + levels into adaptive responses, thereby acting as crucial regulators of the network that controls energy homeostasis and as such determines healthspan. In mammals the sirtuin

UNC119 proteins are required for ciliary trafficking in a process called lipidated protein intraflagellar targeting (LIFT) or through vesicle transport. However, although unc119 has been studied in a variety of contexts, either organismal constraints or genetic redundancy has largely restricted their study in ciliary contexts. One possible solution for this is to use the zebrafish, however, the unc119

Tooth cusp is a crucial structure, since the shape of the molar tooth is determined by number, shape, and size of the cusp. Bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) signaling is known to play a critical role in tooth development, including in initiation. However, it remains unclear whether Bmp signaling is also involved in cusp formation. To address this question, we examined cusp in two different transgenic

The aquaporins are integral membrane proteins from a larger family of major intrinsic protein (MIP) that form pores in the membrane of cells. These proteins selectively transport water and other small uncharged solutes across cell plasma membranes. The organization of water within cells and tissues is fundamental to life, and the aquaporins play an important role in serving as the plumbing system for

We have cloned and characterized an intronic fragment of zebrafish lymphocyte cytosolic protein 1 (lcp1, also called L-plastin) that drives expression to the zebrafish enveloping layer (EVL). L-plastin is a calcium-dependent actin-bundling protein belonging to the plastin/fimbrin family of proteins, and is necessary for the proper migration and attachment of several adult cell types, including leukocytes

Wnts are secreted signaling molecules that are implicated in a variety of growth-related processes. Frizzled proteins have been identified as receptors for Wnt ligands in vertebrates and invertebrates, but a functional role for dioecious flatworm Frizzleds has not been determined. To evaluate the endogenous role of Frizzled proteins during development, we have identified and characterized a Schistosoma

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) activate Rho GTPases by accelerating their GDP/GTP exchange. Trio and its paralog Kalirin (Kalrn) are unique members of the Rho-GEFs that harbor three catalytic domains: two functional GEF domains and a serine/threonine kinase domain. The N-terminal GEF domain activates Rac1 and RhoG GTPases, while the C-terminal GEF domain acts specifically on RhoA. Trio

The main purpose of this in situ hybridization study was to investigate MMPs and TIMPs mRNA expression in developing mandibular condylar cartilage and limb bud cartilage. At E14.0, MMP-2, -14, TIMP-1 and -2 mRNAs were expressed in the periosteum of mandibular bone, and in the condylar anlage. At E15.0 MMP-2, -14, TIMP-1 and -2 mRNAs were expressed in the perichondrium of newly formed condylar cartilage

Midkine (MDK) and Pleiotrophin (PTN) belong to a group of heparin-binding growth factors that has been shown to have pleiotropic functions in various biological processes during development and disease. Development of the vertebrate eye is a multistep process that involves coordinated interactions between neuronal and non-neuronal cells, but very little is known about the potential function of MDK

The last common ancestor of Bilateria and Cnidaria is considered to develop a nervous system over 500 million years ago. Despite the long course of evolution, many of the neuron-related genes, which are active in Bilateria, are also found in the cnidarian Hydra. Thus, Hydra is a good model to study the putative primitive nervous system in the last common ancestor that had the great potential to evolve