Developmental Processes Research Articles

Central role of squid gene during oocyte development in the Hemiptera Rhodnius prolixus

Oocyte polarity establishment is a conserved and crucial phenomenon for embryonic development. It relies on the precise spatial localization of maternal factors deposited during oocyte development, which is essential for establishing and maintaining cell polarity and subsequently specifying embryonic axes. The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) encoded by the squid (sqd) gene has been implicated in mRNA localization and embryonic axis establishment in Drosophila melanogaster. Comparative genomics allowed for the identification of a homologue in Rhodnius prolixus. In this study, we investigated the function of Rp-sqd during oogenesis and early embryonic development. We observed persistent expression of Rp-sqd during oocyte development, with localization in the cytoplasm of ovary germarium and growing oocytes in previtellogenic and vitellogenic stages. A Parental RNA interference (RNAi) experiment targeting Rp-sqd resulted in female sterility. The ovaries showed disrupted oocyte development, disarray of follicular epithelium, and affected nurse cells integrity. Immunostaining and microscopic techniques revealed microtubule disarray and a reduction in the presence of organelles in the trophic cords that connect the germarium with the oocytes. The Rp-sqd depletion impacted the transcript expression of maternal mRNAs involved in apoptosis, axis formation, oogenesis, and cytoskeleton maintenance, indicating a pleiotropic function of Rp-sqd during oogenesis. This study provides new insights into the genetic basis of R. prolixus oogenesis, highlighting the crucial role of Rp-sqd in oocyte development, fertility, and germarium integrity. These findings contribute to our understanding of insect developmental processes, provide a foundation for future investigations into reproduction, and reveal the regulatory mechanisms governing the process.

Формування фізичної готовності до школи у дітей старшого дошкільного віку засобом спортивних ігор

An analysis of studies on the problem of forming physical readiness for school in older preschool children has been conducted. It is emphasized that physical readiness is fundamental for a child's successful adaptation to the school environment. It includes the development of motor skills, coordination, endurance, and strength, which are crucial for a child’s ability to perform various school tasks, from writing letters to participating in active games during breaks. Insufficient physical preparedness can lead to difficulties in mastering the school curriculum, decreased attention span, quick fatigue, and even health problems. Therefore, it is essential to develop the necessary physical qualities in children before they start school. It has been established that sports games are an effective tool for ensuring the physical readiness of older preschoolers for school. Games help develop coordination, strength, endurance, and flexibility, which are important for comprehensive physical development. The aim of the study is to determine the impact of sports games on the formation of physical readiness for school in older preschool children. At the initial stage of the study, generalized results of the level of physical readiness for school revealed that only 20% of children in the experimental group (EG) and 16% in the control group (CG) showed a high level of readiness, 58% of children in the EG and 52% in the CG showed a medium level, and 22% of children in the EG and 31% in the CG showed a low level. It was noted that the initial level of physical readiness for school in children from both the experimental and control groups was approximately the same at the beginning of the formative stage of the study. During the research, a system was developed and tested, aimed at enhancing the level of physical readiness for school in older preschool children, with active use of sports games elements. The proposed system of work involved organizing activities with children through play and was implemented sequentially across three interrelated stages: introductory, active, and creative. By the end of the study, the results in the CG and EG were as follows: a high level of physical readiness was shown by 46% of children in the EG and 24% in the CG, a medium level by 42% in the EG and 52% in the CG, and a low level by 12% in the EG and 24% in the CG.

Biological Parameters and Feeding Potential of Micromus timidus Hagen (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) on Selected Aphid Species

In the present study, we investigated on the developmental biology, adult longevity and fecundity of Micromus timidus Hagen on Aphis craccivora (Koch), Aphis gossypii Glover, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) and Uroleucon compositae (Theobald) at room temperature (28±20C) and relative humidity of 70%. The study design followed was completely randomized design (CRD). The study was conducted with three replications with 10 larvae in each replication for biology studies and for adult parameters 3 replications with 10 pairs in each replication used. Shortest incubation period, II instar and III instar duration, total larval period, pre-pupal period, and egg to adult period of M. timidus were recorded on A. craccivora, shortest I instar duration was recorded on U. compositae and least pupal period on A. gossypii. The developmental periods for all trait were extended when fed on R. maidis. The reproductive traits viz., oviposition period and adult longevity (male and female) were maximum when M. timidus adults fed on A. gossypii, and the highest fecundity was recorded when fed on A. craccivora. Feeding potential in M. timidus increases progressively across successive instars, with III instar larvae exhibiting the highest aphid predation rate, and first instar larvae displaying the lowest feeding activity. The maximum feeding potential of the larva was noted on A. craccivora (142.47 ± 31.66), while, the adult feeding potential increased when it was given with A. gossypii (1335.10 ± 192.74).

ZNF143-mediated upregulation of MEX3C promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression

BackgroundMicrovascular invasion is strongly associated with aggressive tumor behavior and recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Zinc finger protein 143(ZNF143) is a transcription factor involved in a wide variety of physiological and developmental processes. This study primarily focuses on the exact biological role and mechanism of ZNF143 in HCC migration and invasion. MethodsThe expression and prognosis of ZNF143 in HCC patients were analyzed. The levels of ZNF143, mex-3 RNA binding family member C (MEX3C) were quantified by western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell migration ability was detected by wound- healing assay. Matrigel transwell assay was conducted to evaluate the invasion of HCC cells. The differential expression genes of ZNF143 overexpression and knockdown were screened by mRNA profiling analysis. Dual luciferase assay was performed to determine the promoter activity of MEX3C. The enrichment of ZNF143 at MEX3C promoter was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). ResultsZNF143 is overexpressed in HCC tissues and that its overexpression is correlated with poorer prognosis, especially in HCC patients with higher tumor grades and microvascular invasion. Gain- and loss-of function experiments showed that ZNF143 promotes migration and invasion in HCC cells. mRNA profiling showed that ZNF143 significantly upregulates MEX3C. ZNF143 was positively correlated with MEX3C expression in HCC tissue. ZNF143 activates MEX3C transcription by directly binding to its promoter. MEX3C knockdown inhibited migration and invasion induced by ZNF143 overexpression in HCC cells. ConclusionZNF143 promotes HCC cell migration and invasion by binding to MEX3C promoter and activating its expression.

Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Practice: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Local Wisdom Integration in Pasuruan City's Urban Planning Regulations

The Pasuruan City Government, rich in historical and cultural heritage, aims to integrate local wisdom into spatial planning through Regional Regulation Number 4 of 2021 (Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Daerah or RPJMD 2021-2026) and Regional Regulation Number 1 of 2022 (Rencana Tata Ruang Wilayah or RTRW 2021-2041). However, these policies often prioritize colonial heritage over local traditional culture. This study uses Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine the formulation, implementation, and community impact of these policies. CDA reveals the power dynamics, ideologies, and specific interests within policy discourse. The research analyzes the government's policy direction and sensitivity towards local wisdom, focusing on the discourse content and structure in the RPJMD and RTRW documents, as well as their intertextuality. Findings indicate a greater emphasis on preserving colonial-era buildings rather than local traditional culture. Recommendations include developing inclusive policies that balance physical infrastructure development with the preservation and promotion of local culture.

KH.M.'S Educational Concept Hasyim Asy'ari's Perspective on the Jihad of Ibn Qoyyim Al Jauziyyah

This study explores the educational evaluations of KH. Hasyim Asy'ari in the context of jihad, as conceptualized by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. The research focuses on four key aspects of evaluation: spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social, examining how these align with the broader concept of jihad. KH. Hasyim Asy'ari's holistic approach to education emphasizes the integration of spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social development to produce balanced individuals who can contribute to society and practice Islamic principles. Spiritual evaluation focuses on self-purification and closeness to Allah, intellectual evaluation emphasizes mastery of knowledge, physical evaluation highlights the importance of fitness and readiness, and social evaluation promotes contributions to the welfare of society. By aligning these educational goals with the concept of jihad, the study reveals how education serves as a powerful tool for character development, fostering a balance between spiritual growth and worldly responsibilities. The findings suggest that KH. Hasyim Asy'ari's educational model, deeply rooted in Islamic teachings, provides a comprehensive framework for preparing individuals to contribute both to their faith and society, encouraging continuous self-improvement and reflection.

Moment-to-moment cascades: Infants' real-time locomotor posture structures opportunities for joint object play with caregivers.

Developmental cascades-the view that development in one domain can induce change in another-provide unique flexibility for researchers to examine relations among multiple behaviors. Research using this theoretical framework has demonstrated that changes in infant locomotor development are met with concomitant changes in infants' interactions with objects and caregivers. However, little is known about how infants' real-time locomotor actions organize these larger associations across developmental time. This study mapped the progression of one potential moment-to-moment cascade pathway linking changes in infant locomotion, access to objects and caregivers, and joint object play. We observed 30 infant-caregiver dyads during three monthly sessions across the transition to walking (Minfant age = 11.98 months, range = 8.74-14.86) and examined whether and how infants' real-time locomotor actions shaped the unfolding of the cascade. Infants moved more frequently in supported upright postures (i.e., cruising, supported walking) compared to crawling at the prewalking session and compared to walking at walk onset. However, infants preferred to walk after spending 1 month as walkers. Regardless of how they moved, infants regularly encountered objects and caregivers during everyday exploration. But there was an effect of locomotor posture on joint object play. Specifically, dyads were most likely to engage in object play after supported upright bouts at the prewalking and walk onset sessions, but at the final walking session, they were most likely to do so after walking bouts. Taken together, this in-depth examination of moment-to-moment cascades highlights the contributions of the many timescales that drive developmental processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Relationship between anthropometric indicators and respiratory muscle strength in chronic heart failure

Objective. To determine, according to anthropometry, caliperometry, and dynamometry, the parameters determining individual physical development and somatotypes, as well as to identify their relationship with the strength of the respiratory muscles (RM) in the initial and clinically pronounced stages of chronic heart failure (CHF) with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Materials and methods. 58 patients of both sexes aged 45 to 72 years were examined. The patients were divided into two groups: the main group (patients with CHF) and the comparison group (patients without CHF). All patients underwent anthropometric measurements, caliperometry, and dynamometry. The strength of RM was determined. Statistical processing was carried out using nonparametric methods. The indicators were considered reliable at p < 0.05. Results. When determining somatotypes, a high incidence of endomorphic type was revealed in patients with CHF with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. The indices of RM strength did not significantly differ in both groups. The analysis of anthropometry parameters revealed high values in patients with weakness of inspiratory and expiratory muscles in CHF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusion. (1) Endomorphic somatotype was more common in patients with clinically pronounced CHF with preserved ejection fraction. (2) In the patients with CHF and RM weakness, the level of the N-terminal fragment of natriuretic cerebral propeptide was higher compared to the patients with CHF with a preserved fraction of the left ventricle with preserved RM strength (p = 0.05). (3) With an increase in the functional class of CHF, the tendency to decrease the strength of inspiratory muscles increases (F = 3,3; p = 0,027). (4) In all examined patients, a positive correlation was found between the strength of RM and the results of carpal dynamometry. In the CHF patients with preserved left ventricular fraction, anthropometry parameters correlated only with the maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), while those in patients without CHF correlated both with maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and MEP.

A review of Australian early childhood teacher education. Is physical development missing?

ABSTRACT Early childhood education (ECE) settings play an important role in child development, including children’s physical development. However, ECE educators have low competence and confidence in facilitating learning experiences that promote physical development. Content delivered in teacher education may influence educator’s knowledge, competence, and confidence in this area. No studies have comprehensively explored early childhood teacher education in Australia to determine if such content is included. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the subject offerings of early childhood degrees from Australian universities and to narratively analyze the content of subject descriptions and subject overviews related to physical development. A desktop audit of Australian university undergraduate early childhood degrees was conducted. Subjects for early childhood degrees were categorized based on their title. Subject overviews and general outlines for subjects which broadly focused on physical development were inductively analyzed. Australian early childhood teacher education degrees offer a variety of subjects, including subjects that focused on play, health and wellbeing, and physical education. No subjects specifically focused on child physical development. We suggest early childhood teacher education degrees need to reconsider their subject offerings and include at least one subject that focus on physical development. Physical development is critically important as it underpins children’s social, emotional, language, and cognitive development. This study highlights a potential content area that could be included in early childhood teacher education degrees within the Australian context and internationally.

The effectiveness of the physical education curriculum following the Sports Club model on the physical development of high school students in Vietnam

Background and Study Aim. The physical development of high school students is often hindered by the limitations of traditional physical education programs, which may not fully engage students or promote balanced physical growth. In light of these concerns, the need to explore alternative educational models that can enhance students' physical development has become evident. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the potential effectiveness of a physical education curriculum following the Sports Club model in improving the physical development of high school students. Material and Methods. A total of 84 female 10th-grade students participated in the study. They were divided into two groups: an experimental group of 42 students following the Sports Club model and a control group of 42 students following the current physical education curriculum. The experiment lasted for 17 weeks. Both groups completed initial and final physical fitness tests. These tests included the 30-second sit-up test (to assess core strength), the 30-meter sprint test (to measure speed), the 4 × 10-meter shuttle run test (to evaluate agility), the standing long jump test (to measure explosive leg power), and the 5-minute running field test (to assess endurance). Results. The female students in the experimental group demonstrated greater physical development compared to the control group in all five assessment tests. The experimental group showed the most significant improvement in the 30-second sit-up test, with a growth rate of 26.71%. The lowest growth was observed in the 5-minute running field test, at 9.92%. In contrast, the control group showed its highest improvement in the 30-second sit-up test, with a growth rate of 9.44%. However, there was minimal to no improvement in the 4 × 10-meter shuttle run and the 5-minute running field test for the control group. Conclusions. The Sports Club model improved students' physical fitness more effectively compared to the current curriculum, offering greater benefits in all tested areas. It is recommended that teachers further integrate and refine the implementation of the Sports Club model in future physical education programs to enhance teaching effectiveness.

The Influence of Parenting Styles on the Early Childhood Development at Tkk Kasih Mulia Cimahi

Early childhood development is a crucial period in the formation of a child's physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. Parental upbringing plays a significant role in supporting a child's development during this phase.** This study aims to analyze the influence of parenting styles on the early childhood development at Taman Kanak-Kanak (TKK) Kasih Mulia Cimahi. The background of this research is based on the fact that many parents do not fully understand how the parenting styles they adopt affect their child's development, especially during the early years, which are critical for the growth of various aspects of a child's development. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between different types of parenting styles—authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful—and their effects on the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children. A quantitative method with a survey approach was employed for this research. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 50 parents whose children attend TKK Kasih Mulia Cimahi, along with direct observation of the children's development. The data analysis technique used was regression analysis to determine the influence of parenting styles on various aspects of child development. The results showed that the authoritative parenting style had the most positive impact on all aspects of child development, particularly in social and cognitive growth. Conversely, authoritarian and permissive parenting styles tended to have negative effects, especially in the emotional and social development of the children. Neglectful parenting had the most detrimental effect on the physical and emotional development of the children. The conclusion of this study is that parental upbringing significantly influences early childhood development. Parents who adopt an authoritative parenting style are more likely to have children who grow and develop optimally. The recommendation is for parents to better understand the importance of applying balanced parenting, such as the authoritative style, which can holistically support a child's development. Additionally, schools are encouraged to provide education to parents on the importance of parenting in supporting early childhood development.

Influence and Optimization of Diverse Culture Systems on Chicken Embryonic Stem Cell Culture

Background: The importance of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in chickens is undeniable, as they can be applied across various fields, including animal modeling, developmental biology, cell fate research, drug screening, toxicity testing, and gene function studies. However, a widely applicable culture system for chicken ESCs has yet to be developed. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different culture systems on the derivation and maintenance of chicken ESCs, with a focus on optimizing the selected culture conditions. Methods: To achieve this, we tested the effectiveness of various species-specific ESC media in the derivation and culture of chicken PGCs, while incorporating different small molecule compounds to optimize the process. The pluripotency and differentiation potential of the resulting ESC-like cells were also evaluated. Results: The combination of PD0325901, SB431542, and LIF (R2i+LIF system) was found to be effective in generating chicken ESC-like clones. Further experiments showed that enhancing the R2i+LIF system with cytokines such as SCF and FGF2 significantly extended the culture period and increased the passage number of chicken ESC-like cells. These ESC-like cells were characterized through positive alkaline phosphatase staining and the expression of pluripotency markers POUV, NANOG, and SOX2. Additionally, differentiation assays confirmed their ability to form the three germ layers. Conclusions: The newly developed culture system provides suitable conditions for the short-term culture of chicken ESCs. However, further optimization is required to establish a system that can sustain long-term maintenance.

Enhancing social skills: the impact of advanced physical education program development

Background: The cultivation of social behaviour during childhood and adolescence holds paramount importance, serving as a cornerstone for the establishment of robust interpersonal connections in subsequent stages of life, whether transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. Research Objective: This research aims to assess how implementing enhanced physical education influences social interactions and behaviour among adolescents. Methods: The study employed a pretest-posttest control group design, involving experimental and control groups randomly selected from high school students in the City of Aceh. The study’s population was drawn from class X students at a public high school in Aceh City, encompassing 4 classes with a total of 124 students. Cluster random sampling was employed as the sampling technique. The researcher randomly selected one class as the experimental group and another as the control group. The participants included two classes: 30 students from class 10B as the experimental group and 30 students from class 10D as the control group. Thus, the study involved a total of 60 participants. Social behaviour was evaluated using standardised questionnaires measuring various dimensions. The pre-test and post-test data analysis techniques were analysed using a homogeneity test, a normality test, and a Mann-Whitney test using SPSS version 22, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Finding/Result: The results indicate significant improvements in social behaviour among adolescents who underwent the enhanced physical education, sports, and health program compared to the control group. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of integrating comprehensive physical education into high school curricula to foster positive social development among adolescents.

Integrated Analysis of microRNAs and Transcription Factor Targets in Floral Transition of Pleioblastus pygmaeus

Bamboo plants have erratic flowering habits with a long vegetative growth and an uncertain flowering cycle. The process of floral transition has always been one of the hot and intriguing topics in bamboo developmental biology. As master modulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, miRNAs play a crucial role in regulating reproductive growth, especially in floral transition of flowering plants. Pleioblastus pygmaeus is a kind of excellent ground cover ornamental bamboo species. In this study, we performed miRNA expression profiling of the shoot buds and flower buds from the bamboo species, to investigate flowering-related miRNAs in bamboo plants. A total of 179 mature miRNAs were identified from P. pygmaeus, including 120 known miRNAs and 59 novel miRNAs, of which 96 (61 known miRNAs and 35 novel miRNAs) were differentially expressed in the shoots at different growth stages. Based on target gene (TG) prediction, a total of 2099 transcription factors (TFs) were annotated to be TGs of the 96 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs), corresponding to 839 recordings of DEM-TF pairs. In addition, we identified 23 known DEMs involved in flowering and six known miRNAs related to floral organ development based on previous reports. Among these, there were 11 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs, with 124 TF targets corresponding to 132 DEM-TF pairs in P. pygmaeus. In particular, we focused on the identification of miR156a-SPL (SQUAMOSA Promoter-Binding protein-Like) modules in the age pathway, which are well-known to regulate the vegetative-to-reproductive phase transition in flowering plants. A total of 36 TF targets of miR156a were identified, among which there were 11 SPLs. The Dual-Luciferase transient expression assay indicated miR156a mediated the repression of the PpSPL targets in P. pygmaeus. The integrated analysis of miRNAs and TGs at genome scale in this study provides insight into the essential roles of individual miRNAs in modulating flowering transition through regulating TF targets in bamboo plants.

A kidney-specific fasting-mimicking diet induces podocyte reprogramming and restores renal function in glomerulopathy.

Cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) promote regeneration and reduce damage in the pancreases, blood, guts, and nervous systems of mice, but their effect on kidney disease is unknown. In addition, a FMD has not been tested in rats. Here, we show that cycles of a newly developed low-salt FMD (LS-FMD) restored normal proteinuria and nephron structure and function in rats with puromycin-induced nephrosis compared with that in animals with renal damage that did not receive the dietary intervention. LS-FMD induced modulation of a nephrogenic gene program, resembling renal developmental processes in multiple kidney structures. LS-FMD also activated podocyte-lineage reprogramming pathways and promoted a quiescent state in mature podocytes in the rat kidney damage model. In a pilot clinical study in patients with chronic kidney disease, FMD cycles of 5 days each month for 3 months promoted renoprotection, including reduction of proteinuria and improved endothelial function, compared with that in patients who did not receive the FMD cycles. These results show that FMD cycles, which promote the reprogramming of multiple renal cell types and lead to glomerular damage reversal in rats, should be tested further for the treatment of progressive kidney diseases.

Novel association of LBX1 mutation with tetralogy of Fallot and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: implications for cardiac development.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are common types of congenital heart disease with unique pathophysiologic features. Mutations in LBX1, a key regulator of muscle precursor cell migration, may disrupt these critical developmental processes, resulting in severe developmental abnormalities. This case reports on a 4-year-old girl diagnosed with both TOF and HCM. Genetic analysis revealed iUPI-F (uniparental disomy) on the entire chromosome 10, with a c.808G > A (p. Glu270Lys) pure mutation in the LBX1. This patient exhibited both TOF and HCM with mutations in the LBX1 gene, suggesting a potentially novel genetic link. This case study emphasizes the need for further studies on the function of the LBX1 gene in cardiac development and its potential impact on TOF and HCM.

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICING WOMEN’S FOOTBALL AS A FREE-TIME MOTOR ACTIVITY

Background. Motor activities are actions that involve the movement of the body and the use of the locomotor apparatus in order to fulfill the proposed tasks and objectives. These are important activities for the physical development of the individual and the health of the human body in general. Lately, more and more emphasis has been placed on devoting free time to activities of relaxation, entertainment, personal development, socializing, to restore the body after the pressure exerted by work tasks or other daily responsibilities. Motor activities can lead to the recovery of the required body, movement being a tool/means of relaxation, revitalization and optimization of physical condition. For females, involvement in sports activities has been limited by historical and social contexts. Introduced in Romania only three decades ago, women's football represents one of the team sports with multiple benefits, both physically and mentally, a fact for which it can be successfully classified in the category of free-time motor activities. Purpose. The aim of the paper is to highlight the importance of playing football by women as a leisure activity. Thus, the presentation highlights the physiological and psychological benefits of this sport on the female body. These aspects are discussed through the prism of my personal experience as a player in the Representative Football Team of the University of Bucharest. Rezults. Playing football, among other things, leads to the improvement of physical and mental resistance, resilience, tolerance and collaborative character, contributes to the hormonal balance of the body and the intensification of metabolic processes. At the same time, through the intense and complex demand on the body, women's football presents benefits on the cardio-respiratory system, reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion. From my experience as a player of women's football, both in my spare time and within the Representative Football Team of the University of Bucharest, we can conclude that this sport fits very well the physical needs of anyone who wants their free time to be used for health, relaxation and socializing.

VISTA Enhancer browser: an updated database of tissue-specific developmental enhancers.

Regulatory elements (enhancers) are major drivers of gene expression in mammals and harbor many genetic variants associated with human diseases. Here, we present an updated VISTA Enhancer Browser (https://enhancer.lbl.gov), a database of transgenic enhancer assays conducted in developing mouse embryos in vivo. Since the original publication in 2007, the database grew nearly 20-fold from 250 to over 4500 experiments and currently harbors over 23500 images. The updated database provides structured information on experiments conducted at different stages of embryonic development, including enhancer activities of human pathogenic and synthetic variants and sequences derived from a variety of species. In addition to manually curated results of thousands of individual experiments, the new database also features hundreds of manually curated comparisons between alleles. The VISTA Enhancer Browser provides a crucial resource for study of human genetic variation, gene regulation and developmental biology.

Lateral cell polarization drives organization of epithelia in sea anemone embryos and embryonic cell aggregates

One of the first organizing processes during animal development is the assembly of embryonic cells into epithelia. Common features unite epithelialization across select bilaterians, however, we know less about the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive epithelial emergence in early branching nonbilaterians. In sea anemones, epithelia emerge both during embryonic development and after cell aggregation of dissociated tissues. Although adhesion is required to keep cells together, it is not clear whether cell polarization plays a role as epithelia emerge from disordered aggregates. Here, we use the embryos of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis to investigate the evolutionary origins of epithelial development. We demonstrate that lateral cell polarization is essential for epithelial organization in both embryos and aggregates. With disrupted lateral polarization, cell contact in the aggregate is not sufficient to trigger epithelialization and further tissue development. Specifically, knockdown of the conserved lateral polarity and tumor suppressor protein Lethal giant larvae (Lgl) disrupts epithelia in developing embryos and impairs the capacity of dissociated cells to epithelialize from aggregates. In contrast to other systems, cells in Nematostella lgl knockdown embryos do not undergo excessive proliferation. Cells with reduced Lgl levels lose their columnar shape and proper positioning of their mitotic spindles and basal bodies. Due to misoriented divisions and aberrant shapes, cells arrange nonuniformly without forming a monolayer. Together our data show that, in Nematostella, Lgl drives epithelialization in embryos and cell aggregates through its effect on cell shape and organelle localization.

Myelination deficiency in rats with genetically determined dopamine metabolism disorder

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders affecting children. The exact causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are still not fully understood. Myelination deficiency in nerve fibers could be one of the possible factors in the pathogenesis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Dopamine transporter knockout (DAT-KO) rats provide a good translational model for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder because they mimic behavioral symptoms of the disease: hyperactivity, cognitive impairment and compulsive behavior. This paper aims to determine abnormalities in the myelination process in the spinal cord of DAT-KO rats. Our findings can lead to a better understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. AIM: To determine the mRNA expression levels of myelination-related genes in the spinal cord of dopamine transporter knockout (DAT-KO) rats during their natural development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on 72 rat pups (DAT-KO, DAT-HET, DAT-WT) from 12 litters. Rat pups were born from the pairs of intercrossed DAT-HET x DAT-HET adult rats. Pups were decapitated on 7th, 14th and 21st day of their postnatal development. After that, mRNA levels of the main myelination-related genes were measured in the cervical and lumbar segments of the spinal cord using real-time PCR. RESULTS: The mRNA levels of the mag, olig2 and plp1 genes were significantly different in the cervical and lumbar spinal cords of DAT-KO rats compared to DAT-WT animals. A significant increase in the level of mag gene mRNA in DAT-HET and DAT-KO animals was observed on 14th and 21st days of postnatal development. Also, in these animals, the olig2 mRNA levels were increased on the 21st day of postnatal development. The plp1 mRNA level was increased on the 14th day, and reduced on the 21st day of postnatal development in DAT-KO animals. CONCLUSIONS: Myelination deficiency in nerve fibers in the spinal cord of DAT-KO rats is one of the effects of gene knockout. It is also of the possible causes of behavioral changes — hyperactivity, cognitive impairment and compulsive behavior.