Ana Sepac, Zeljko J Bosnjak, Sven Seiwerth, Suncana Sikiric, Tihana Regovic Dzombeta, Ana Kulic, Jelena Marunica Karsaj, Filip Sedlic
Background: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) need to be thoroughly characterized to exploit their potential advantages in various aspects of biomedicine. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of cardiomyogenesis of two hiPSCs and two human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines by genetic living cardiomyocyte labeling. We also analyzed the influence of spontaneous beating on cardiac differentiation.
Methods: H1 and H9 hESC lines and C2a and C6a hiPSC lines were induced into in vitro directed cardiac differentiation. Cardiomyogenesis was evaluated by the analysis of cell cluster beating, cardiac protein expression by immunocytochemistry, ability of cells to generate calcium transients, and cardiomyocyte quantification by the myosin light chain 2v-enhanced green fluorescent protein gene construct delivered with a lentiviral vector.
Results: Differentiation of all cell lines yielded spontaneously beating cell clusters, indicating the presence of functional cardiomyocytes. After the cell dissociation, H1-hESC-derived cardiomyocytes exhibited spontaneous calcium transients, corresponding to autonomous electrical activity and displayed ability to transmit them between the cells. Differentiated hESC and hiPSC cells exhibited striated sarcomeres and expressed cardiac proteins sarcomeric α-actinin and cardiac troponin T. Cardiomyocytes were the most abundant in differentiated H1 hESC line (20% more than in other tested lines). In all stem cell lines, cardiomyocyte enrichment was greater in beating than in non-beating cell clusters, irrespective of cardiomyogenesis efficiency.
Conclusion: Although C2a and C6a hiPSC and H9 hESC lines exhibited efficient cardiomyogenesis, H1 hESC line yielded the greatest cardiomyocyte enrichment of all tested lines. Beating of cell clusters promotes cardiomyogenesis in tested hESCs and hiPSCs.
{"title":"Human C2a and C6a iPSC lines and H9 ESC line have less efficient cardiomyogenesis than H1 ESC line: Beating enhances cardiac differentiation.","authors":"Ana Sepac, Zeljko J Bosnjak, Sven Seiwerth, Suncana Sikiric, Tihana Regovic Dzombeta, Ana Kulic, Jelena Marunica Karsaj, Filip Sedlic","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.210115fs","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.210115fs","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) need to be thoroughly characterized to exploit their potential advantages in various aspects of biomedicine. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of cardiomyogenesis of two hiPSCs and two human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines by genetic living cardiomyocyte labeling. We also analyzed the influence of spontaneous beating on cardiac differentiation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>H1 and H9 hESC lines and C2a and C6a hiPSC lines were induced into <i>in vitro</i> directed cardiac differentiation. Cardiomyogenesis was evaluated by the analysis of cell cluster beating, cardiac protein expression by immunocytochemistry, ability of cells to generate calcium transients, and cardiomyocyte quantification by the myosin light chain 2v-enhanced green fluorescent protein gene construct delivered with a lentiviral vector.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Differentiation of all cell lines yielded spontaneously beating cell clusters, indicating the presence of functional cardiomyocytes. After the cell dissociation, H1-hESC-derived cardiomyocytes exhibited spontaneous calcium transients, corresponding to autonomous electrical activity and displayed ability to transmit them between the cells. Differentiated hESC and hiPSC cells exhibited striated sarcomeres and expressed cardiac proteins sarcomeric α-actinin and cardiac troponin T. Cardiomyocytes were the most abundant in differentiated H1 hESC line (20% more than in other tested lines). In all stem cell lines, cardiomyocyte enrichment was greater in beating than in non-beating cell clusters, irrespective of cardiomyogenesis efficiency.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although C2a and C6a hiPSC and H9 hESC lines exhibited efficient cardiomyogenesis, H1 hESC line yielded the greatest cardiomyocyte enrichment of all tested lines. Beating of cell clusters promotes cardiomyogenesis in tested hESCs and hiPSCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39585659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kidney-related disorders affect millions of people worldwide. A survey of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients showed that the burden of kidney diseases is increasing every year. The global burden of disease (GBD) study 2017 ranked CKD as the 12th leading cause of deaths worldwide. Hence, identification of the causes of kidney diseases, development of accurate diagnostic methods and novel therapeutics is highly relevant. Model organisms that faithfully recapitulate human diseases play important roles in understanding the disease process and provide valuable ground to find their cure. Zebrafish is an excellent model to study the development, pathophysiology and molecular aspects of human kidney diseases. In this review, we summarize various genetic and experimental manipulations that can be carried out in zebrafish to better understand the pathophysiology of human kidney diseases. We suggest that these methods will be helpful in the development of potential therapies to treat kidney diseases.
{"title":"Methods to generate and evaluate zebrafish models of human kidney diseases.","authors":"Sana Fatma, Usharani Nayak, Rajeeb K Swain","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.210041rs","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.210041rs","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kidney-related disorders affect millions of people worldwide. A survey of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients showed that the burden of kidney diseases is increasing every year. The global burden of disease (GBD) study 2017 ranked CKD as the 12<sup>th</sup> leading cause of deaths worldwide. Hence, identification of the causes of kidney diseases, development of accurate diagnostic methods and novel therapeutics is highly relevant. Model organisms that faithfully recapitulate human diseases play important roles in understanding the disease process and provide valuable ground to find their cure. Zebrafish is an excellent model to study the development, pathophysiology and molecular aspects of human kidney diseases. In this review, we summarize various genetic and experimental manipulations that can be carried out in zebrafish to better understand the pathophysiology of human kidney diseases. We suggest that these methods will be helpful in the development of potential therapies to treat kidney diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39438260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado represents a younger generation of Latin American scientists that have achieved international scientific recognition. His work, together with that from other labs, has positioned the planaria Schmidtea mediterranea as a dynamic model system in which the cellular and molecular bases of regeneration in metazoans can be probed. During his professional career he has established strong ties with Latin America, hosting and training students and participating in seminars, workshops and courses throughout the region. In this interview he discusses his early scientific development and training, and his views on various issues related to the professional development of young scientists.
{"title":"A brief personal account of a journey in science - an interview with Alejandro Sánchez-Alvarado.","authors":"José E García-Arrarás","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.200043jg","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.200043jg","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado represents a younger generation of Latin American scientists that have achieved international scientific recognition. His work, together with that from other labs, has positioned the planaria <i>Schmidtea mediterranea</i> as a dynamic model system in which the cellular and molecular bases of regeneration in metazoans can be probed. During his professional career he has established strong ties with Latin America, hosting and training students and participating in seminars, workshops and courses throughout the region. In this interview he discusses his early scientific development and training, and his views on various issues related to the professional development of young scientists.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38380174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M Constanza González-Ramírez, Pablo Guzmán-Palma, Carlos Oliva
The development of multicellular organisms involves three main events: differentiation, growth, and morphogenesis. These processes need to be coordinated for a correct developmental program to work. Mechanisms of cell segregation and the formation of boundaries during development play essential roles in this coordination, allowing the generation and maintenance of distinct regions in an organism. These mechanisms are also at work in the nervous system. The process of regionalization involves first the patterning of the developing organism through gradients and the expression of transcription factors in specific regions. Once different tissues have been induced, segregation mechanisms may operate to avoid cell mixing between different compartments. Three mechanisms have been proposed to achieve segregation: (1) differential affinity, which mainly involves the expression of distinct pools of adhesion molecules such as members of the cadherin superfamily; (2) contact inhibition, which is largely mediated by Eph-ephrin signaling; and (3) cortical tension, which involves the actomyosin cytoskeleton. In many instances, these mechanisms collaborate in cell segregation. In the last three decades, there have been several advances in our understanding of how cell segregation and boundaries participate in the development of the nervous system. Interestingly, as in other aspects of development, the molecular players are remarkably similar between vertebrates and invertebrates. Here we summarize the main concepts of cell segregation and boundary formation, focusing on the nervous system and highlighting the similarities between vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms.
{"title":"Cell segregation and boundary formation during nervous system development.","authors":"M Constanza González-Ramírez, Pablo Guzmán-Palma, Carlos Oliva","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.200148co","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.200148co","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of multicellular organisms involves three main events: differentiation, growth, and morphogenesis. These processes need to be coordinated for a correct developmental program to work. Mechanisms of cell segregation and the formation of boundaries during development play essential roles in this coordination, allowing the generation and maintenance of distinct regions in an organism. These mechanisms are also at work in the nervous system. The process of regionalization involves first the patterning of the developing organism through gradients and the expression of transcription factors in specific regions. Once different tissues have been induced, segregation mechanisms may operate to avoid cell mixing between different compartments. Three mechanisms have been proposed to achieve segregation: (1) differential affinity, which mainly involves the expression of distinct pools of adhesion molecules such as members of the cadherin superfamily; (2) contact inhibition, which is largely mediated by Eph-ephrin signaling; and (3) cortical tension, which involves the actomyosin cytoskeleton. In many instances, these mechanisms collaborate in cell segregation. In the last three decades, there have been several advances in our understanding of how cell segregation and boundaries participate in the development of the nervous system. Interestingly, as in other aspects of development, the molecular players are remarkably similar between vertebrates and invertebrates. Here we summarize the main concepts of cell segregation and boundary formation, focusing on the nervous system and highlighting the similarities between vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38382562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The mechanisms controlling evolutionary shifts between dry and fleshy fruits in angiosperms are poorly understood. In Solanaceae, Cestrum and Brugmansia represent cases of convergent evolution of fleshy and dry fruits, respectively. Here we study the anatomical and genetic bases of the independent origin of fleshy fruits in Cestrum and the reversion to dry dehiscent fruits in Brugmansia. We also characterize the expression of candidate fruit development genes, including ALCATRAZ/SPATULA, FRUITFULL, HECATE1/2/3, REPLUMLESS and SHATTERPROOF. We identify anatomical changes to establish developmental stages in the ovary-to-fruit transition in Cestrum nocturnum and Brugmansia suaveolens. We generate reference transcriptomes for both species, isolate homologs for all genes in the fruit genetic regulatory network (GRN) and perform gene expression analyses for ALC/SPT, FUL, HEC1/2/3, RPL and SHP throughout fruit development. Finally, we compare our results to expression patterns found in typical capsules of Nicotiana tabacum and berries of Solanum lycopersicum available in public repositories. We have identified homologous, homoplasious and unique anatomical features in C. nocturnum and B. suaveolens fruits, resulting in their final appearance. Expression patterns suggest that FUL, SHP and SPT might control homologous characteristics, while ALC and RPL likely contribute to homoplasious anatomical features. The fruit GRN changes considerably in these genera when compared to typical capsules and berries of Solanaceae, particularly in B. suaveolens, where expression of FUL2 and RPL1 is lacking.
{"title":"Anatomical and genetic bases underlying the convergent evolution of fleshy and dry dehiscent fruits in <i>Cestrum</i> and <i>Brugmansia</i> (Solanaceae).","authors":"Natalí Hernández-Ciro, Natalia Pabón-Mora","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.200080np","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.200080np","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The mechanisms controlling evolutionary shifts between dry and fleshy fruits in angiosperms are poorly understood. In Solanaceae, <i>Cestrum</i> and <i>Brugmansia</i> represent cases of convergent evolution of fleshy and dry fruits, respectively. Here we study the anatomical and genetic bases of the independent origin of fleshy fruits in <i>Cestrum</i> and the reversion to dry dehiscent fruits in <i>Brugmansia</i>. We also characterize the expression of candidate fruit development genes, including <i>ALCATRAZ/SPATULA, FRUITFULL, HECATE1/2/3, REPLUMLESS</i> and <i>SHATTERPROOF</i>. We identify anatomical changes to establish developmental stages in the ovary-to-fruit transition in <i>Cestrum nocturnum</i> and <i>Brugmansia suaveolens</i>. We generate reference transcriptomes for both species, isolate homologs for all genes in the fruit genetic regulatory network (GRN) and perform gene expression analyses for <i>ALC/SPT, FUL, HEC1/2/3, RPL</i> and <i>SHP</i> throughout fruit development. Finally, we compare our results to expression patterns found in typical capsules of <i>Nicotiana tabacum</i> and berries of <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> available in public repositories. We have identified homologous, homoplasious and unique anatomical features in <i>C. nocturnum</i> and <i>B. suaveolens</i> fruits, resulting in their final appearance. Expression patterns suggest that <i>FUL</i>, <i>SHP</i> and <i>SPT</i> might control homologous characteristics, while <i>ALC</i> and <i>RPL</i> likely contribute to homoplasious anatomical features. The fruit GRN changes considerably in these genera when compared to typical capsules and berries of Solanaceae, particularly in <i>B. suaveolens,</i> where expression of <i>FUL2</i> and <i>RPL1</i> is lacking.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1387/ijdb.200080np","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38382571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexis P Ortega-García, Verónica Díaz-Hernández, Pedro Collazo-Saldaña, Horacio Merchant-Larios
The endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA) crosses the placental barrier and reaches the fetal organs, including the gonads. In the testis, fetal Leydig cells (FLC) produce testosterone required for the male phenotype and homeostatic cell-cell signaling in the developing testis. Although it is known that BPA affects cell proliferation and differentiation in FLC, results concerning the mechanism involved are contradictory, mainly due to differences among species. Fast developing fetal gonads of rodents lack cortex and medulla, whereas species with more extended gestation periods form these two tissue compartments. The rabbit provides a good subject for studying the disruptive effect of BPA in fetal Leydig and possible postnatal endocrine consequences in adult Leydig cells. Here, we investigated the impact of BPA administered to pregnant rabbits on the FLC population of the developing testes. Using qRT-PCR, we assessed the levels of SF1, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD, and androgen receptor genes, and levels of fetal serum testosterone were measured by ELISA. These levels correlated with both the mitotic activity and the ultrastructural differentiation of the FLC by confocal and electron microscopy, respectively. Results indicate that BPA alters the expression levels of essential genes involved in androgen paracrine signaling, modifies the proliferation and differentiation of the FLCs, and alters the levels of serum testosterone after birth. Thus, BPA may change the postnatal levels of serum testosterone due to the impaired FLC population formed by the proliferating stem and non-proliferating cytodifferentiated FLC.
{"title":"Bisphenol A alters differentiation of Leydig cells in the rabbit fetal testis.","authors":"Alexis P Ortega-García, Verónica Díaz-Hernández, Pedro Collazo-Saldaña, Horacio Merchant-Larios","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.200185hm","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.200185hm","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA) crosses the placental barrier and reaches the fetal organs, including the gonads. In the testis, fetal Leydig cells (FLC) produce testosterone required for the male phenotype and homeostatic cell-cell signaling in the developing testis. Although it is known that BPA affects cell proliferation and differentiation in FLC, results concerning the mechanism involved are contradictory, mainly due to differences among species. Fast developing fetal gonads of rodents lack cortex and medulla, whereas species with more extended gestation periods form these two tissue compartments. The rabbit provides a good subject for studying the disruptive effect of BPA in fetal Leydig and possible postnatal endocrine consequences in adult Leydig cells. Here, we investigated the impact of BPA administered to pregnant rabbits on the FLC population of the developing testes. Using qRT-PCR, we assessed the levels of S<i>F1</i>, <i>CYP11A1</i>, <i>3β-HSD,</i> and androgen receptor genes, and levels of fetal serum testosterone were measured by ELISA. These levels correlated with both the mitotic activity and the ultrastructural differentiation of the FLC by confocal and electron microscopy, respectively. Results indicate that BPA alters the expression levels of essential genes involved in androgen paracrine signaling, modifies the proliferation and differentiation of the FLCs, and alters the levels of serum testosterone after birth. Thus, BPA may change the postnatal levels of serum testosterone due to the impaired FLC population formed by the proliferating stem and non-proliferating cytodifferentiated FLC.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1387/ijdb.200185hm","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38477961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The internalization of multi-cellular tissues is a key morphogenetic process during animal development and organ formation. A good example of this is the initial stages of vertebrate central nervous system formation whereby a transient embryonic structure called the neural plate is able to undergo collective cell rearrangements within the dorsal midline. Despite the fact that defects in neural plate midline internalization may result in a series of severe clinical conditions, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, the biochemical and biomechanical details of this process remain only partially characterized. Here we review the main cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying midline cell and tissue internalization during vertebrate neural tube formation. We discuss the contribution of collective cell mechanisms including convergence and extension, as well as apical constriction facilitating midline neural plate shaping. Furthermore, we summarize recent studies that shed light on how the interplay of signaling pathways and cell biomechanics modulate neural plate internalization. In addition, we discuss how adhesion-dependent cell-cell contact appears to be a critical component during midline cell convergence and surface cell contraction via cell-cell mechanical coupling. We envision that more detailed high-resolution quantitative data at both cell and tissue levels will be required to properly model the mechanisms of vertebrate neural plate internalization with the hope of preventing human neural tube defects.
{"title":"Mechanisms of vertebrate neural plate internalization.","authors":"Claudio Araya, Daniela Carrasco","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.200122ca","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.200122ca","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The internalization of multi-cellular tissues is a key morphogenetic process during animal development and organ formation. A good example of this is the initial stages of vertebrate central nervous system formation whereby a transient embryonic structure called the neural plate is able to undergo collective cell rearrangements within the dorsal midline. Despite the fact that defects in neural plate midline internalization may result in a series of severe clinical conditions, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, the biochemical and biomechanical details of this process remain only partially characterized. Here we review the main cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying midline cell and tissue internalization during vertebrate neural tube formation. We discuss the contribution of collective cell mechanisms including convergence and extension, as well as apical constriction facilitating midline neural plate shaping. Furthermore, we summarize recent studies that shed light on how the interplay of signaling pathways and cell biomechanics modulate neural plate internalization. In addition, we discuss how adhesion-dependent cell-cell contact appears to be a critical component during midline cell convergence and surface cell contraction via cell-cell mechanical coupling. We envision that more detailed high-resolution quantitative data at both cell and tissue levels will be required to properly model the mechanisms of vertebrate neural plate internalization with the hope of preventing human neural tube defects.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1387/ijdb.200122ca","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38380163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Contemporary scientific endeavor in México emanates from two great public institutions: the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), founded in 1929 and 1936, respectively. Here, the first research institutes and centers dedicated to various scientific areas were created. Thus, the origin of most laboratories of Developmental Biology in México was like that of other scientific fields. In this article, I have attempted to describe the establishment of a specialized community involved in the understanding of organism development during ontogeny. The use of chick embryos to study heart development was among the first experimental approaches developed in México. Then, a younger group employed chick embryos to study the mechanisms underlying limb development. Various laboratory animal models have been employed, including mouse, rat, rabbit, and recently the naked mole-rat, as well as some wild species, such as sea turtles and bats. Two classical invertebrates, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhadbitis elegans, also form part of the multilayered complex models used by Mexican developmental biologists. My use of animals brought me closer to the pioneer developmental biologists who worked with animal models. Their academic trajectory was more detailed than that of investigators using plant models. However, the pioneering merit and bright contributions of the two groups are on a par, regardless of the biological model. As current scientific knowledge is the sum of individual contributions throughout human history, here I have attempted to describe my suitable experience as a witness to the birth of the fascinating field of developmental biology in my country.
当代的科学研究源自两个伟大的公共机构:分别成立于1929年和1936年的国立大学Autónoma de msamicxico (UNAM)和国立政治学院(IPN)。在这里,建立了第一批致力于各种科学领域的研究所和中心。因此,大多数发育生物学实验室在墨西哥的起源与其他科学领域的起源一样。在这篇文章中,我试图描述一个在个体发生过程中理解生物体发育的专门社区的建立。利用鸡胚胎研究心脏发育是在墨西哥率先开发的实验方法之一。然后,一个年轻的研究小组利用小鸡胚胎来研究肢体发育的机制。各种各样的实验动物模型被采用,包括小鼠、大鼠、兔子,以及最近的裸鼹鼠,以及一些野生物种,如海龟和蝙蝠。两种经典的无脊椎动物,黑腹果蝇和秀丽隐杆线虫,也构成了墨西哥发育生物学家使用的多层复杂模型的一部分。我对动物的使用使我更接近于研究动物模型的先驱发育生物学家。他们的学术轨迹比使用植物模型的研究人员更详细。然而,无论生物学模式如何,这两个群体的开拓性功绩和杰出贡献是不相上下的。由于目前的科学知识是整个人类历史上个人贡献的总和,我在这里试图描述我作为我国迷人的发育生物学领域诞生的见证人的适当经历。
{"title":"Developmental Biology in México.","authors":"Horacio Merchant-Larios","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.200133hm","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.200133hm","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Contemporary scientific endeavor in México emanates from two great public institutions: the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), founded in 1929 and 1936, respectively. Here, the first research institutes and centers dedicated to various scientific areas were created. Thus, the origin of most laboratories of Developmental Biology in México was like that of other scientific fields. In this article, I have attempted to describe the establishment of a specialized community involved in the understanding of organism development during ontogeny. The use of chick embryos to study heart development was among the first experimental approaches developed in México. Then, a younger group employed chick embryos to study the mechanisms underlying limb development. Various laboratory animal models have been employed, including mouse, rat, rabbit, and recently the naked mole-rat, as well as some wild species, such as sea turtles and bats. Two classical invertebrates, <i>Drosophila melanogaster,</i> and <i>Caenorhadbitis elegans,</i> also form part of the multilayered complex models used by Mexican developmental biologists. My use of animals brought me closer to the pioneer developmental biologists who worked with animal models. Their academic trajectory was more detailed than that of investigators using plant models. However, the pioneering merit and bright contributions of the two groups are on a par, regardless of the biological model. As current scientific knowledge is the sum of individual contributions throughout human history, here I have attempted to describe my suitable experience as a witness to the birth of the fascinating field of developmental biology in my country.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1387/ijdb.200133hm","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38380166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cecília G Magalhães, Maraysa De Oliveira-Melo, C Y Irene Yan
For over 100 years, the vertebrate eye has been an important model system to understand cell induction, cell shape change, and morphogenesis during development. In the past, most of the studies examined histological changes to detect the presence of induction mechanisms, but the advancement of molecular biology techniques has made exploring the genetic mechanisms behind lens development possible. Despite the particular emphasis given to the induction of the lens placode, there are still many aspects of the cell biology of lens morphogenesis to be explored. Here, we will revisit the classical detailed description of early lens morphological changes, correlating it with the cell biology mechanisms and with the molecules and signaling pathways identified up to now in chick and mouse embryos. A detailed description of lens development stages helps better understand the timeline of the events involved in early lens morphogenesis. We then point to some key questions that are still open.
{"title":"Morphogenesis of the lens placode.","authors":"Cecília G Magalhães, Maraysa De Oliveira-Melo, C Y Irene Yan","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.200162iy","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.200162iy","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>For over 100 years, the vertebrate eye has been an important model system to understand cell induction, cell shape change, and morphogenesis during development. In the past, most of the studies examined histological changes to detect the presence of induction mechanisms, but the advancement of molecular biology techniques has made exploring the genetic mechanisms behind lens development possible. Despite the particular emphasis given to the induction of the lens placode, there are still many aspects of the cell biology of lens morphogenesis to be explored. Here, we will revisit the classical detailed description of early lens morphological changes, correlating it with the cell biology mechanisms and with the molecules and signaling pathways identified up to now in chick and mouse embryos. A detailed description of lens development stages helps better understand the timeline of the events involved in early lens morphogenesis. We then point to some key questions that are still open.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1387/ijdb.200162iy","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38382565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla's research is focused on how cell fate arises from a single-cell embryo, the fertilized egg or zygote. After the initial divisions, cell potency becomes restricted, originating the first cell lineage fates. She studies how epigenetic information controls transitions in cell identity and cellular reprogramming during embryonic development. Currently, she is the founding Director of the Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Centre, and Professor of Stem Cell Biology at the Ludwigs Maximilians University in Munich. In this interview, Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla talks to us about her beginnings in the biology field in Mexico. She also tells us about how she became interested in the control of genome regulation within the nucleus during the transition from totipotency to pluripotency and how the control of gene regulation and chromatin organization during the early stages of cell fate decision in the one-cell embryo occurs. She considers that science has no borders; visiting Mexico gives her the possibility to discuss her work with colleagues and the new generation of students trained in Mexico.
{"title":"Epigenetic control of cell fate - an interview with Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla.","authors":"Jesús Chimal-Monroy, Diana Escalante-Alcalde","doi":"10.1387/ijdb.200176jc","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.200176jc","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla's research is focused on how cell fate arises from a single-cell embryo, the fertilized egg or zygote. After the initial divisions, cell potency becomes restricted, originating the first cell lineage fates. She studies how epigenetic information controls transitions in cell identity and cellular reprogramming during embryonic development. Currently, she is the founding Director of the Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Centre, and Professor of Stem Cell Biology at the Ludwigs Maximilians University in Munich. In this interview, Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla talks to us about her beginnings in the biology field in Mexico. She also tells us about how she became interested in the control of genome regulation within the nucleus during the transition from totipotency to pluripotency and how the control of gene regulation and chromatin organization during the early stages of cell fate decision in the one-cell embryo occurs. She considers that science has no borders; visiting Mexico gives her the possibility to discuss her work with colleagues and the new generation of students trained in Mexico.</p>","PeriodicalId":50329,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1387/ijdb.200176jc","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38477964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}