The International Journal Of Developmental Biology[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Fields, patterns and information: R.L. Brahmachary's contributions during the infancy of molecular embryology.
Ray A
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659015 · Publisher ↗
The contribution of Professor Ratan Lal Brahmachary's research during the early years of molecular embryology, its theoretical underpinnings, and its connection with those of other contemporary research efforts, are trac...
The contribution of Professor Ratan Lal Brahmachary's research during the early years of molecular embryology, its theoretical underpinnings, and its connection with those of other contemporary research efforts, are traced in this article as a part of the history of developmental biology research in India.
Fungal senescence induced by the Neurospora sen mutation and mitochondrial plasmids - the contributions of Ramesh Maheshwari.
Kasbekar DP
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659014 · Publisher ↗
This article describes some of the research contributions made by Prof. Ramesh Maheshwari and his colleagues at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. These include (1) the understanding of the Neurospora life cycle...
This article describes some of the research contributions made by Prof. Ramesh Maheshwari and his colleagues at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. These include (1) the understanding of the Neurospora life cycle in agricultural (sugarcane) fields, (2) identification of Neurospora mutants that trigger vegetative spore development via microcycle conidiation, and (3) isolation of wild Neurospora strains in which the essential immortality of the fungal mycelia is subverted.
Forebrain roof plate morphogenesis and hippocampus development in the chick embryo.
Gupta S, Udaykumar N, Sen J
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659013 · Publisher ↗
The forebrain roof plate undergoes dramatic morphogenetic changes to invaginate, and this leads to formation of the two cerebral hemispheres. While many genetic factors are known to regulate this process, the mechanism o...
The forebrain roof plate undergoes dramatic morphogenetic changes to invaginate, and this leads to formation of the two cerebral hemispheres. While many genetic factors are known to regulate this process, the mechanism of forebrain roof plate invagination remains unknown. In a recent study we have identified retinoic acid as a signal from the dorsal mesenchyme that regulates the invagination of the roof plate. This has brought into focus the importance of the interaction between the dorsal mesenchyme and the underlying roof plate. One of the structures derived from the dorso-medial forebrain after roof plate invagination is the hippocampus. While the functions of the hippocampus are conserved between birds and mammals, there are distinct structural differences. We have studied hippocampus development in the chick embryo and uncovered several similarities and differences between the process in mammals and birds. This study has also lent support to one of the prevalent models of structural homology between the avian and mammalian hippocampus. In this review, we have underscored the importance of the chick embryo as a model for studying forebrain roof plate morphogenesis and hippocampus development.
Surviving nutritional deprivation during development: neuronal intracellular calcium signaling is critical.
Megha, Hasan G
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659012 · Publisher ↗
Developing cells and tissues in a growing animal need to sense food quality and integrate this information with on-going time-bound developmental programs. The integration of metabolism with development requires cellular...
Developing cells and tissues in a growing animal need to sense food quality and integrate this information with on-going time-bound developmental programs. The integration of metabolism with development requires cellular and systemic coordination. Work in our laboratory has focused on Ca signaling arising from the release of Ca stored in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which triggers store-operated Ca entry. We describe a role for ER-store Ca that operates at the cellular level in various classes of neurons, and eventually drives the systemic coordination required to survive and complete development under conditions of nutritional deprivation. In the model system Drosophila melanogaster, we have developed a paradigm to induce nutritional stress during the larval stage and used pupariation as a read-out for development. Applying the vast genetic tool kit available in Drosophila to this paradigm, we have uncovered novel roles for intracellular Ca signaling in regulating neuronal activity, at the level of transcription in glutamatergic neurons, and translation in neuropeptidergic neurons. We find that such regulation of cellular processes is critical for integrating information across a neural circuit at multiple levels, starting from the point of sensing systemic and environmental levels of amino acids to finally connecting with neuropeptide secreting neurons, that communicate with the prothoracic gland, an organ that makes the key developmental hormone, ecdysone. This work underscores the importance of ER-store Ca for neuronal health, with consequences for animal development.
Homeobox genes in endometrium: from development to decidualization.
Ashary N, Laheri S, Modi D
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659011 · Publisher ↗
The eutherian species evolved an elaborate uterus to allow viviparity. For successful pregnancy, the uterus must not only be differentiated, but must also function optimally and any defects in uterus differentiation and/...
The eutherian species evolved an elaborate uterus to allow viviparity. For successful pregnancy, the uterus must not only be differentiated, but must also function optimally and any defects in uterus differentiation and/or function can lead to infertility. The homoebox gene HOXA10 has emerged to be a key player in both uterine development and its optimal functioning in adulthood. Within the Abd-B family, the posterior Hoxa genes play a dominant role in anterio-posterior segmentation of the Müllerian ducts in mammals, with Hoxa10 having a central role in uterine segmentation. In the adult endometrium, HOXA10 is expressed by endometrial cells and is regulated in a cyclic manner under the influence of ovarian steroids. During embryo implantation, expression of HOXA10 is increased in endometrial stromal cells by signals from the embryo to govern stromal cell transformation to decidual cells. Once decidualization is initiated, HOXA10 is rapidly downregulated to activate expression of pro-invasive factors to promote trophoblast invasion. We propose that HOXA10 governs embryo implantation in a three-step process: 1) acquisition of endometrial receptivity, 2) responding to signals from the blastocyst to modify receptive endometrium for decidualization 3) making the decidua conductive for trophoblast invasion and placentation. There is currently ample evidence that expression of HOXA10 is deregulated in a variety of "endometriopathies" such as endometriosis and endometrial cancers. Overall, HOXA10 appears to be the master regulator of endometrial health and a central determinant of fertility in mammals.
The OCIAD protein family: comparative developmental biology and stem cell application.
Praveen W, Sinha S, Batabyal R … +2 more , Kamat K, Inamdar MS
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659010 · Publisher ↗
Over the last two decades, an exponential growth in technologies and techniques available to biologists has provided mind-boggling quantities of data and led to information overload. Yet, answers to fundamental questions...
Over the last two decades, an exponential growth in technologies and techniques available to biologists has provided mind-boggling quantities of data and led to information overload. Yet, answers to fundamental questions such as "how are we made?" and "what keeps us ticking?" remain incomplete. Developmental biology has provided elegant approaches to address such questions leading to enlightening insights. While several important contributions to developmental biology have come from India over the decades, this area of research remains nascent. Here, we review the journey in India, from the discovery of the ociad gene family to decoding its role in development and stem cells. We compare analysis in silico, in vivo and ex vivo, with developmental models such as Drosophila, mouse and stem cells that gave important insight into how these clinically significant genes function.
Simultaneous differentiation of articular and transient cartilage: WNT-BMP interplay and its therapeutic implication.
Biswas T, Jaswal AP, Yadav US … +1 more , Bandyopadhyay A
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659009 · Publisher ↗
Limb skeleton forms through the process of endochondral ossification. This process of osteogenesis proceeds through an intermediate cartilage template and involves several stages of chondrocyte maturation and eventual bo...
Limb skeleton forms through the process of endochondral ossification. This process of osteogenesis proceeds through an intermediate cartilage template and involves several stages of chondrocyte maturation and eventual bone formation. During the process of endochondral ossification, interplay between BMP and WNT signaling regulate simultaneous differentiation of articular and transient cartilage. In this review, we focus on the recent literature which explores the simultaneous differentiation of these two different types of cartilage. We discuss a new paradigm of developmental biology-inspired tissue engineering of bone and cartilage grafts and provide novel insight into treatment of osteoporosis.
Caulonema differentiation in Funaria protonema.
Johri MM
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659008 · Publisher ↗
The strategies and experimental approaches that led the author to demonstrate the role of auxin in caulonema differentiation in the protonema of the moss Funaria hygrometrica are discussed. In stationary suspension cultu...
The strategies and experimental approaches that led the author to demonstrate the role of auxin in caulonema differentiation in the protonema of the moss Funaria hygrometrica are discussed. In stationary suspension cultures, the status of cell differentiation is regulated by inoculum cell density and auxin level. At low inoculum cell densities, 2-5 µM indole acetic acid (IAA) led to the differentiation of 65-70% caulonema filaments in 5-6 days. Caulonema can also differentiate in auxin-free medium if buffered at pH 5.0 after a lag of 6±1 days. The duration of lag can be manipulated and the cells are capable of responding to auxin at a higher level (3-10 µM) and produce about 20% caulonema after 3 days. This responsiveness or sensitivity to auxin can be enhanced further by growing cells in a nutrient-limited medium buffered at pH 5.0. In this medium, addition of 3 µM IAA led to the differentiation of 75-80% caulonema and rhizoids within 3 to 4 days. Work done in other laboratories has shown that auxin promotes caulonema differentiation in the moss Physcomitrella patens by positively regulating two basic helix-loop-helix type of transcription factor genes namely root hair defective six-like1 (PpRSL1) and PpRSL2 (Jang and Dolan 2011, New Phytologist 192: 319-327).
Epigenetic regulation and transcriptional memory in development; selection facilitating prudence.
Verma A, Maini J, Jain S … +3 more , Ghasemi M, Kohli S, Brahmachari V
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659007 · Publisher ↗
The epigenetic mechanisms regulating developmental gene expression are examples of a strategy to generate unique expression profiles with global regulators controlling several genes. In a simplified view, a common set of...
The epigenetic mechanisms regulating developmental gene expression are examples of a strategy to generate unique expression profiles with global regulators controlling several genes. In a simplified view, a common set of tools, that include DNA motif recognizing proteins (recruiters), binding/interacting surfaces (ARPs- actin related proteins), epigenetic writers (histone methyltransferases, acetylases), readers (chromatin remodeling proteins, PRC1 members) and erasers (demethylases, deacetylases) form complexes which not only regulate transcription, but also retain the transcriptional memory through mitosis. There are two arms of epigenetic regulation: covalent modification of DNA and the post-translational modification of histones. In this review, we discuss both of these aspects briefly to illustrate functional diversity. We discuss our efforts at utilization of the genome sequence data for de novo identification of new players and their functional validation in this remarkable process.
Maternal control of gamete choice during fertilization.
Nair S
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659006 · Publisher ↗
Sexually reproducing organisms generate male and female haploid gametes, which meet and fuse at fertilization to produce a diploid zygote. The evolutionary process of speciation is achieved and maintained by ensuring tha...
Sexually reproducing organisms generate male and female haploid gametes, which meet and fuse at fertilization to produce a diploid zygote. The evolutionary process of speciation is achieved and maintained by ensuring that gametes undergo productive fusion only within a species. In animals, hybrids from cross-species fertilization events may develop normally, but are usually sterile (Fitzpatrick, 2004). Metazoan sperm and eggs have several features to ensure that the gametes, which have evolved independently and also in conflict with each other, are competent to undergo fertilization (Firman, 2018). Fertilization is a specific process that is ideally supposed to result in randomized fusion of compatible egg and sperm. Here, I will discuss key processes driven by maternal factors in the egg that dictate earliest stages of gamete recognition, gamete choice and fusion in metazoans.
Indirect flight muscles in Drosophila melanogaster as a tractable model to study muscle development and disease.
Jawkar S, Nongthomba U
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659005 · Publisher ↗
Myogenesis is a complex multifactorial process leading to the formation of the adult muscle. An amalgamation of autonomous processes including myoblast fusion and myofibrillogenesis, as well as non-autonomous processes,...
Myogenesis is a complex multifactorial process leading to the formation of the adult muscle. An amalgamation of autonomous processes including myoblast fusion and myofibrillogenesis, as well as non-autonomous processes, such as innervations from neurons and precise connections with attachment sites, are responsible for successful development and function of muscles. In this review, we describe the development of the indirect flight muscles (IFMs) in Drosophila melanogaster, and highlight the use of the IFMs as a model for studying muscle development and disease, based on recent studies on the development and function of IFMs.
Haltere development in D. melanogaster: implications for the evolution of appendage size, shape and function.
Khan S, Dilsha C, Shashidhara LS
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659004 · Publisher ↗
Differential specification of dorsal flight appendages, wing and haltere, in Drosophila provides an excellent model system to address a number of important questions in developmental biology at the levels of molecules, p...
Differential specification of dorsal flight appendages, wing and haltere, in Drosophila provides an excellent model system to address a number of important questions in developmental biology at the levels of molecules, pathways, tissues, organs, organisms and evolution. Here we discuss the mechanism by which the Hox protein Ubx recognizes and regulates its downstream targets, implications of the same in growth control at cellular and organ level and finally the evolution of haltere from ancestral hindwings in other holometabolous insects.
Lessons on gene regulation learnt from the Drosophila melanogaster bithorax complex.
Srinivasan A, Mishra RK
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659003 · Publisher ↗
Homeotic or Hox genes determine the anterior-posterior body axis in all bilaterians. As expected, Hox genes are highly conserved across bilaterians. Interestingly, however, the peculiar organization of Hox genes in the f...
Homeotic or Hox genes determine the anterior-posterior body axis in all bilaterians. As expected, Hox genes are highly conserved across bilaterians. Interestingly, however, the peculiar organization of Hox genes in the form of clusters where the order of occurrence of genes in the genome corresponds to the order in which they regulate segmental identity of anterior-posterior body axis is also conserved. The relation between collinearity of arrangement of genes on the chromosomes and spatial function along the body axis has attracted attention to exploring its relevance in the precise regulation of Hox genes. Conservation of genes and their arrangement suggests a linkage between co-regulation and the higher order chromatin organization of the entire complex. To this end, we and others have used Drosophila as the model system to understand the cis-and trans-regulatory components of Hox genes. A number of chromatin-level regulatory elements, like chromatin domain boundaries, and Polycomb Response Elements (PREs) have been discovered in this process. Interestingly, much of what has emerged from the study of homeotic genes, the cis-elements and protein factors, have relevance across the genome in a large number of regulatory events beyond the Hox genes. Here, we review our findings and discuss their genome-wide implications in complex regulatory processes.
Cell signaling molecules in hydra: insights into evolutionarily ancient functions of signaling pathways.
Ghaskadbi S
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659002 · Publisher ↗
Hydra, a Cnidarian believed to have been evolved about 60 million years ago, has been a favorite model for developmental biologists since Abraham Trembley introduced it in 1744. However, the modern renaissance in researc...
Hydra, a Cnidarian believed to have been evolved about 60 million years ago, has been a favorite model for developmental biologists since Abraham Trembley introduced it in 1744. However, the modern renaissance in research on hydra was initiated by Alfred Gierer when he established a hydra laboratory at the Max Plank Institute in Göttingen in the late 1960s. Several signaling mechanisms that regulate development and pattern formation in vertebrates, including humans, have been found in hydra. These include Wnt, BMP, VEGF, FGF, Notch, and RTK signaling pathways. We have been using hydra to understand the evolution of cell signaling for the past several years. In this article, I will summarize the work on cell signaling pathways in hydra with emphasis on our own work. We have identified and characterized, for the first time, the hydra homologs of the BMP inhibitors Noggin and Gremlin, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Our work, along with that of others, clearly demonstrates that these pathways arose early in evolution to carry out functions that were often quite different from their functions in more complex animals. Apart from providing insights into morphogenesis and pattern formation in adult, budding and regenerating hydra, these findings bring out the utility of hydra as a model system to study evolutionarily ancient, in contrast to recently acquired, functions of various biological molecules.
Molecular signals that govern tuber development in potato.
Kondhare KR, Natarajan B, Banerjee AK
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659001 · Publisher ↗
The potato serves as the fourth most important food crop on the planet after the three cereal crops. It is rich in starch, storage proteins and important vitamins, dietary antioxidants and minerals. Potato is a modified...
The potato serves as the fourth most important food crop on the planet after the three cereal crops. It is rich in starch, storage proteins and important vitamins, dietary antioxidants and minerals. Potato is a modified stem (stolon) that grows underground, at the base of the plant, under favourable conditions. Perception and processing of signals occur in leaves and the corresponding information is transported to the stolon-tip. The elongation of the stolon-tip ceases and the plane of cell division changes from transverse to longitudinal, causing swelling of the sub-apical region of the stolon. This is accompanied by synthesis of starch in leaves, followed by its transport to and accumulation in the stolon. The initiation of tuber developmental signals and the subsequent stolon-to-tuber transition (tuberization) is undoubtedly a dynamic process which involves integration of multiple molecular factors, environmental cues and crosstalk between various pathways, including phytohormones. Understanding the tuberization process has been an aim of many plant biologists across the globe. Recent discoveries have shown that apart from photoperiod and hormonal metabolism, there are crucial transcription factors, small RNAs, full-length mobile mRNAs and proteins that regulate tuberization in potato. Although we have gained significant knowledge about the tuberization process, many questions on the underlying mechanisms of tuber development remain to be answered. In this review, we summarize the crucial molecular signals that govern tuber formation and propose an updated tuberization network along with future research directions.
Understanding brain development - Indian researchers' past, present and growing contribution.
Muralidharan B
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32659000 · Full text
The brain is the seat of all higher-order functions in the body. Brain development and the vast array of neurons and glia it produces is a baffling mystery to be studied. Neuroscientists using a vast number of model syst...
The brain is the seat of all higher-order functions in the body. Brain development and the vast array of neurons and glia it produces is a baffling mystery to be studied. Neuroscientists using a vast number of model systems have been able to crack many of the nitty-gritty details using various model systems. One way has been to size down the problem by utilizing the power of genetics using simple model systems such as Drosophila to create a fundamental framework in order to unravel the basic principles of brain development. Scientists have used simpler organisms to uncover the fundamental principles of brain development and also to study the evo-devo angle to brain development. Complex circuitry has been unraveled in complex model systems, such as the mouse, to reveal the intricacies and regional specialization of brain function. This is an ever-growing field, and with newer genetic and molecular tools, together with several new centers of excellence, India's contribution to this fascinating field of study is continually rising. Here, I review the pioneering work done by Indian developmental neurobiologists in the past and their mounting contribution in the present.
Research on early mammalian development in India.
Seshagiri PB, Vani V
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32658999 · Publisher ↗
Historically, research in India on early mammalian development had only begun, rather modestly, in the last century, unlike the USA and UK. In India, initial studies were on gonadal and reproductive tissue development an...
Historically, research in India on early mammalian development had only begun, rather modestly, in the last century, unlike the USA and UK. In India, initial studies were on gonadal and reproductive tissue development and function and they were limited to anatomical and histological characterization. This was followed by research on fertility regulation and contraception. Since the 1960s, a major initiative took place regarding endocrine biochemistry and the use of antifertility agents in inhibiting gonadal function and early development. Post-independence, the Indian government´s funding support enabled universities and institutions to embark on various research disciplines in biology but with no particular emphasis on developmental biology per se. Subsequently, India made significant progress in the area of mammalian reproduction and development, but not specifically in the core aspects of developmental biology. Reasons for this could be due to the nation's compulsion to invest and embark on socio-economic and infrastructure development and on research involving family planning methods for reversible-affordable contraceptives to curtail population growth. With regard to the latter, biologists were involved in hormone-based contraception research. During this pursuit, insights were achieved into basic aspects of the development of gonads, gametes and embryos. Notwithstanding this, in the post-1980s through to the present time, Indian scientists have contributed to (i) the understanding of the cellular and molecular regulation of early development, (ii) developing genetically modified mouse models, (iii) using assisted reproductive technologies, generating mammalian progeny, including humans and (iv) deriving pluripotent stem cell lines for developmental studies. This article provides a perspective on the past and current status of early mammalian development research in India.
The past and present of developmental biology in India.
Ghaskadbi S, Nanjundiah V
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32658998 · Publisher ↗
This issue of The International Journal of Developmental Biology (Int. J. Dev. Biol.) is devoted to contributions to developmental biology from India. The articles have been organized thematically, beginning with histori...
This issue of The International Journal of Developmental Biology (Int. J. Dev. Biol.) is devoted to contributions to developmental biology from India. The articles have been organized thematically, beginning with historical accounts and personal reminiscences, followed by surveys of areas to which the authors' own contributions have been substantial, and ending with reports of original research. The articles selected for the 'history' section are by those who have witnessed events from close quarters, and in most cases have contributed to the work in question. The range of articles is vast but cannot claim to be comprehensive. Some areas may have been left out inadvertently, either because we were unable to find anyone to cover them, or maybe in part because of not looking in the right place. Other areas are missed out because, much to our regret, authors did not deliver promised manuscripts on time. In short, the Special Issue is indicative of what went on and is going on in the field of developmental biology in India, but it does have gaps.
The human face: genes, embryological development and dysmorphology.
Bhat M
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32658997 · Publisher ↗
Clinical dysmorphology is a medical specialty which requires training to systematically observe aberrations in facial development and to understand patterns in the recognition of underlying genetic syndromes. An understa...
Clinical dysmorphology is a medical specialty which requires training to systematically observe aberrations in facial development and to understand patterns in the recognition of underlying genetic syndromes. An understanding of normal facial embryology and structure, genetic mechanisms that contribute to facial development and the influence of age, sex, epigenetic, environmental and teratogen effects that contribute to facial dysmorphology are essential. The role of software programmes and databases in achieving diagnoses in subtler phenotypes is growing. A description of specific dysmorphisms of various parts of the human face and key genetic and mechanistic pathways are discussed in this review. Recognizing facial patterns and genetic syndromes efficiently aids in planning appropriate tests, securing an accurate diagnosis, counselling and predicting outcomes and offering interventions and therapies where available.
Development of motor control and behaviour in Asian elephants in the Kabini elephant population, southern India.
Revathe T, Anvitha S, Vidya TNC
Int J Dev Biol · 2020 · PMID 32658996 · Publisher ↗
Although neonates of precocial mammals are capable of locomotory, sensory, nutritional, and thermoregulatory independence to some extent soon after birth, they attain their adult body mass more slowly than altricial mamm...
Although neonates of precocial mammals are capable of locomotory, sensory, nutritional, and thermoregulatory independence to some extent soon after birth, they attain their adult body mass more slowly than altricial mammals, allowing for an extended period of learning or perfecting skills to an adult-like degree. Asian elephants are precocial but are nutritionally dependent on the mother for at least two years and are long-lived and social. We wanted to examine the ontogeny of trunk motor control and various behaviours in Asian elephant calves and see whether the former develops faster than the latter since limb motor control is achieved soon after birth. We collected field data on trunk use, lateralisation, and behaviours from individually identified, free-ranging elephants in southern India and examined how they were affected by age and other factors. Unlike limb motor control, we found trunk motor skills and behaviours to develop gradually with age. Trunk lateralisation occurred very early on, was not highly dependent on trunk motor skills, and is probably not a developmental marker in Asian elephants. Adult-like behaviours that required low trunk usage emerged within 3 months, while some feeding behaviours emerged later. Calves spent less time resting and more time feeding as they grew, and their activity budgets resembled those of adults only after a year; hence, mother-offspring behavioural synchrony was low for young calves and increased with age. Behavioural development and trunk motor control in Asian elephants are both gradual processes, taking about a year to mature.
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