Subject collection: Neural development
- Conserved and divergent functions of Pax6 underlie species-specific neurogenic patterns in the developing amniote brain
Highlighted Article: Pax6 promotes neuronal differentiation in the developing chick and mouse telencephalon via Notch inhibition, whereas its stage-specific function in RGC maintenance in the VZ is unique to mammalian neocortical progenitors.
- An interview with Christiana Ruhrberg
Summary: Christiana Ruhrberg, the winner of the British Society for Developmental Biology's Cheryll Tickle Medal, discusses her research trajectory from cancer to neurovascular development and her thoughts on the position of women in the field.
- Origin and specification of type II neuroblasts in the Drosophila embryo
Summary: Drosophila type II NBs are generated in three clusters during stage 12 of embryogenesis, the specification of which requires the combined action of the EGFR pathway, buttonhead and Sp1.
- Evolutionarily conserved anterior expansion of the central nervous system promoted by a common PcG-Hox program
Summary: In both Drosophila and mouse, anterior CNS expansion results from proliferation differences between brain and nerve cord, and is controlled by the PcG-Hox regulatory program.
- An interview with James Briscoe
Summary: James Briscoe, who will become Development's Editor-in-Chief later this year, talks about his career and research interests, the importance of interdisciplinary thinking, the value of Twitter and the future of scientific publishing.
- Microtubule organization in presynaptic boutons relies on the formin DAAM
Summary: In addition to a role in terminal arbor development in association with Wg/Ank2/Futsch, Drosophila DAAM has a modulatory function in synaptic transmission associated with its Brp-dependent recruitment to the active zone scaffold.
- Centrosomal protein Dzip1l binds Cby, promotes ciliary bud formation, and acts redundantly with Bromi to regulate ciliogenesis in the mouse
Summary: Dzip1l functions in ciliary initiation and morphogenesis and the integrity of the transition zone, with mutants showing reduced Hedgehog signaling between Smo and Sufu, expanded brain size and polydactyly.
- Nesprins and opposing microtubule motors generate a point force that drives directional nuclear motion in migrating neurons
Highlighted Article: During migration of mouse cerebellar neurons, microtubules dynamically bind to nesprins in the nuclear envelope via kinesin-1 and dynein, and induce sharpening, rotation and translocation of the nucleus independently of actin.
- Connexin 30 controls astroglial polarization during postnatal brain development
Summary: Connexin 30 sets the orientation of astroglial motile protrusions during polarized migration in vitro and contributes in vivo to the establishment of hippocampal astrocyte polarity during postnatal maturation.
- Variant cell cycles regulated by Notch signaling control cell size and ensure a functional blood-brain barrier
Highlighted Article: In Drosophila brain lobes, Notch and the mitosis-activating phosphatase String regulate the switch of subperineurial glia from endocycle to endomitosis during larval development, with endomitotic cells attaining increased ploidy and size.