Developmental Biology

eLife assessment

This study presents valuable insights into the epigenetic landscape in adult kidney podocytes. A series of solid experiments demonstrate that genes that are regulated by a key kidney transcription factor, Mafb, are essential for H3K4me3 methylation and recruitment of Wt1 to Nphs1 and Nphs2. This new information provides insights into the potential relationship and coordination of transcription factors in regulating target genes in podocytes in glomerular diseases, although the conclusion that MafB is generally required for Wt1 to bind to podocyte-specific promoters is incomplete and should be extended beyond two or three genes.

eLife assessment

This important work presents a systematic survey of downstream target genes of the BMP pathway during body-axis establishment of the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. BMP is a well-known developmental regulator, and this work identifies a previously unknown array of downstream targets. Combining genomic approaches and genetic manipulations, the authors present convincing evidence that Zswim4-6 acts as a negative feedback regulator of BMP activity in Nematostella. The authors also test a zebrafish homologue in over-expression assays and show solid evidence that it too dampens BMP signaling activity, leading to the suggestion that zswim4-6 is a conserved regulator of BMP signaling. This work will be of interest to researchers in the fields of both developmental biology and evo-devo.

eLife assessment

This valuable study provides a combination of experiment and theory to investigate the role of a key signalling pathway as a patterning guide for local and global mechanical properties in a developing tissue. It poses solid evidence that local dynamical effects are not necessarily predictive of global tissue mechanics, although it does not offer an alternative mechanistic explanation. This multidisciplinary work will likely have an impact on the fields of tissue mechanics and developmental biology.

eLife assessment

This study presents useful findings regarding the role of formin-like 2 in mouse oocyte meiosis. The submitted data are supported by incomplete analyses, and in some cases, the conclusions are overstated. If these concerns are addressed, this paper would be of interest to reproductive biologists.

eLife assessment

This valuable work develops a new approach to measure imaginal disc growth in Drosophila. With this approach, the roles of two protocadherins (Fat and Dachsous), in late larval development is explored, and there is novel data on the scaling of their protein gradients. The evidence supporting the authors' findings overall are solid, though the genetic analysis of Fat and Dachsous function is incomplete and would benefit from further experiments.

eLife assessment

This valuable paper characterizes a murine model for congenital cystic airway abnormalities (CPAM). In contrast to previous assumptions that only epithelial cells are involved in the formation of pulmonary cysts, the authors provide compelling new evidence that defective BMP signaling in lung mesenchymal cells can disrupt airway development. Knowing that proper BMP signaling in mesenchymal cells is required for normal cyst-free lungs could potentially pave the way to understanding and preventing CPAM in infants at risk for this common disorder, which can be fatal if untreated. The relevance of the murine model could be enhanced by providing further histological details in comparison with human cysts, as well as interrogation of datasets such as GWAS whether genetic changes in human cysts are related to abnormal BMP signaling.

eLife assessment

This important study presents findings regarding the role of Juvenile Hormone in development and cell differentiation in the ametabolous insect Thermobia domestica, providing an in-depth analysis of JH's roles in a member of this basally branching group. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is convincing, drawing on a broad range of approaches and variety of experimental techniques. While the interpretation of this work in the wider context regarding its relevance for the evolution of metamorphosis is in some places overly speculative, the work will be of interest to evolutionary developmental biologists studying hormonal control of development and to entomologists studying the evolution of metamorphosis.

eLife assessment

This study provides useful datasets on gene expression and chromatin accessibility profiles in spermatogonial cells at different postnatal ages in mice. Overall, the technical aspects of the sequencing analyses and computational/bioinformatics are solid. However, there are concerns with the identity of the isolated cells and the lack of acknowledgment for previous studies that have also performed ATAC-sequencing on spermatogonia of mouse and human testes. The limitations call into question the validity of the interpretations and reduce the potential merit of the findings.

eLife assessment

This study provides valuable insight into the role of FBXO24, a member of the less characterized F-Box protein subfamily (F-box only protein) in controlling mRNA expression during spermiogenesis using loss-of-function and HA-tagged knock-in mouse models. The major strengths of the study are the rigorous phenotypic and molecular analysis by using two complementary animal models (knock-out mouse model but also HA-tagged transgenic mouse model) to determine protein levels and localization in time and space during normal spermatogenesis and in the absence of the protein. Overall, this solid study highlights the relevance and importance of FBXO24 in male fertility and provides a better understanding of the MIWI/piRNA pathway, mitochondrial organization, and chromatin condensation in mouse spermatozoa during spermiogenesis.

eLife assessment

This is an important study describing the function of Laminin γ1-dependent basement membranes in the development of the olfactory placode, including morphogenesis of the placode, boundary formation, and olfactory axonal pathfinding. The study uses elegant live imaging approaches, and detailed mutant analyses to provide a convincing description of the role of Laminin in olfactory placode development, although the mechanisms by which Laminin γ1 regulates these processes are not conclusive. In addition to the contributions this study makes to understanding olfactory placode development, it will also be of broader interest to individuals interested in extracellular matrix regulation of tissue morphogenesis, and neural development including neuronal pathfinding.

eLife assessment

This valuable study examines the effects of NFKB2 mutations on pituitary gland development through hypothalamic-pituitary organoids. The evidence supporting the main conclusions is solid, although analysis of additional clones to exclude inter-clone variability would strengthen the conclusions. Insight into the mechanism of action of NFKB2 during pituitary development is incomplete. This work will be of interest to endocrinologists and biologists working on pituitary gland development and disease.

eLife assessment

This study presents a useful differentiation method that produces syndetome-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells as determined through single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that the authors' assertion that the efficiency of syndetome differentiation can be enhanced by inhibiting BMP and Wnt requires further substantiation, as the evidence provided remains incomplete. The major weaknesses of the manuscript center on issues related to data representation in figures and their subsequent interpretation. The work holds relevance for scholars in the field of musculoskeletal research who are dedicated to advancing translational medicine for the benefit of patients.

eLife assessment

This work presents useful and potentially valuable findings on how food signals may influence reproduction in the nematode C. elegans. In the current manuscript, the evidence in support of the authors' model is incomplete, and additional experimental data is needed to buttress the authors' conclusions.

eLife assessment

This valuable study provides extensive high-quality imaging data and new insights into the process of the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT), which generates nascent hematopoietic stem cells from the ventral wall of the dorsal aorta. This study provides strong evidence that, based on apicobasal cell polarity, different morphologies exist for emergent hematopoietic stem cells. The study is incomplete at present in that it does not yet support the additional claim that there are functional consequences, as altered cell fate related to these different morphologies has not been definitively shown.

eLife assessment

This fundamental study advances our understanding of how Notch signaling activates transcription by analyzing the dynamics of the Mastermind transcriptional co-activator and its role in the activation complex. The evidence is compelling with precise quantitative measurements. The evidence presented by the authors features methods, data, and analyses that are currently state-of-the-art but have not previously been applied to how transcription is regulated in the Notch pathway.

eLife assessment

This is a fundamental study into human spinal neurulation, which substantially advances our understanding of human neural tube closure. Crucial unanswered questions in the field currently rely on model systems, not faithful to human development. The evidence provided is convincing, with a large number of specimens and the use of state-of-the-art methodology providing robustness. The work will be of broad interest to developmental biologists, embryologists, and medical professionals working on neural tube defects, and will act as a precious reference resource for future studies.

eLife assessment

This fundamental work substantially advances our understanding of cell migration, especially in that of cranial neural crest. The evidence supporting the conclusion is compelling, with rigorous biochemical assays for materials used and with intensive genetic interventions. The work will be of broad interest to developmental biologists and cell biologists.

eLife assessment

This paper presents an important discovery of the molecular basis of differential apterous expression during early Drosophila wing disc development. The evidence supporting these conclusions is compelling, ranging from classical genetic approaches to state-of-the-art genetic engineering techniques. By opening new questions, this paper is expected to be of broad interest to developmental biologists and geneticists working on transcriptional regulation.

eLife assessment

This work reports a valuable finding on glucocorticoid signaling in male and female germ cells in mice, pointing out sexual dimorphism in transcriptomic responsiveness. While the evidence supporting the claims is generally solid, additional assessments would be required to fully confirm an inert GR signaling despite the presence of GR in the female germline and GR-mediated alternative splicing in response to dexamethasone treatment in the male germline. The work may interest basic researchers and physician-scientists working on reproduction and stress-related disease conditions.

eLife assessment

This valuable study addresses the temporal patterning of a specific Drosophila CNS neuroblast lineage, focusing on its larval development. The work is solid: the authors find that a temporal cascade, involving the Imp and Syp genes, changes the fate of one daughter cell/branch from glioblast (GB) to programmed cell death (PCD), as well as gates the decommissioning of the NB at the end of neurogenesis.