Top 7 in developmental biology

linkurl:1. Group invasion;http://f1000.com/7857958?key=413ncdvw3klczry Cancer cells invade en mass when actomyosin is downregulated at cell-cell contacts. Blocking that downregulation by depleting a cell matrix adhesion protein called DDR1 leads to increased actomyosin activity and poor cancer cell migration.C. Hidalgo-Carcedo, et al., "Collective cell migration requires suppression of actomyosin at cell-cell contacts mediated by DDR1 and the cell polarity regulators Par3 and Par6," linkurl:Nat Cell Bio,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/21170030?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 13:49-58, 2011. Evaluations by Adi Dubash and Kathleen J Green, Northwestern Univ Med School; Roberto Mayor, Univ College London; Martin A Schwartz, Univ of Virginia; Michael Dohn and Albert Reynolds, Vanderbilt University; Richard Klemke, Univ of California, San Diego. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/7857958?key=413ncdvw3klczry

Slime mold fruiting body.
Image: Daniel J. Dickinson, Program in Cancer Biology, Stanford University

linkurl:2. Slime mold complexity;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/58047/A simple slime mold may not be as dissimilar from complex multicellular creatures as previously assumed. When the single-celled organisms come together to form a multicellular fruiting body, they generate a tissue called polarized epithelium that was once believed to be unique to animals.D.J. Dickinson, et al., "A polarized epithelium organized by beta- and alpha-catenin predates cadherin and metazoan origins," linkurl:Science,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/21393547?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 331:1336-9, 2011. Evaluations by Mirna Perez-Moreno, Centro National de Investigaciones Oncologicas; Thomas Egelhoff, Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Barry Denholm, Susan Wan and Helen Skaer, Univ of Cambridge; Jeffrey Williams, Univ of Dundee; Cara Gottardi, Northwestern Univ. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/9117957?key=2x33ms84v6lvh9c linkurl:3. Neuron migration;http://f1000.com/9818956?key=7ccg5931smyjtmNewborn neurons migrate throughout the brain with the help of a transcription factor, Ascl1, which regulates Rnd3, a GTPase that activates the actin cytoskeleton. Rnd3 is also involved in cell division, supporting the emerging concept that common pathways are used for multiple purposes in neuronal development.E. Pacary, et al., "Proneural transcription factors regulate different steps of cortical neuron migration through Rnd-mediated inhibition of RhoA signaling," linkurl:Neuron,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/21435554?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 69:1069-84, 2011. Evaluations by Isabel Martinez-Garay and Ulrich Mueller, The Scripps Research Institute; Ryann Fame and Jeffrey Macklis, Massachusetts General Hospital. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/9818956?key=7ccg5931smyjtmf linkurl:4. Sick science;http://blog.the-scientist.com/2011/04/28/the-sick-rose/In a review of the state of research, developmental biologist Peter Lawrence argues that current research is in crisis, and young scientists are suffering. Evaluators call the review "controversial," but say "the solutions really lie in our hands, making this a must-read for everyone."P. Lawrence and J. Garwood. "The heart of research is sick," Lab Times, 2:24-31, 2011. Evaluations by Ferdinando Boero, Universita' del Salento; Helen Skaer, Univ of Cambridge. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/9738956?key=jvn1ywrcdsbv51q linkurl:5. Patterning contradiction resolved;http://f1000.com/9715960?key=hcnjx8p45q72p3vTwo proposed mechanisms of vulval patterning in Caenorhabditis are not mutually exclusive: According to a computational model, variation in the interaction of two pathways can result in one of two different modes of cell patterning: sequential (cascade) signaling or a morphogen gradient, resolving a classical debate about vulval cell fate.E. Hoyos, et al., "Quantitative variation in autocrine signaling and pathway crosstalk in the caenorhabditis vulval network," linkurl:Curr Biol,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/21458263?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 12:527-38, 2011. Evaluations by David Fitch, New York Univ; Benjamin Podbilewicz, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/9715960?key=hcnjx8p45q72p3v linkurl:6. Neural switch;http://f1000.com/9443956?key=2s3gf0vxvpvxlwNeural stem cells generate motor neurons before switching to glia cell production. The de-phosphorylation of a single amino acid in the transcription factor OLIG2 regulates this developmental switch.H. Li, et al., "Phosphorylation regulates OLIG2 cofactor choice and the motor neuron-oligodendrocyte fate switch," linkurl:Neuron,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/21382552?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 69:918-29, 2011. Evaluations by Danielle Harlow and Wendy Macklin, Lerner Research Institute; Jean-Francois Brunet, Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole normale superieure. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/9443956?key=2s3gf0vxvpvxlw0 linkurl:7. Maintaining tension;http://f1000.com/9041956?key=wnf451hnx0lkfvContraction forces between individual cells correlate directly with the forces between cells and the extracellular network (ECM), and remain stable regardless of significant changes in the shape and length of cell-cell contacts. V. Maruthamuthu, et al., "Cell-ECM traction force modulates endogenous tension at cell-cell contacts," linkurl:PNAS,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/21383129?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 108:4708-13, 2011. Evaluations by Ana Tadeu and Valerie Horsley, Yale Univ; Deborah Leckband, Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/9041956?key=wnf451hnx0lkfvk The F1000 Top 7 is a snapshot of the highest ranked articles from a 30-day period on Faculty of 1000 Developmental Biology, as calculated on May 5, 2011. Faculty Members evaluate and rate the most important papers in their field. To see the latest rankings, search the database, and read daily evaluations, visit linkurl:http://f1000.com.;http://f1000.com
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[6th April 2011] *linkurl:Top 7 in biochemistry;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/58121/
[15th April 2011]