Cilia and their role in neural tube development and defects

Cilia are microtubule-based filamentous organelles that play a vital role in embryogenesis. Multiple signal transduction pathways are orchestrated by cilia, such as Hedgehog and planar cell polarity signals. Various studies, spanning over last 2 decades, have emphasized the role of cilia-mediated signaling cascades in regulating neural tube patterning and development. Moreover, the deficiency of certain ciliary genes have been reported to cause neural tube defects (NTDs), which are a set of disorders that occur due to perturbation of normal neural tube closure. However, the mechanisms underlying cilia dysfunction resulting NTDs remain unclear. Recent studies have highlighted the association of phosphoinositide signaling with cilia, thereby conferring novel insights into the function of cilia during neural tube development. Here, we have reviewed recent studies on cilia, focusing on the molecular mechanism underlying the involvement of cilia in neural tube development and the role of ciliary disruption in the development of NTDs.

Deficiency of Antisense lncRNA Gm48853 Resulted in Embryonic Lethality and Impaired Placental Development in Mice

Objective:Long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)play important roles in embryonic development and in various diseases.Gm48853 is a predicted natural antisense lncRNA gene of unknown function.The present study aimed to investigate its expression and function.Methods:Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing were used to detect the expression of Gm48853 antisense lncRNA.Hematoxylin and eosin staining and pathological analysis were applied to evaluate the effects of Gm48853 mutations on embryonic/placental development.5-Ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine(EdU)and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxy-UTP-nick-end labeling assays were used to analyze the status of cell proliferation and apoptosis in Gm48853-deficient embryos and placentas.Results:PiggyBac(PB)transposon insertion into the intron of Gm48853 resulted in a significant decrease in Gm48853 expression and embryonic lethality at midgestation.Homozygous Gm48853 mutations led to severe growth retardation of embryos and impaired the morphogenesis of the placental labyrinth.In addition,cell proliferation was dramatically decreased in Gm48853^(PB/PB) embryos and placentas,and apoptosis was radically increased in the mutant embryos but not in the mutant placentas.Conclusion:Antisense lncRNA Gm48853 may regulate embryonic/placental development by enhancing cell proliferation and/or inhibiting apoptosis.

Dr, Yang Zhong： An explorer on the roac Forever

On the morning of September 25th 2017, grievous news spread from the remote Ordos region of Inner Mongolia to Fudan University campus in Shanghai. Professor Yang Zhong （Fig. 1）, a famous botanist and the Dean of Fudan University＇s graduate school, passed away in a tragic car accident while on a business trip.