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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2009.10.032 Byline: Magnus Baumgardt (1), Daniel Karlsson (1), Javier Terriente (2), Fernando J. Diaz-Benjumea (2), Stefan Thor (1) Keywords: MOLNEURO; STEMCELL; DEVBIO Abstract: Neural progenitors generate distinct cell types at different stages, but the mechanisms controlling these temporal transitions are poorly understood. In the Drosophila CNS, a cascade of transcription factors, the 'temporal gene cascade,' has been identified that acts to alter progenitor competence over time. However, many CNS lineages display broad temporal windows, and it is unclear how broad windows progress into subwindows that generate unique cell types. We have addressed this issue in an identifiable Drosophila CNS lineage and find that a broad castor temporal window is subdivided by two different feed-forward loops, both of which are triggered by castor itself. The first loop acts to specify a unique cell fate, whereas the second loop suppresses the first loop, thereby allowing for the generation of alternate cell fates. This mechanism of temporal and 'subtemporal' genes acting in opposing feed-forward loops may be used by many stem cell lineages to generate diversity. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, Linkoping SE-581 85, Sweden (2) Centro de Biologia Molecular-Severo Ochoa/C.S.I.C., Universidad Autonoma-Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain Article History: Received 29 June 2009; Revised 27 August 2009; Accepted 1 October 2009 Article Note: (miscellaneous) Published: November 25, 2009

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.02.002 Byline: Daniel Perea, Javier Terriente, Fernando J. Diaz-Benjumea Keywords: Drosophila; Pattern formation; Proximal-distal development; Wing imaginal disc; Wingless/Wnt; Zinc finger homeodomain 2; Elbow/no ocelli Abstract: Extracellular signalling molecules play many roles in the development of higher organisms. They are used reiteratively in different tissues and stages, but the response of the receiving cells is controlled in a context dependent manner. The pattern of expression of the signalling molecule Wingless/WNT in Drosophila is extraordinarily complex. We have studied the mechanism that controls its expression and function in the outer ring of the Drosophila wing hinge. Our findings indicate that wingless expression is controlled by a dual mechanism: its initial activation requires the product of zinc finger homeodomain 2 and is subsequently repressed by the product of the gene complex elbow/no ocelli. This tight regulation restricts the activation of wingless temporally and spatially. Later in development, wingless expression is maintained by an autoregulatory loop that involves the product of homothorax. We have analyzed the phenotype of a wingless allelic combination that specifically removes the outer ring, and our results show that Wingless is required to promote local proliferation of the wing base cells. Thus, cell proliferation in the proximal-distal axis is controlled by the sequential activation of wingless in the inner ring and the outer ring at different stages of development. Author Affiliation: Centro de Biologia Molecular-Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autonoma-C.S.I.C., Madrid, Spain Article History: Received 16 September 2008; Revised 26 December 2008; Accepted 3 February 2009

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.04.028 Byline: Javier Terriente, Daniel Perea, Magali Suzanne, Fernando J. Diaz-Benjumea Keywords: Drosophila; Pattern formation; Proximal-distal development; Wing imaginal disc; zfh2 Abstract: Three main events characterize the development of the proximal-distal axis of the Drosophila wing disc: first, generation of nested circular domains defined by different combinations of gene expression; second, activation of wingless (wg) gene expression in a ring of cells; and third, an increase of cell number in each domain in response to Wg. The mechanisms by which these domains of gene expression are established and maintained are unknown. We have analyzed the role of the gene zinc finger homeodomain 2 (zfh2). We report that in discs lacking zfh2 the limits of the expression domains of the genes tsh, nub, rn, dve and nab coincide, and expression of wg in the wing hinge, is lost. We show that zfh2 expression is delimited distally by Vg, Nub and Dpp signalling, and proximally by Tsh and Dpp. Distal repression of zfh2 permits activation of nab in the wing blade and wg in the wing hinge. We suggest that the proximal-most wing fate, the hinge, is specified first and that later repression of zfh2 permits specification of the distal-most fate, the wing blade. We propose that proximal-distal axis development is achieved by a combination of two strategies: on one hand a process involving proximal to distal specification, with the wing hinge specified first followed later by the distal wing blade; on the other hand, early specification of the proximal-distal domains by different combinations of gene expression. The results we present here indicate that Zfh2 plays a critical role in both processes. Author Affiliation: Centro de Biologia Molecular-Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autonoma-C.S.I.C., Madrid, Spain Article History: Received 22 February 2008; Revised 8 April 2008; Accepted 24 April 2008

Segregating cells into compartments during embryonic development is essential for growth and pattern formation. Physical mechanisms shaping compartment boundaries were recently explored in Drosophila, where actomyosin-based barriers were revealed to be important for keeping cells apart. In vertebrates, interhombomeric boundaries are straight interfaces, which often serve as signaling centers that pattern the surrounding tissue. Here, we demonstrate that in the hindbrain of zebrafish embryos cell sorting sharpens the molecular boundaries and, once borders are straight, actomyosin barriers are key to keeping rhombomeric cells segregated. Actomyosin cytoskeletal components are enriched at interhombomeric boundaries, forming cable-like structures in the apical side of the neuroepithelial cells by the time morphological boundaries are visible. When myosin II function is inhibited, cable structures do not form, leading to rhombomeric cell mixing. Downregulation of EphA4a compromises actomyosin cables and cells with different rhombomeric identity intermingle, and the phenotype is rescued enhancing myosin II activity. Moreover, enrichment of actomyosin structures is obtained when EphA4 is ectopically expressed in even-numbered rhombomeres. These findings suggest that mechanical barriers act downstream of EphA/ephrin signaling to segregate cells from different rhombomeres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The xenograft of human cancer cells in model animals is a powerful tool for understanding tumor progression and metastatic potential. Mice represent a validated host, but their use is limited by the elevated experimental costs and low throughput. To overcome these restrictions, zebrafish larvae might represent a valuable alternative. Their small size and transparency allow the tracking of transplanted cells. Therefore, tumor growth and early steps of metastasis, which are difficult to evaluate in mice, can be addressed. In spite of its advantages, the use of this model has been hindered by lack of experimental homogeneity and validation. Considering these facts, the aim of our work was to standardize, automate, and validate a zebrafish larvae xenograft assay with increased translatability and higher drug screening throughput. The ZeOncoTest reliability is based on the optimization of different experimental parameters, such as cell labeling, injection site, automated individual sample image acquisition, and analysis. This workflow implementation finally allows a higher precision and experimental throughput increase, when compared to previous reports. The approach was validated with the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, the colorectal cancer cells HCT116, and the prostate cancer cells PC3; and known drugs, respectively RKI-1447, Docetaxel, and Mitoxantrone. The results recapitulate growth and invasion for all tested tumor cells, along with expected efficacy of the compounds. Finally, the methodology has proven useful for understanding specific drugs mode of action. The insights gained bring a step further for zebrafish larvae xenografts to enter the regulated preclinical drug discovery path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the tenth most disabling illness of any kind. OCD stands as a paradigm for complex neurobehavioral disorders due to its polygenic origin. It presents heterogenic clinical presentation, variable disease onset, progression and treatment responses, what makes its understanding a major neuropsychiatric challenge. Like with other neurobehavioral disorders, animal models are essential tools for decoding OCD genetic complexity, understanding its biological base and discovering novel treatments and diagnostic methods. 20 years of rodent OCD modeling have helped to understand the disease better, but multiple questions remain regarding OCD. Innovative whole genome sequencing (WGS) approaches might provide important answers on OCD risk associated genes. However, exploiting those large data sets through the use of traditional animal models is costly and time consuming. Zebrafish might be an appropriate animal model to streamline the pipeline of gene functional validation. This animal model shows several advantages versus rodent models, such as faster and cheaper genetic manipulation, strong impact on the 3Rs implementation, behavioral phenotypic reproducibility of OCD-like behaviors (obsessions and compulsions) and feasibility to develop high-throughput assays for novel OCD drug therapies discovery. In conclusion, zebrafish could be an innovative and relevant model for understanding OCD., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)