Search results for "Morphogen"
showing 10 items of 258 documents
FROM SLOPE MORPHOMETRY TO MORPHOGENETIC PROCESSES: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH OF FIELD SURVEY, GIS MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND STATISTICS IN ITALIAN BADLAN…
2016
Calanchi (singular calanco) represent a typical example of badlands in the Italian peninsula, which rapidly evolve on clayey terrains such as the widespread Pliocene-Pleistocene marine clays. The present study aimed at investigating the role of the slope morphometry on the typology and distribution of morphogenetic processes in a calanchi area located in southern Italy. The research included detailed geomorphological surveying, morphometric and statistical analysis. The study area was first subdivided into individual hydrographic units (HUs), for which field survey allowed to identify the dominant denudation processes, their intensity and the distribution of the associated landforms (pipes,…
TiFoSi: an efficient tool for mechanobiology simulations of epithelia
2020
[Motivation]: Emerging phenomena in developmental biology and tissue engineering are the result of feedbacks between gene expression and cell biomechanics. In that context, in silico experiments are a powerful tool to understand fundamental mechanisms and to formulate and test hypotheses.
Morphology changes induced by intercellular gap junction blocking: A reaction-diffusion mechanism.
2021
Complex anatomical form is regulated in part by endogenous physiological communication between cells; however, the dynamics by which gap junctional (GJ) states across tissues regulate morphology are still poorly understood. We employed a biophysical modeling approach combining different signaling molecules (morphogens) to qualitatively describe the anteroposterior and lateral morphology changes in model multicellular systems due to intercellular GJ blockade. The model is based on two assumptions for blocking-induced patterning: (i) the local concentrations of two small antagonistic morphogens diffusing through the GJs along the axial direction, together with that of an independent, uncouple…
The Marine Sponge-Derived Inorganic Polymers, Biosilica and Polyphosphate, as Morphogenetically Active Matrices/Scaffolds for the Differentiation of …
2014
The two marine inorganic polymers, biosilica (BS), enzymatically synthesized from ortho-silicate, and polyphosphate (polyP), a likewise enzymatically synthesized polymer consisting of 10 to >100 phosphate residues linked by high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds, have previously been shown to display a morphogenetic effect on osteoblasts. In the present study, the effect of these polymers on the differential differentiation of human multipotent stromal cells (hMSC), mesenchymal stem cells, that had been encapsulated into beads of the biocompatible plant polymer alginate, was studied. The differentiation of the hMSCs in the alginate beads was directed either to the osteogenic cell lineage by …
In vitroandin vivoenhancement of osteogenic capacity in a synthetic BMP-2 derived peptide-coated mineralized collagen composite
2013
Enhancement of osteogenic capacity was achieved in a mineralized collagen composite, nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen (nHAC), by loading with synthetic peptides derived from BMP-2 residues 32-48 (P17-BMP-2). Rabbit marrow stromal cells (MSCs) were used in vitro to study cell biocompatibility, attachment and differentiation on the mineralized collagen composite by a cell counting kit, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and real-time reversed transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR). Optimal peptide dosage (1.0 µg/mL) was obtained by RT-PCR analysis in vitro. In addition, the relative expression level of OPN and OCN was significantly upregulated on P17-BMP-2/nHAC compared with nH…
Efficient differentiation of embryonic stem cells into mesodermal precursors by BMP, retinoic acid and Notch signalling
2012
The ability to direct differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells into specific lineages not only provides new insights into the pathways that regulate lineage selection but also has translational applications, for example in drug discovery. We set out to develop a method of differentiating ES cells into mesodermal cells at high efficiency without first having to induce embryoid body formation. ES cells were plated on a feeder layer of PA6 cells, which have membrane-associated stromal-derived inducing activity (SDIA), the molecular basis of which is currently unknown. Stimulation of ES/PA6 co-cultures with Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) both favoured self-renewal of ES cells and…
Photocrosslinkable polysaccharide hydrogel composites based on dextran or pullulan-amylose blends with cytokines for a human co-culture model of huma…
2016
Although a large body of research has been devoted to biomaterial development for bone tissue engineering and related medical disciplines in the last few years, novel and optimized materials especially for bone fractures of critical sizes demand continued development. In this respect, polysaccharide-based hydrogels demonstrate beneficial properties and fulfill the main requirements for a bone tissue scaffold as they are hydrophilic, biocompatible, and biodegradable. The aim of the present study was the development of a natural polysaccharide-based scaffold material that can integrate with the host tissue and support bone regeneration. For this purpose, we prepared and investigated two polym…
A Transition Zone Complex Regulates Mammalian Ciliogenesis and Ciliary Membrane Composition
2011
Mutations in genes encoding ciliary components cause ciliopathies, but how many of these mutations disrupt ciliary function is unclear. We investigated Tectonic1 (Tctn1), a regulator of mouse Hedgehog signaling, and found that it is essential for ciliogenesis in some, but not all, tissues. Cell types that do not require Tctn1 for ciliogenesis require it to localize select membrane-associated proteins to the cilium, including Arl13b, AC3, Smoothened and Pkd2. Tctn1 forms a complex with multiple ciliopathy proteins associated with Meckel (MKS) and Joubert (JBTS) syndromes, including Mks1, Tmem216, Tmem67, Cep290, B9d1, Tctn2, and Cc2d2a. Components of the Tectonic ciliopathy complex colocaliz…
Morphological and anatomical observations of abnormal somatic embryos from anther cultures of Citrus reticulata
2010
A morphological and anatomical study of regenerants obtained from mandarin anther culture was carried out. Beside morphologically normal somatic embryos, abnormal structures were originated in the course of somatic embryogenesis. Anatomical anomalies can be found at several growth stages, causing the formation of slender stems, stubby structures, non-functional leaves. When too long, some structures are subject to shedding, with the formation of various abscission zones. Most of them are subject to degeneration, although many are capable of further, localized, morphogenesis. A thorough knowledge of morphology and anatomy of normal and abnormal regenerants could make possible to select and s…
Overexpression of Human and Fly Frataxins in Drosophila Provokes Deleterious Effects at Biochemical, Physiological and Developmental Levels
2011
10 pages, 5 figures. 21779322[PubMed] PMCID: PMC3136927