Irreducible Complexity of Hox Gene: Path to the Canonical Function of the Hox Cluster.

The evolution of major taxa is often associated with the emergence of new gene families. In all multicellular animals except sponges and comb jellies, the genomes contain Hox genes, which are crucial regulators of development. The canonical function of Hox genes involves colinear patterning of body parts in bilateral animals.

Histone Abundance Quantification via Flow Cytometry of Htb2-GFP Allows Easy Monitoring of Cell Cycle Perturbations in Living Yeast Cells, Comparable to Standard DNA Staining.

Assaying changes in the amount of DNA in single cells is a well-established method for studying the effects of various perturbations on the cell cycle. A drawback of this method is the need for a fixation procedure that does not allow for in vivo study nor simultaneous monitoring of additional parameters such as fluorescence of tagged proteins or genetically encoded indicators. In this work, we report on a method of Histone Abundance Quantification (HAQ) of live yeast harboring a GFP-tagged histone, Htb2.

Gotta Go Slow: Two Evolutionarily Distinct Annelids Retain a Common Hedgehog Pathway Composition, Outlining Its Pan-Bilaterian Core.

Hedgehog signaling is one of the key regulators of morphogenesis, cell differentiation, and regeneration. While the Hh pathway is present in all bilaterians, it has mainly been studied in model animals such as and vertebrates. Despite the conservatism of its core components, mechanisms of signal transduction and additional components vary in Ecdysozoa and Deuterostomia.

The GEM-GECO Calcium Indicator Is Useable in Yeast, but Aggravates Effects of Increased Cytosolic Calcium Levels.

Ca is a ubiquitous second messenger, which allows eukaryotic cells to respond to external stimuli. The use of genetically encoded Ca indicators allows real-time monitoring of cytosolic Ca levels to study such responses. Here we explored the possibility of using the ratiometric Ca indicator GEM-GECO for monitoring cytosolic Ca concentration ([Ca]) in the yeast .