Tessera

Cells & Development @cellsdev.bsky.social · 5d ago

It is often said that cancer is like development gone wrong. One of the most important signalling pathways of development, the Wnt pathway, is frequently altered in colon cancer. Nydia Tejeda-Muñoz et al discussed the complex biology of Wnt signalling network. Check it out: doi.org/10.1016/j.cd...

Fig. 1. Central role of the Wnt pathway in tumor initiation and progression, and its crosstalk with major oncogenic pathways. Aberrant activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling drives tumorigenesis by sustaining proliferative signaling, enforcing stem-cell–like programs, and promoting survival under oncogenic and therapeutic stress. The Wnt pathway output is further amplified through extensive crosstalk with key oncogenic modules, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK), and TGF-β/Sma and Mad Related Proteins (SMAD), which integrate upstream mitogenic cues, metabolic states, and microenvironmental signals. These interconnected networks generate feedforward and compensatory feedback loops that enhance cellular plasticity, support epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and drive therapy resistance, intratumoral heterogeneity, and metastatic competence.

Fig. 2. RAS–RAF–MAPK and its interaction with β-catenin and PI3K–AKT–mTOR in colon cancer. Aberrant RAS–RAF–MEK–ERK activity modulates the canonical Wnt signaling through multiple mechanisms, including phosphorylation-dependent regulation of β-catenin stability, transcriptional enhancement of Wnt target genes, and MAPK-driven remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. Conversely, hyperactivation of Wnt/β-catenin can potentialize MAPK signaling by upregulating growth factor receptors, stabilizing RAS, and reinforcing downstream proliferative circuits. This reciprocal reinforcement establishes feedforward loops that promote tumor cell proliferation, stemness maintenance, EMT, and metastatic dissemination. In addition, MAPK inhibition frequently triggers compensatory reactivation of the Wnt signaling, underscoring their functional interdependence and highlighting the therapeutic relevance of dual-pathway targeting in RAS- or BRAF-mutated malignancies. Direct regulation is indicated in solid lines, indirect effects are indicated in dashed lines.

Fig. 3. Mechanistic integration of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway with the PI3K–AKT–mTOR pathway in cancer. The canonical Wnt activation modulates the PI3K–AKT–mTOR signaling through multiple nodes, including inhibition of GSK3β, stabilization of downstream effectors, and transcriptional induction of receptors and metabolic regulators that enhance PI3K pathway output. Reciprocally, PI3K–AKT signaling reinforces the Wnt/β-catenin activity by inhibiting GSK3β-mediated β-catenin degradation, promoting nuclear β-catenin accumulation, and facilitating the transcription of Wnt-dependent oncogenic programs. mTORC1 further integrates inputs from both pathways to regulate translational capacity, metabolic rewiring, and cancer stem cell maintenance. This bidirectional crosstalk creates feedforward loops that drive tumor growth, survival under stress, therapy resistance, and metabolic plasticity, underscoring the relevance of dual-pathway targeting in PI3K- and Wnt-driven malignancies. Direct regulation is indicated in solid lines, indirect effects are indicated in dashed lines.

Fig. 4. Role of the Wnt pathway in dorsal–ventral axis specification and maternal determinant relocation. The maternal Wnt/β-catenin signaling directs early dorsal–ventral axis formation in Xenopus early embryos. Cortical rotation after fertilization translocates maternal dorsal determinants, including Dishevelled (Dvl) and Wnt pathway activators, from the vegetal pole toward the future dorsal side (A). This asymmetric distribution inhibits GSK3β locally, stabilizes β-catenin, and activates dorsal-specific genes such as siamois and twin, establishing the dorsal organizer and early polarity (C). Without Wnt signaling, β-catenin is degraded, maintaining low cytoplasmic levels (B). Perturbations of this pathway produce distinct phenotypes: Wnt inhibition leads to ventralized embryos lacking dorsal structures, while Wnt hyperactivation causes dorsalization, expanded organizer activity, and axis duplication. Ectopic Wnt activation in ventral blastomeres can induce a secondary organizer, occasionally resulting in embryos with two heads.

Cells & Development @cellsdev.bsky.social · 5d ago

It is often said that cancer is like development gone wrong. One of the most important signalling pathways of development, the Wnt pathway, is frequently altered in colon cancer. Nydia Tejeda-Muñoz et al discussed the complex biology of Wnt signalling network. Check it out: doi.org/10.1016/j.cd...

Melanie D. White @melaniedwhite.bsky.social · 6d ago

Happy #FluorescenceFriday 🔥 The title may be new, but the spectacular microscopy isn't! Congratulations to the newly minted DR @vanderspuy.bsky.social on a well-earned PhD! 🔬

EMBO @embo.org · 6d ago

Sign up now and learn more about astrocyte #research at the EMBO Workshop "Astrocytes: From molecules to systems" in Porto, Portugal, 12–16 April 2027. Deadline: 2 November 2026 https://meetings.embo.org/event/27-astrocytes #EMBOAstrocytes #EMBOevents 🧪

Crystal Rogers, PhD @rogerslabucd.bsky.social · 6d ago

Congratulations to @mayorlab.bsky.social on this well-deserved award! He gave a wonderful talk and I spotted some Vegas themes represented in his talk too! Placodes and fireballs!🤩

A pic of the society for developmental biology meeting, a screenshot of a talk showing placodes, and screenshot of a slot machine

Roberto Mayor Lab@mayorlab.bsky.social · last wk.

Thank you to the Society for Developmental Biology @socdevbio.bsky.social it was a tremendous honour to receive the Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Education Award. Special thanks to @rrbehringer.bsky.social and all the organisers of the SDB meeting in Las Vegas for such a truly remarkable meeting.

Cells & Development @cellsdev.bsky.social · 6d ago

If you're Chilean or work in Chile, or if your interest is w/ immunology and #devbio, submit to our special issues: 1. Chilean Developmental Biology: at Home and Around the World 2. Tissue Biology – at the interface between immunology and developmental biology www.sciencedirect.com/journal/cell...

Cells & Development | Article collections | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier

Read the latest chapters of Cells & Development at ScienceDirect.com, Elsevier’s leading platform of peer-reviewed scholarly literature

sciencedirect.com

International Society of Developmental Biology @isdb.bsky.social · 6d ago

Consider submitting your articles to our special issues 🧡

Cells & Development@cellsdev.bsky.social · 6d ago

If you're Chilean or work in Chile, or if your interest is w/ immunology and #devbio, submit to our special issues: 1. Chilean Developmental Biology: at Home and Around the World 2. Tissue Biology – at the interface between immunology and developmental biology www.sciencedirect.com/journal/cell...

Cells & Development @cellsdev.bsky.social · 6d ago

If you're Chilean or work in Chile, or if your interest is w/ immunology and #devbio, submit to our special issues: 1. Chilean Developmental Biology: at Home and Around the World 2. Tissue Biology – at the interface between immunology and developmental biology www.sciencedirect.com/journal/cell...

Cells & Development | Article collections | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier

Read the latest chapters of Cells & Development at ScienceDirect.com, Elsevier’s leading platform of peer-reviewed scholarly literature

sciencedirect.com

Yanlan Mao @yanlanmao.bsky.social · 6d ago

This epic paper, which has been a heroic 10 year journey for the lead author, Ricardo Barrientos, is finally out in Cell today! Many thanks to all co-authors, especially Billie Meadowcroft and Andela Saric for their beautiful MD simulations www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

Basement membrane turnover controls cell shape

Basement membranes are scaffolds of proteins, like collagen, that give organs shape. During development, basement membranes must adapt to the growing organ. We infer how fast the basement membrane ada...

cell.com

Development @dev-journal.bsky.social · 6d ago

From fossils to present: a conserved pattern in liverwort oil body specification This Research Highlight showcases work by @josepmercadal.bsky.social, Susan Tremblay, @leoniekraska.bsky.social, @pauformosa.bsky.social and colleagues. journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

Light micrographs of the Middle Devonian fossil liverwort Metzgeriothallus sharonae. (A) Thallus comprising a midrib and unistratose wings with scattered dark cells. Scale bar: 1 mm. (B-E) Representative images of M. sharonae showing sections of different thalli, in which scattered dark cells can be readily discerned. These dark cells are regularly distributed across space, mostly isolated (idioblasts) or forming small clusters of two to three cells (B,C). Occasionally, larger, mostly linear clusters of dark cells can also be observed (D). In a few sections, dark cells appear only occasionally and in idioblastic form (E). Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Specimen accession numbers are: UC250151.14 (B, top), UC250150.12 (B, bottom), UC250155.27 (C, top), UC250153.07 (C, bottom), UC250156.21 (D, top), UC250152.05 (D, bottom), UC250151.17 (E, top), and UC250155.09 (E, bottom). The specimen in A could not be preserved to become a permanent slide.

Crystal Rogers, PhD @rogerslabucd.bsky.social · 7d ago

I want to thank the @socdevbio.bsky.social Engagment and Outreach committee members! You all are amazing! And huge thanks to all of our special symposium speakers and our theme table facilitators over the last few years. It takes a village to create community! See you all next year! #DevBio ❤️

Crystal Rogers, PhD@rogerslabucd.bsky.social · last wk.

It was an honor to serve on the @socdevbio.bsky.social Engagement and Outreach committee as Chair for the last 3 years. Alas, my term is up and the new Chair of the EOC will be @valetornini.bsky.social from UCLA. Huge thanks to the #DevBio community! Also- thanks for the swag SDB! Love it! 😍

A wooden clock that says society for developmental biology

Roberto Mayor Lab @mayorlab.bsky.social · last wk.

Thank you to the Society for Developmental Biology @socdevbio.bsky.social it was a tremendous honour to receive the Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Education Award. Special thanks to @rrbehringer.bsky.social and all the organisers of the SDB meeting in Las Vegas for such a truly remarkable meeting.

Alex Eve @amjeve.uk · last wk.

Congratulations to @nickdesnoyer.bsky.social, winner of the @socdevbio.bsky.social Trainee Science Communication Award at #2026SDB. Check out Nick's not-for-profit organisation for engaging the public with developmental biology: Open Flower

Open Flower

Flower Genetic Design

openflower.bio

Alex Eve @amjeve.uk · last wk.

Many congratulations to Alex Joyner on winning the @socdevbio.bsky.social #2026SDB Lifetime Achievement Award for a really oustanding career and scientific contribution to developmental biology. Alex dedicates her talk to former mentor, Gail Martin (1944-2026).

Alex Eve @amjeve.uk · last wk.

Congratulations to Lee Niswander, winner of the @socdevbio.bsky.social #2026SDB Edwin G. Conklin Medal recognising her enormous contributions not just to science, but to the mentorship of generations of developmental biologists, advancing #devbio both through knowledge and people.

Alex Eve @amjeve.uk · last wk.

Congratulations, @jeffreyafarrell.bsky.social, on winning the @socdevbio.bsky.social #2026SDB Elizabeth D. Hay New Investigator Award! Learn more about Jeff's science and career in his @dev-journal.bsky.social interview with @saanjbati.bsky.social.

Transitions in development – an interview with Jeffrey Farrell

Jeffrey Farrell is an Earl Stadtman Investigator at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), USA, where he heads the Unit on Cell Specification and ...

doi.org

Crystal Rogers, PhD @rogerslabucd.bsky.social · last wk.

Packed house for the awards lectures at #2026SDB! @socdevbio.bsky.social

A lot of scientists listening to awards lectures at SDB

Crystal Rogers, PhD @rogerslabucd.bsky.social · 2w ago

Thank you to the @socdevbio.bsky.social community for all of the engagement you gave my students at their posters over the last two days! We celebrated their achievements at dinner! 🤩#2026SDB #VivaLasVegas

Crystal Rogers, PhD @rogerslabucd.bsky.social · 2w ago

If you are attending #2026SDB in Las Vegas- tomorrow (Saturday July 25) there will be fireworks above Caesar’s Palace at 9 PM! @socdevbio.bsky.social www.visitlasvegas.com/experience/p...

America 250 Las Vegas Fireworks: Best Viewing Spots & Schedule 2026

Celebrate America 250 in Las Vegas with weekly summer fireworks from June 6–July 25. Find the best viewing spots on the Strip, downtown, rooftops, pools, and restaurants, plus tips for July 4 and beyo...

visitlasvegas.com

Nature @nature.com · 2w ago

Scientists are getting closer to understanding the wasting and fatigue that often accompanies cancer go.nature.com/4wjEQjb

New hope in the fight against cachexia — cancer’s deadly co-conspirator

Nature - Scientists are getting closer to understanding the wasting and fatigue that often accompanies cancer. Treatments could be on the horizon.

go.nature.com

Cells & Development @cellsdev.bsky.social · 2w ago

Myelination of axons by Schwann cells (SCs) is a rather peculiar process. Degerny and Tawk et al show that there is a limited time window where SCs can myelinate, and this is linked to mitosis and Laminin expression. 🧠Check out the cool video and the publication here🧠: doi.org/10.1016/j.cd...

International Society of Developmental Biology @isdb.bsky.social · 2w ago

‼️One week left to register to our 2027 EMBO Developmental Biology course in Quintay: biodesarrollo.unab.cl/how-to-apply We showed you 🪰, we showed you 🐥, now we'll show you some🥚 taken by 1 of our 2026 attendees. We also have 🐟, 🐸, and maybe even 🦑. I guess you'll have to go to find out! 😜

Cells & Development @cellsdev.bsky.social · 2w ago

Myelination of axons by Schwann cells (SCs) is a rather peculiar process. Degerny and Tawk et al show that there is a limited time window where SCs can myelinate, and this is linked to mitosis and Laminin expression. 🧠Check out the cool video and the publication here🧠: doi.org/10.1016/j.cd...

EMBO @embo.org · 2w ago

Learn about cilia (dis)assembly, how cargo selection is regulated and how functions vary across tissues at the EMBO Workshop "Cilia" in Stresa, Italy, 9–12 March 2027. Early bird registration by 30 Sep Abstract submission by 30 Oct https://meetings.embo.org/event/27-cilia #EMBOcilia #EMBOevents 🧪

Society for Developmental Biology @socdevbio.bsky.social · 2w ago

🚨 IT’S FINALLY HERE #2026SDB starts TODAY! 🧬🎰 The countdown is over, and it’s time for the developmental biology community to come together in Las Vegas! Get ready for exciting science, new ideas, and plenty of opportunities to connect. See you at #2026SDB! 🎉

Development @dev-journal.bsky.social · 2w ago

Currently attending #2026SDB? Complete a short survey in exchange for a blank chip from The Company of Biologists' booth #20 @biologists.bsky.social. Grab yours from our team - while stocks last.

EMBO @embo.org · 2w ago

Today in a Latvian National Contact Point Webinar, Plamena Markova, Chief of EMBL International Relations and Fiona Watt, Director of EMBO, provided insight into the work, mission and opportunities offered by EMBL and EMBO. 🧪 #LifeSciences #research #Latvia #funding #opportunities

Cells & Development @cellsdev.bsky.social · 3w ago

How does cells in a notochord pack together? And how packing affects the physical interactions between cells? Using physical modelling, Lubkin et al found a relationship between cellular packing and tension, pressure, and eccentricity. Check out the paper for more details: doi.org/10.1016/j.cd...

Fig. A1. Trigonometric relations used to estimate force balances and geometric ratios in (A) bamboo and (B, C) staircase patterns. Cells are modeled as spheres of radius R, clipped by planes. Angles at triple-junctions where cell pairs meet sheath are governed by force balances and determine geometric ratios of cells. Cell-cell interfaces: magenta; cell-sheath interfaces: teal; similar triangles yellow. A. Bamboo cells are modeled as radially symmetric barrel shapes, parallel to and sharing the notochord axis, with centroid-centroid distances h. B. Staircase cells are modeled as barrel shapes oriented parallel to the notochord axis, centered either left or right of the midline, and cut by the plane separating left and right sides of the notochord. C. For staircase, centroid-centroid distance h is half the cell height because of staggered arrangement. Similar triangles show that cos θ = c/R = h/R = 1/(1 + Γ). Limiting case occurs when θ = π/4, i.e. when , when cell-cell contacts become complete disks (dotted teal curve).

Fig. 1. A. 2D illustration of a 48 hpf zebrafish, showing anatomical position of notochord (magenta). B. Lowest-order regular cell patterns, “bamboo” (left) and “staircase” (right). Top: 2D schematic; bottom: 3D shapes of model pairs of interior vacuolated cells. Cell-cell boundaries (magenta) and sheath-cell boundaries (cyan) are modeled as single surfaces with respective surface tensions 2γc and γs+γc. C. A key nondimensional ratio is cells per unit length λ ≡ D/d, where d is the diameter of a sphere having volume V of a cell, and D is the diameter of a cylinder with the same volume V, whose height h is the centroid-centroid distance. D. Left: An ellipse with aspect ratio ⍺ defined as the ratio of the major (M) to minor (m) axis lengths. The eccentricity e of this ellipse is given by , assuming ⍺ ≥ 1. Right: Eccentricity e increases from 0 (circle) and approaches 1 (becoming flatter). E. Another key nondimensional ratio is Γ ≡ γs/γc, the ratio of sheath tension to inner cell tension. Unequal surface tensions at a cell-cell junction are shown in a force diagram. The contact angle θ satisfies the Young-Dupré equation (Schrader, 1995).

International Society of Developmental Biology @isdb.bsky.social · 3w ago

Only 1 week left to registre!

Development@dev-journal.bsky.social · 3w ago

📣 One week left to register for #HumanDev26. We have teamed up with the @wellcometrust.bsky.social -funded consortium Human Developmental Biology Initiative (HDBI) to co-organise our 2026 Journal Meeting. Register by 24 July 2026. biologists.com/meetings/dev....

Promotional banner for the ‘Human Development: Stem Cells, Models, Embryos’ meeting, taking place 7–9 September 2026 at the University of Warwick, UK. The left side features white text on a black background with a blue box stating ‘Register now. Final deadline: 24 July 2026.’ Logos for Development and the Human Developmental Biology Initiative appear below. On the right is a colourful, spherical, microscopy-style image of a cellular structure. The hashtag #HumanDev26 appears at the bottom right.

Society for Developmental Biology @socdevbio.bsky.social · 3w ago

✨For this #FluorescenceFriday we are highlighting 10 amazing images of development from the Young Embryologist Network 2026 Image Competition! Follow the hashtag #yenimagecompetition for full details. 📷🔬