ABSTRACT Vinculin is a highly conserved protein involved in cell adhesion and mechanotransduction, both gain loss of its activity causes defective behaviour. Here, we examine how altering vinculin perturbs integrin function within the context Drosophila development. Whereas produced relatively minor phenotypes, activity, through head–tail autoinhibition, caused lethality. The minimal domain capable inducing lethality talin-binding D1 domain, this appears to require as was suppressed by...

Science does not take place in a vacuum: The physical and social workplace has profound influence on scientific discoveries. Everyone at research institute can contribute to its output productivity, from faculty groups facilities platforms staff administration corporate services. Although the researchers addressing exciting questions are key, their efforts be fostered directed by overarching strategy of institute, interconnection with platforms, strong support Everybody counts everybody...

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are synthesized as proproteins that undergo proteolytic processing by furin/subtilisin proprotein convertases to release the active ligand. Here we study of BMP5/6/7/8 proteins, including Drosophila orthologs Glass Bottom Boat (Gbb) and Screw (Scw) human BMP7. Gbb Scw have three functional convertase cleavage sites; two between prodomain ligand domain, which call Main Shadow sites, one within prodomain, Pro site. In each site can be cleaved independently,...

The Sanger Excellence Fellowship has been established to increase the representation of researchers with Black-heritage backgrounds at a leading research centre in UK.

D'Arcy Thompson was born in 1860, trained Edinburgh and Cambridge, held positions Dundee St Andrews, where he worked until his death 1948. On Growth Form, classic work on the mathematical patterns physical rules underlying biological forms, first published 1917. To learn more about book's context, we met Matthew Jarron, Curator of Museum Services at University Dundee, University's Zoology Museum. Surrounded by specimens, many which were collected himself, discussed legacy Form life man behind it.

Kathryn Anderson is Professor and Chair of the Developmental Biology Program at Sloan Kettering Institute in New York. Her lab investigates genetic networks underlying patterning morphogenesis early mouse embryo. We caught up with 2016 Society for – International Differentiation joint meeting Boston, where she was awarded Edwin G. Conklin medal.

The morphogenesis of tissues in animal development is orchestrated by intercellular signalling and executed cell behaviours such as changes to shape. Understanding the link between shape a key task developmental biology. This work addresses this problem using pupal wing Drosophila melanogaster. bilayered epithelium which patterned into vein intervein domains, secretes cuticle adult wing. I first address cellular basis development, show that process comprises series dynamic involving...

John Gurdon is a Distinguished Group Leader in the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Institute and Professor Emeritus Department of Zoology at University Cambridge. In 2012, he was awarded Nobel Prize Physiology or Medicine jointly with Shinya Yamanaka for work on reprogramming mature cells to pluripotency, his lab continues investigate molecular mechanisms nuclear by oocytes eggs. We met Cambridge office discuss career hear thoughts past, present future reprogramming.

Jim Smith is Director of Science at the Wellcome Trust and a group leader Francis Crick Institute, where he was formerly Research. A Fellow both Royal Society Academy Medical Sciences, knighted for his services to medical research science education in 2016. His lab works on mesoderm induction early vertebrate embryo. We met hear about life science, visions Trust, advice career scientists.

Cliff Tabin is George Jacob and Jacqueline Hazel Leder Professor Chairman of the Department Genetics at Harvard Medical School. His lab aims to understand genetic control morphogenesis during embryonic development its change over evolutionary time. We met Pan-American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology's second biennial meeting, held in Calgary August 2017, heard about how he got into development, a long-standing interest limb has been complemented by ventures new models why...

David McClay is the Arthur S. Pearse Professor of Biology at Trinity College Arts and Sciences, Duke University, North Carolina. His lab works on transcriptional control morphogenesis in sea urchin embryo. We caught up with 2016 Society for Developmental - International Differentiation joint meeting Boston, where he received Lifetime Achievement Award.

Doug Melton is Xander University Professor at Harvard University, co-director of the Stem Cell Institute and a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator. His lab investigates development pancreas, uses insights from this process to direct production insulin-producing beta cells stem cells. We met 2016 Society for Developmental Biology-International Differentiation (SDB-ISD) joint meeting in Boston, USA, where he gave Jean Brachet Lecture.

Eric Wieschaus is a HHMI Investigator, and the Squibb Professor in Molecular Biology at Princeton University Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics. In 1995, he was awarded Nobel Prize jointly with Edward Lewis Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard discoveries about genetic control of Drosophila embryogenesis. We caught up joint meeting German Japanese Societies Developmental Biologists held Kiel March 2017, discussed his career, thoughts on field impact award had life.

William 'Bill' Harris is Head of the Department Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at University Cambridge, UK, a Fellow both Royal Society Academy Medical Sciences. His lab works on development vertebrate nervous system, with particular focus cell lineage in retina. In 2017 he was awarded British for Developmental Biology's Waddington Medal outstanding research performance services to community. We met Bill his Cambridge talk science, art ice hockey.

Jennifer Nichols is a Principal Investigator at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Physiology, Development Neuroscience University Cambridge, UK. Her lab works on lineage segregation establishment pluripotency in mammalian embryo. In 2017 she was awarded British Society for Developmental Biology's Cheryll Tickle Medal, given to mid-career female scientists with outstanding achievements developmental biology. We met Jenny her office talk about vitro vivo, importance...

George Daley is Dean of the Faculty Medicine, Professor Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Caroline Shields Walker Medicine at Harvard Medical School. A former Howard Hughes Institute Investigator President International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) from 2007-2008, his lab works on biology clinical application stem cells, with a particular focus hematopoiesis. He was awarded Public Service Award ISSCR 2017 meeting in Boston, where we caught up him to discuss move...

Jayaraj (Jay) Rajagopal is a Principal Investigator at the Center for Regenerative Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Harvard Medical School. A Howard Hughes Institute Faculty Scholar, his lab works on development regeneration lung. He uses stem cell animal models to develop novel insights that hopefully will provide inspiration therapies help treat human lung disease. was awarded Dr Susan Lim Award Outstanding Young 2017 International Society Stem Cell...