Extracellular matrices (ECMs) are essential for the architecture and function of animal
tissues. ECMs have been thought to be highly stable structures; however, too much stability …

In this chapter, we highlight examples of the diverse array of developmental, cellular, and
biochemical insights that can be gained by using Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis as a …

Stem cells typically reside in a specialized physical and biochemical environment that
facilitates regulation of their behavior. For this reason, stem cells are ideally studied in …

Proteoglycans and selected extracellular matrix constituents are emerging as intrinsic and
critical regulators of evolutionarily conversed, intracellular catabolic pathways. Often, these …

Drosophila female germline stem cells (GSCs) are found inside the cellular niche at the tip of
the ovary. They undergo asymmetric divisions to renew the stem cell lineage and to produce …

Ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins are dioxygenases that convert 5-methylcytosine
(5mC) into 5-hydroxylmethylcytosine (5hmC) in DNA and RNA. However, their involvement …

Biological tubes are fundamental units of most metazoan organs. Their defective
morphogenesis can cause malformations and pathologies. An integral component of …

The organ-specific toxicity resulting from microplastic (MP) exposure has been extensively
explored, particularly concerning the gut, liver, testis, and lung. However, under natural …

Macrophages constitute the first defense line against the non-self, but their ability to remodel
their environment in organ development/homeostasis is starting to be appreciated. Early …

The identification of genes affecting gonad development is essential to understand the
mechanisms causing Variations/Differences in Sex Development (DSD). Recently, a DLC3 …