Epithelial tissue forms the outermost protective barrier of tissues and organs and is therefore prone to wounds and injuries. Gaps created in this barrier get sealed efficiently by the coordinated movement of the epithelial cells surrounding the gap. These cells use largely two methods to move into these gaps, either by forming large membrane protrusions or by forming contractile bundles at the edge. Simran and colleagues, a group of researchers from Prof Tamal Das’ lab at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad, discovered that epithelial cells can sense the shape and geometry of the gap created in the tissue and can respond to it by changing their intracellular structures and the mode of migration. Their study, now published in Nature Cell Biology, has revealed that the largest cell organelle- Endoplasmic Reticulum, senses and responds to the geometry of the gaps created in epithelial tissues and alters its structure and organization in response.  Specifically, they show that ER shows tubular morphology at the convex gap geometry, and it shows dense flat sheet morphology at the concave curvatures. They also collaborate with Prof. Fabian Spill and Dr. Pradeep Keshavanarayana at the University of Birmingham to develop a mathematical model to understand the physical mechanism for the reorganisation of ER. Keshavanarayana’s model revealed that these different ER morphologies are adapted to lower the strain energy of the cells while moving at different curvatures. The study reveals a previously undescribed role of ER, sensing and guiding the movement of the cells during wound healing. 

A new study led by the Konrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition at the University of Vienna sheds light on a long-standing mystery in animal behavior: why do certain individuals gain more influence than others within a group? The research shows that bold geese – but not aggressive ones – are more likely to be accepted as leaders, while exploratory individuals tend to follow them – revealing a nuanced interplay of personality and social roles in collective movement decisions. The results of the study have just been published in the journal iScience.

By uncovering the blinking communication of river birds, scientists have shed new light on the mechanisms and evolution of animal interactions

Manual harvesting remains a major bottleneck in muscadine grape production, accounting for up to 40% of production costs. 

Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) have recorded human embryo implantation in real time for the first time, using an innovative system developed in the laboratory that simulates the outer layers of the uterus in 3D. Implantation failure is one of the main causes of infertility, accounting for 60% of miscarriages. The work, published in the journal Science Advances, may help to better understand the mechanisms underlying the implantation process, improving fertility rates and optimising assisted reproduction processes.