Sophie Astrof

Identification of novel genes regulating the development of the palate

The study identifies 45 novel genes involved in palate development using IMPC knockout mouse embryos and micro-CT data.

The mesodermal source of fibronectin is required for heart morphogenesis and cardiac outflow tract elongation by regulating cell shape, polarity, and mechanotransduction in the second heart field

This study identifies fibronectin as a key regulator of cardiac outflow tract elongation by modulating cell behavior in the second heart field.

Identification of novel buffering mechanisms in aortic arch artery development and congenital heart disease.

The paper identifies a buffering mechanism in aortic arch artery development that compensates for reduced endothelial cell numbers, preventing congenital heart disease.

SMAD4: A Critical Regulator of Cardiac Neural Crest Cell Fate and Vascular Smooth Muscle Differentiation

This study investigates SMAD4's role in cardiac neural crest cell survival, differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells, and contribution to pharyngeal arch development using mouse models.

Integration of vascular progenitors into functional blood vessels represents a novel mechanism of vascular growth

The paper identifies a novel site of late vasculogenesis in zebrafish embryos that contributes to functional blood vessels after circulation is established.

Cell-ECM interactions play distinct and essential roles at multiple stages during the development of the aortic arch arteries

This study investigates how cell-ECM interactions, specifically through integrin 5β1 and fibronectin, regulate the morphogenesis of the aortic arch arteries at multiple developmental stages.

H2A.Z-dependent and -independent recruitment of metabolic enzymes to chromatin required for histone modifications

The paper identifies H2A.Z-dependent and -independent recruitment of metabolic enzymes to chromatin and shows their role in histone modifications in mouse heart cells.