Xavier Franch‐Marro

Zygotic genome activation is timed by the egg DNA-to-cytoplasm ratio across animals

The paper investigates ZGA timing across 61 animal species and finds that genome size to cytoplasm volume ratio predicts ZGA onset.

E93 controls adult differentiation by repressing broad in Drosophila

The paper identifies E93 as a repressor of broad (br) to enable adult differentiation in Drosophila by preventing premature activation of pupal-specific enhancers.

Evolution of tissue-specific expression of ancestral genes across vertebrates andinsects

The paper investigates the evolution of tissue-specific gene expression across vertebrates and insects, finding that nearly half of ancestral genes have been recruited into tissue-specific transcriptomes.

TGFβ/activin-dependent activation of Torso controls the timing of the metamorphic transition in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum

This study identifies the role of TGFβ/activin and Torso signaling in regulating metamorphic timing in Tribolium castaneum by linking threshold size attainment to JH decay and Tc-torso expression.

Antagonistic role of the BTB-zinc finger transcription factors Chinmo and Broad-Complex in the juvenile/pupal transition and in growth control

This study investigates the roles of Chinmo and Br-C in developmental transitions and growth control in insects, showing their antagonistic functions in temporal identity and tumor suppression.

Ecdysone signaling controls early embryogenesis in the short-germ hemimetabolous insect Blattella germanica.

This study investigates the role of ecdysone signaling in early embryogenesis of the short-germ insect Blattella germanica, showing its critical role in germ band formation and segmentation.

Activation of EGFR signaling by Tc-Vein and Tc-Spitz regulates the metamorphic transition in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum

The paper identifies Tc-Vein and Tc-Spitz as ligands of Tc-Egfr signaling that regulate metamorphic transition in Tribolium castaneum, showing conservation of this pathway in holometabolous insects.

Dual role of Bnl/Fgf signaling in proliferation and endoreplication of Drosophila trachealadult progenitor cells

This study identifies a dual role for Bnl/FGF signaling in regulating both proliferation and endoreplication of Drosophila tracheal adult progenitor cells, depending on the presence or absence of the transcription factor Cut.