Sean G. Megason

Heterogeneity of Sonic Hedgehog response dynamics and fate specification in single neural progenitors

The paper quantifies Shh response dynamics in zebrafish neural progenitors and finds significant heterogeneity between Shh response and fate choice.

Mini-Pcdh15b Gene Therapy Rescues Visual Deficits in a Zebrafish Model of Usher Syndrome Type 1F

This paper shows that a gene therapy using a shortened PCDH15 variant rescues vision in a zebrafish model of Usher Syndrome Type 1F.

Tissue Fluidity Mediates a Trade-off Between the Speed and Accuracy of Multicellular Patterning by Cell Sorting

This paper shows that tissue fluidity regulates the speed and accuracy of adhesion-based cell sorting through a trade-off between cell motility and adhesion.

Microtubule-dependent cell polarity regulates skin-resident macrophage phagocytosis and directed cell migration

This study shows that microtubules regulate Langerhans cell phagocytosis and directed migration in zebrafish skin by controlling dendrite morphology and navigation.

Far-red fluorescent genetically encoded calcium ion indicators

This paper introduces two new far-red fluorescent GECIs, FR-GECO1a and FR-GECO1c, characterized for their Ca2+ sensitivity and performance in neuronal imaging.

IQGAP2 regulates blood-brain barrier immune dynamics

This study shows that IQGAP2 regulates immune cell entry into the CNS by modulating BBB function through adhesion receptors and antigen-processing machinery.

Neural plate morphogenesis and pre-patterning enable specification of intermediate progenitors in the spinal cord

The paper shows intermediate spinal cord progenitors are specified through neural plate dynamics and signaling, not direct morphogen exposure.

Zebrafish glial-vascular interactions progressively expand over the course of brain development

This study examines glial-vascular interactions in zebrafish brains across development, showing increasing glial coverage over time, with lower adult coverage compared to mammals.

Global decoupling of cell differentiation from cell division in early embryo development

This study shows cell division is dispensable for differentiation of embryonic tissues in zebrafish but affects cell state proportions.

The secreted neuronal signal Spock1 regulates the blood-brain barrier

The paper identifies Spock1 as a neuronal signal that regulates blood-brain barrier permeability by altering extracellular matrix and vascular gene expression in zebrafish and mice.

A Scube2-Shh feedback loop links morphogen release and spread to morphogen signaling to enable scale invariant patterning of the ventral neural tube

The paper shows that Scube2 and Shh form a feedback loop that enables the Shh morphogen gradient to scale with tissue size in the ventral neural tube.

A bioelectrical phase transition patterns the first beats of a vertebrate heart

The paper identifies a bioelectrical phase transition as the mechanism initiating the first heartbeat in zebrafish, using optogenetic perturbations and all-optical electrophysiology.

Extracellular hyaluronate pressure shaped by cellular tethers drives tissue morphogenesis

The paper shows that hyaluronate pressure, driven by local secretion and anisotropic tissue stiffness, shapes zebrafish semicircular canals without actomyosin contractility.

Bmper is required for morphogenesis of the anterior and posterior semicircular canal ducts in the developing zebrafish inner ear

This study shows that Bmper promotes BMP signaling during semicircular canal development in zebrafish, leading to duct truncations in mutants.

Single cell response landscape of graded Nodal signaling in zebrafish explants

The paper constructs a single-cell response landscape to graded Nodal signaling in zebrafish explants, identifies 105 immediate targets, and shows Nodal can induce axial mesoderm and head structure but not internal endoderm.

An adhesion code ensures robust pattern formation during tissue morphogenesis

The paper identifies an adhesion code in zebrafish neural progenitors that ensures robust stripe-like pattern formation during spinal cord morphogenesis.

Size control of the inner ear via hydraulic feedback

The paper investigates how zebrafish inner ear size is controlled through hydraulic feedback mechanisms involving fluid pressure and transport.

Suppression of transcytosis regulates zebrafish blood-brain barrier development

The paper studies zebrafish blood-brain barrier development, finding that suppression of transcytosis is critical for BBB formation and that Mfsd2a plays a conserved role in this process.

Cortical Column and Whole Brain Imaging of Neural Circuits with Molecular Contrast and Nanoscale Resolution

The paper combines expansion and lattice light sheet microscopy to enable high-speed, nanoscale molecular imaging of neural circuits across large volumes.

Lamellar Junctions In The Endolymphatic Sac Act As A Relief Valve To Regulate Inner Ear Pressure

The paper identifies a pressure relief valve in the endolymphatic sac of zebrafish larvae that regulates inner ear pressure through dynamic lamellar junctions.

Observing the Cell in Its Native State: Imaging Subcellular Dynamics in Multicellular Organisms

The paper develops a method to image subcellular dynamics in vivo using lattice light sheet microscopy and adaptive optics, revealing phenotypic diversity across organisms and developmental stages.

Feedback control of neurogenesis by tissue packing

The paper shows that dense tissue packing and cell geometry regulate differentiation rate in zebrafish neural tube progenitors through Notch-dependent mechanisms.

Size-reduced embryos reveal a gradient scaling based mechanism for zebrafish somite formation

The paper shows that a dynamically scaling gradient in the presomitic mesoderm regulates somite size control in zebrafish embryos.