Jun-Ru Lee

Deep homology of a brachyury regulatory syntax and origin of the notochord

The paper identifies an ancient regulatory syntax, SFZE, associated with brachyury across non-chordate and chordate species, suggesting its role in notochord origin through co-option of conserved elements.

Transgenesis enables mapping of segmental ganglia in the leech Helobdella austinensis

This study uses transgenesis in leeches to map segmental ganglia and finds variation in neuron numbers across species.

Epidermal turnover in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea involves basal cell extrusion and intestinal digestion.

This study quantifies epidermal cell turnover in planarians, revealing basal cell extrusion and intestinal digestion as mechanisms for cell removal.

Heterochronically expressed midline netrin was recruited to guide mesoderm migration in epibolic gastrulation of the leech

The paper shows that Hau-netrin-1 guides mesoderm migration during leech gastrulation, participating in two distinct stages of germinal band assembly and epibolic migration.