Matyas Bubna-Litic
@matyasbl.bsky.social
Interested in mechanobiology, morphogenesis, organisers and synthetic embryo models.
Research Fellow in Mongera lab UCL | PhD in Mayor and Charras labs | YEN Committee
Research Fellow in Mongera lab UCL | PhD in Mayor and Charras labs | YEN Committee
Happy (and spooky) #FluorescenceFriday
Switching from frogs (which are underrated btw) to zebrafish has really made me appreciate transparent tissues! 🐟
28 hpf, ⚪ nuclei, 🔴 F-actin
Switching from frogs (which are underrated btw) to zebrafish has really made me appreciate transparent tissues! 🐟
28 hpf, ⚪ nuclei, 🔴 F-actin
October 31, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Happy (and spooky) #FluorescenceFriday
Switching from frogs (which are underrated btw) to zebrafish has really made me appreciate transparent tissues! 🐟
28 hpf, ⚪ nuclei, 🔴 F-actin
Switching from frogs (which are underrated btw) to zebrafish has really made me appreciate transparent tissues! 🐟
28 hpf, ⚪ nuclei, 🔴 F-actin
Thank you for sharing! I'd like to highlight the concept of embryonic 'actuation' where a mechanical state change is caused by cells acting on each other through mechanics and/or biochemical signals but importantly not mediated by fate transitions.
September 4, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Thank you for sharing! I'd like to highlight the concept of embryonic 'actuation' where a mechanical state change is caused by cells acting on each other through mechanics and/or biochemical signals but importantly not mediated by fate transitions.
BSDB Bridging mechanics and genetics in early development at University of Warwick was great fun and I am grateful for the opportunity to present my PhD work.
June 30, 2025 at 9:50 PM
BSDB Bridging mechanics and genetics in early development at University of Warwick was great fun and I am grateful for the opportunity to present my PhD work.
Happy #MicroscopyMonday!
I was optimising some stainings a couple years ago (this one is Stage 32 with sodium borohydride to reduce autofluorescence). Any #Xenopus people know what the rosette-looking clusters around the eye are doing?
By the way, check out YEN Image Competition #YEN2025 ;)
I was optimising some stainings a couple years ago (this one is Stage 32 with sodium borohydride to reduce autofluorescence). Any #Xenopus people know what the rosette-looking clusters around the eye are doing?
By the way, check out YEN Image Competition #YEN2025 ;)
April 21, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Happy #MicroscopyMonday!
I was optimising some stainings a couple years ago (this one is Stage 32 with sodium borohydride to reduce autofluorescence). Any #Xenopus people know what the rosette-looking clusters around the eye are doing?
By the way, check out YEN Image Competition #YEN2025 ;)
I was optimising some stainings a couple years ago (this one is Stage 32 with sodium borohydride to reduce autofluorescence). Any #Xenopus people know what the rosette-looking clusters around the eye are doing?
By the way, check out YEN Image Competition #YEN2025 ;)
So what is embryonic actuation?
We see it as a result of a biochemical or mechanical interaction between cells/tissues that leads to a significant change in physical properties in the responding tissue. Actuation happens in parallel to induction and the processes can influence each other.
We see it as a result of a biochemical or mechanical interaction between cells/tissues that leads to a significant change in physical properties in the responding tissue. Actuation happens in parallel to induction and the processes can influence each other.
April 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM
So what is embryonic actuation?
We see it as a result of a biochemical or mechanical interaction between cells/tissues that leads to a significant change in physical properties in the responding tissue. Actuation happens in parallel to induction and the processes can influence each other.
We see it as a result of a biochemical or mechanical interaction between cells/tissues that leads to a significant change in physical properties in the responding tissue. Actuation happens in parallel to induction and the processes can influence each other.
Embryonic induction of fate is a core concept in developmental biology. But, cells can also modify the physical state of surrounding tissues a process we call 'actuation'.
I reviewed with
@mayorlab.bsky.social 3 excellent papers that show how actuation and feedback can drive changes in the embryo.
I reviewed with
@mayorlab.bsky.social 3 excellent papers that show how actuation and feedback can drive changes in the embryo.
April 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Embryonic induction of fate is a core concept in developmental biology. But, cells can also modify the physical state of surrounding tissues a process we call 'actuation'.
I reviewed with
@mayorlab.bsky.social 3 excellent papers that show how actuation and feedback can drive changes in the embryo.
I reviewed with
@mayorlab.bsky.social 3 excellent papers that show how actuation and feedback can drive changes in the embryo.
So what is embryonic actuation?
We see it as a result of a biochemical or mechanical interaction between cells/tissues that leads to a significant change in physical properties in the responding tissue. Actuation happens in parallel to induction and the processes can influence each other.
We see it as a result of a biochemical or mechanical interaction between cells/tissues that leads to a significant change in physical properties in the responding tissue. Actuation happens in parallel to induction and the processes can influence each other.
April 11, 2025 at 7:07 AM
So what is embryonic actuation?
We see it as a result of a biochemical or mechanical interaction between cells/tissues that leads to a significant change in physical properties in the responding tissue. Actuation happens in parallel to induction and the processes can influence each other.
We see it as a result of a biochemical or mechanical interaction between cells/tissues that leads to a significant change in physical properties in the responding tissue. Actuation happens in parallel to induction and the processes can influence each other.
Here is a better view of the whole embryo where the dorsal blastopore lip can be seen with chordin in red.
December 20, 2024 at 1:48 PM
Here is a better view of the whole embryo where the dorsal blastopore lip can be seen with chordin in red.
Last #FluorescenceFriday of the year!
(at least from me)
This fluorescent in situ probe worked much better than I expected. Chordin expression seen here at early gastrula stage of a #xenopus embryo.
(at least from me)
This fluorescent in situ probe worked much better than I expected. Chordin expression seen here at early gastrula stage of a #xenopus embryo.
December 20, 2024 at 1:36 PM
Last #FluorescenceFriday of the year!
(at least from me)
This fluorescent in situ probe worked much better than I expected. Chordin expression seen here at early gastrula stage of a #xenopus embryo.
(at least from me)
This fluorescent in situ probe worked much better than I expected. Chordin expression seen here at early gastrula stage of a #xenopus embryo.
A clearer view of the whole embryo with chordin expression at the dorsal side of the blastopore (in red)
December 20, 2024 at 1:22 PM
A clearer view of the whole embryo with chordin expression at the dorsal side of the blastopore (in red)
In summary, we show that mechanical compression modulates the response to the morphogen Activin in a β-catenin dependent manner. This leads to expression of head Organiser genes and a loss of elongation. Check out the full paper where we discuss possible sources of mechanical cues in vivo. 8/8
December 6, 2024 at 11:13 AM
In summary, we show that mechanical compression modulates the response to the morphogen Activin in a β-catenin dependent manner. This leads to expression of head Organiser genes and a loss of elongation. Check out the full paper where we discuss possible sources of mechanical cues in vivo. 8/8
The β-catenin responsive gene siamois was also increased at 30 min after compression of Activin-induced explants. This upregulation was blocked when explants were treated with a drug (IWR-1) that promotes β-catenin degradation. 7/n
December 6, 2024 at 11:13 AM
The β-catenin responsive gene siamois was also increased at 30 min after compression of Activin-induced explants. This upregulation was blocked when explants were treated with a drug (IWR-1) that promotes β-catenin degradation. 7/n
A promising candidate to explain the mechanics-dependent Organiser induction was β-catenin as it plays a crucial role in setting up dorsal identity in the embryo and has been shown to be responsive to mechanical stimulation. Staining for β-catenin has showed an increase in nuclear localisation. 6/n
December 6, 2024 at 11:13 AM
A promising candidate to explain the mechanics-dependent Organiser induction was β-catenin as it plays a crucial role in setting up dorsal identity in the embryo and has been shown to be responsive to mechanical stimulation. Staining for β-catenin has showed an increase in nuclear localisation. 6/n
This and other experiments suggested that induction could be affected and indeed when we looked at mesodermal markers with RT-qPCR, genes expressed in the head Organiser were upregulated in compressed explants. 5/n
December 6, 2024 at 11:13 AM
This and other experiments suggested that induction could be affected and indeed when we looked at mesodermal markers with RT-qPCR, genes expressed in the head Organiser were upregulated in compressed explants. 5/n
I noticed that when compression was applied (see movie with H2B and membrane above) during Activin treatment explants stopped elongating, but elongation was just fine when compression was applied after induction with Activin. 4/n
December 6, 2024 at 11:13 AM
I noticed that when compression was applied (see movie with H2B and membrane above) during Activin treatment explants stopped elongating, but elongation was just fine when compression was applied after induction with Activin. 4/n
AC assay is great as it allows control over extent and timing of both morphogen and mechanical cues ex vivo in embryonic tissue ex vivo without the need for dissociation. After treating with Activin for 1.5 h AC will form mesoderm, elongate and differentiate (e.g. muscle after 3 days in culture) 3/n
December 6, 2024 at 11:13 AM
AC assay is great as it allows control over extent and timing of both morphogen and mechanical cues ex vivo in embryonic tissue ex vivo without the need for dissociation. After treating with Activin for 1.5 h AC will form mesoderm, elongate and differentiate (e.g. muscle after 3 days in culture) 3/n
When I started this project with Roberto and Guillaume (shout-out to the amazing people in their labs) we wanted to investigate interplay of mechanical and chemical signals in embryonic induction. We used Xenopus 🐸 animal cap (AC) explants treated with Activin to make gastruloids 2/n
December 6, 2024 at 11:13 AM
When I started this project with Roberto and Guillaume (shout-out to the amazing people in their labs) we wanted to investigate interplay of mechanical and chemical signals in embryonic induction. We used Xenopus 🐸 animal cap (AC) explants treated with Activin to make gastruloids 2/n
It's #FluorescenceFriday again!
Some more #Xenopus... This time a #gastruloid formed by treating an explant of blastula presumptive ectoderm cells with Activin.
Nuclei labelled with H2B-mCherry with colour indicating size.
Some more #Xenopus... This time a #gastruloid formed by treating an explant of blastula presumptive ectoderm cells with Activin.
Nuclei labelled with H2B-mCherry with colour indicating size.
November 22, 2024 at 8:18 PM
It's #FluorescenceFriday again!
Some more #Xenopus... This time a #gastruloid formed by treating an explant of blastula presumptive ectoderm cells with Activin.
Nuclei labelled with H2B-mCherry with colour indicating size.
Some more #Xenopus... This time a #gastruloid formed by treating an explant of blastula presumptive ectoderm cells with Activin.
Nuclei labelled with H2B-mCherry with colour indicating size.
November 15, 2024 at 4:52 PM
Never get tired of seeing the impressive feat that is building the embryo through #gastrulation and #neurulation... #xenopus #devbio
November 11, 2024 at 12:51 PM
Never get tired of seeing the impressive feat that is building the embryo through #gastrulation and #neurulation... #xenopus #devbio
Let's kick things off with live imaging of Xenopus deep layer blastocoel roof cells imaged using Airyscan 2.
November 9, 2024 at 10:42 AM
Let's kick things off with live imaging of Xenopus deep layer blastocoel roof cells imaged using Airyscan 2.