Short/Long Conveyor Belts
EMBO reports Cover Art
Heterochromatin, a condensed form of DNA in cells that regulates gene expression and maintains genome integrity, is essential for early development. Previous studies have suggested that heterochromatin reprogramming in invertebrates and non-mammalian vertebrates may differ from that in mammalian vertebrates. In this study, Dr. Fukushima (the same researchers who asked for the cover art of Genome Research Cover Art in 2023) and his team investigated the molecular mechanisms of heterochromatin marks in medaka, zebrafish, and frogs. They found that it was cell cycle length in early development that regulates heterochromatin reprogramming in these species
The paper was published at EMBO Rep(2024);25:3300-3323.
Metaphor for the Cell Cycle Length
The previous cover art focused on epigenetic modification in a single species, medaka. This time, the key is to illustrate the difference in cell cycle length among invertebrates, non-mammalian vertebrates, and mammalian vertebrates. After the initial meeting with Dr. Fukushima, I came up with two ideas to metaphorically represent cell cycle length: one using the size of bicycle wheels, and the other using the length of a conveyor belt.
Two rough images of the cover art. In both concepts, medaka, zebrafish, frog, and mice were personified.
They preferred the conveyor belt concept, as it more clearly illustrates the differences in cell cycle length. It was requested that the mouse be similar in size to other species and shown relaxing on the floor. This reflects the longer conveyor belt for mammalian vertebrates, representing their slower cell cycles and relatively mild reprogramming.
A finished Cover Art (with official EMBO reports logo.)
The official cover legend says: “This month's cover highlights the article Cell cycle length governs heterochromatin reprogramming during early development in non-mammalian vertebrates by Hiroto S Fukushima, Hiroyuki Takeda and colleagues. The image shows metaphorically the vertebrate histone modification factory during heterochromatin reprogramming after fertilization. Histone modifications are attached to nucleosomes on short conveyor belts by Medaka, Zebrafish and Xenopus, indicating genome-wide reprogramming of H3K9me3 in rapid-cleavage species. In contrast, the marks are already tethered to nucleosomes on a long conveyor belt next to a mouse relaxing on the floor, indicating the slow cell cycles and relatively mild reprogramming in mice”
Fortunately, the two cover art requested by Dr. Fukushima were selected as journal cover consecutively! This is truly a rare achievement. Congratulations!