Bob Zimmermann

This study creates a single-cell transcriptome atlas of Aurelia coerulea, revealing new medusa-specific cell types and molecular changes during the polyp-to-medusa transition.

The paper identifies ZSWIM4-6 as a novel BMP signaling modulator in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis through ChIP-Seq analysis of pSMAD1/5 target genes.

The paper reports chromosome-level genome assemblies of two sea anemones and finds conserved chromosomal blocks across cnidarians and bilaterians, but loss of microsynteny in Hox and NK clusters.

The study identifies gene duplications and co-option of effector modules as mechanisms driving muscle cell type diversification in sea anemones.

The paper investigates β-catenin-dependent axial patterning in Nematostella and finds similar regulatory logic to deuterostomes, suggesting a common evolutionary origin.

The paper shows that a cadherin switch accompanies germ layer formation in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, with cadherin1 and cadherin3 playing roles in tissue integrity and morphogenesis.