{
  "id": 9213941,
  "title": "Recording proteome dynamics in the late-stage embryo at hour-timescale, spatial, and single-cell resolution with MEMBRYO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/recording-proteome-dynamics-in-the-late-stage-embryo-at-hour",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-22T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.21.753234v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cell fate during development is governed by new gene expression states that supersede prior ones. The timing and duration of a protein's translation in the cell, as well as its subsequent turnover, determine the phenotypic effects of a gene. Accessing information about protein synthesis and degradation in the fast-developing embryo is a significant challenge. We introduce MEMBRYO, a technique for continuous stable isotope labeling (SILAC) of newly created proteins within the live embryo, tracking changes at hourly intervals during critical developmental stages.\n\nThis method allows us to extend embryo culture into the late stages of organogenesis, enabling the examination of the proteome involved in neurogenesis within the forebrain ex vivo. MEMBRYO reveals that variations in protein synthesis and degradation activities result in expression patterns that deviate from corresponding transcripts. These differences can influence molecular pathways and crucial milestones of cortical neuron differentiation.\n\nThe high labeling depth achieved by MEMBRYO facilitates both spatial and single-cell SILAC proteomics analysis of cortical cells. This approach uncovers distinct layers of post-transcriptional gene expression regulation within progenitors and neurons. By continuously labeling metabolic pathways within the live embryo, MEMBRYO tracks the past, present, and future of the developmental proteome.",
  "summary": "Cell fate during development is directed by new gene expression states that replace prior ones. When and where a protein is first translated, and how long it will remain in the cell, dictate the timing and extent of a gene's phenotypic effect. Accessing protein synthesis and turnover information in the rapidly developing embryo remains a major challenge. Here we present MEMBRYO: a method for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}