1
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Hamann C, Kjar A, Kim H, Simmons AJ, Brien HJ, Quartey CI, Walton BL, Lau KS, Lippmann ES, Brunger JM. Induced Neural Progenitor Specification from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by a Refined Synthetic Notch Platform. ACS Synth Biol 2025; 14:1482-1495. [PMID: 40327355 PMCID: PMC12090341 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2025] [Accepted: 04/23/2025] [Indexed: 05/07/2025]
Abstract
Historically, studying the development of brain and central nervous system (CNS) tissues has been challenging. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology has allowed for the in vitro reconstitution of relevant, early cell trajectories by using small molecules and recombinant proteins to guide differentiation of cells toward relevant brain and CNS phenotypes. However, many of these protocols fail to recapitulate the cell-guided differentiation programs intrinsic to embryonic development, particularly the signaling centers that emerge within the neural tube during brain formation. Located on the ventral end of the neural tube, the floor plate acts as one such signaling center to pattern the dorsal/ventral axis by secreting the morphogen Sonic Hedgehog (SHH). Here, we present a method for cell-guided differentiation using the synthetic Notch (synNotch) receptor platform to regulate SHH production and subsequent cell fate specification. We show that the widely used configuration of the orthogonal synNotch ligand green fluorescent protein (GFP) mounted on a platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β transmembrane chassis does not allow for robust artificial signaling in synNotch-hPSCs ("receivers") cocultured with ligand-presenting hPSCs ("senders"). We discovered that refined designs of membrane-bound GFP-ligand allow for efficient receptor activation in hPSC receivers. A variant of this enhanced synNotch system drives the production of SHH in hPSC sender:hPSC receiver cocultures and gives rise to floor plate-like cell types seen during neural tube development. This revised synNotch platform has the potential to pattern hPSC differentiation programs in synthetic morphogenesis studies designed to uncover key paradigms of human CNS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine
A. Hamann
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Andrew Kjar
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Hyosung Kim
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Alan J. Simmons
- Department
of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Hannah J. Brien
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Cheryl I. Quartey
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Bonnie L. Walton
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Ken S. Lau
- Department
of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Center
for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Center
for
Computational Systems Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Ethan S. Lippmann
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Center
for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Brunger
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Center
for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Center
for
Computational Systems Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
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2
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Ho RDJG, Kishi K, Majka M, Kicheva A, Zagorski M. Dynamics of morphogen source formation in a growing tissue. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1012508. [PMID: 39401260 PMCID: PMC11501038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 10/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024] Open
Abstract
A tight regulation of morphogen production is key for morphogen gradient formation and thereby for reproducible and organised organ development. Although many genetic interactions involved in the establishment of morphogen production domains are known, the biophysical mechanisms of morphogen source formation are poorly understood. Here we addressed this by focusing on the morphogen Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in the vertebrate neural tube. Shh is produced by the adjacently located notochord and by the floor plate of the neural tube. Using a data-constrained computational screen, we identified different possible mechanisms by which floor plate formation can occur, only one of which is consistent with experimental data. In this mechanism, the floor plate is established rapidly in response to Shh from the notochord and the dynamics of regulatory interactions within the neural tube. In this process, uniform activators and Shh-dependent repressors are key for establishing the floor plate size. Subsequently, the floor plate becomes insensitive to Shh and increases in size due to tissue growth, leading to scaling of the floor plate with neural tube size. In turn, this results in scaling of the Shh amplitude with tissue growth. Thus, this mechanism ensures a separation of time scales in floor plate formation, so that the floor plate domain becomes growth-dependent after an initial rapid establishment phase. Our study raises the possibility that the time scale separation between specification and growth might be a common strategy for scaling the morphogen gradient amplitude in growing organs. The model that we developed provides a new opportunity for quantitative studies of morphogen source formation in growing tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D. J. G. Ho
- Institute of Theoretical Physics and Mark Kac Center for Complex Systems Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
- The Njord Centre, Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kasumi Kishi
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Maciej Majka
- Institute of Theoretical Physics and Mark Kac Center for Complex Systems Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Kicheva
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Marcin Zagorski
- Institute of Theoretical Physics and Mark Kac Center for Complex Systems Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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3
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Zheng Y, Li X, Nie H, Zhang F, Xun J, Xu S, Wu L. Organophosphate flame retardants tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) disrupt human motor neuron development by differentially affecting their survival and differentiation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174772. [PMID: 39019263 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Mounting evidence in animal experiments proves that early life stage exposure to organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) affects the locomotor behavior and changes the transcriptions of central nervous system genes. Unfortunately, their effect on human motor neuron (MN) development, which is necessary for body locomotion and survival, has not yet characterized. Here, we utilized a spinal cord MN differentiation model from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adopted this model to test the effects of two typical OPFRs tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), on MN development and the possible mechanisms underlying. Our findings revealed TBEP exerted a much more inhibitory effect on MN survival, while TCEP exhibited a stronger stimulatory effect on ESCs differentiation into MN, and thus TBEP exhibited a stronger inhibition on MN development than TCEP. RNA sequencing analysis identified TBEP and TCEP inhibited MN survival mainly by disrupting extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction. Focusing on the pathway guided MN differentiation, we found both TBEP and TCEP activated BMP signaling, whereas TCEP simultaneously downregulated Wnt signaling. Collectively, this is the first study demonstrated TBEP and TCEP disrupted human MN development by affecting their survival and differentiation, thereby raising concern about their potential harm in causing MN disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Zheng
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Haifeng Nie
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Fangrong Zhang
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Jiali Xun
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Shengmin Xu
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Lijun Wu
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China.
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4
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Holzner M, Wutz A, Di Minin G. Applying Spinal Cord Organoids as a quantitative approach to study the mammalian Hedgehog pathway. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301670. [PMID: 38917070 PMCID: PMC11198841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog (HH) pathway is crucial for embryonic development, and adult homeostasis. Its dysregulation is implicated in multiple diseases. Existing cellular models used to study HH signal regulation in mammals do not fully recapitulate the complexity of the pathway. Here we show that Spinal Cord Organoids (SCOs) can be applied to quantitively study the activity of the HH pathway. During SCO formation, the specification of different categories of neural progenitors (NPC) depends on the intensity of the HH signal, mirroring the process that occurs during neural tube development. By assessing the number of NPCs within these distinct subgroups, we are able to categorize and quantify the activation level of the HH pathway. We validate this system by measuring the effects of mutating the HH receptor PTCH1 and the impact of HH agonists and antagonists on NPC specification. SCOs represent an accessible and reliable in-vitro tool to quantify HH signaling and investigate the contribution of genetic and chemical cues in the HH pathway regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Holzner
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Hönggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anton Wutz
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Hönggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giulio Di Minin
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Hönggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland
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5
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Zhou G, Pang S, Li Y, Gao J. Progress in the generation of spinal cord organoids over the past decade and future perspectives. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1013-1019. [PMID: 37862203 PMCID: PMC10749595 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord organoids are three-dimensional tissues derived from stem cells that recapitulate the primary morphological and functional characteristics of the spinal cord in vivo. As emerging bioengineering methods have led to the optimization of cell culture protocols, spinal cord organoids technology has made remarkable advancements in the past decade. Our literature search found that current spinal cord organoids do not only dynamically simulate neural tube formation but also exhibit diverse cytoarchitecture along the dorsal-ventral and rostral-caudal axes. Moreover, fused organoids that integrate motor neurons and other regionally specific organoids exhibit intricate neural circuits that allows for functional assessment. These qualities make spinal cord organoids valuable tools for disease modeling, drug screening, and tissue regeneration. By utilizing this emergent technology, researchers have made significant progress in investigating the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of spinal cord diseases. However, at present, spinal cord organoid technology remains in its infancy and has not been widely applied in translational medicine. Establishment of the next generation of spinal cord organoids will depend on good manufacturing practice standards and needs to focus on diverse cell phenotypes and electrophysiological functionality evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Siyuan Pang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yongning Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of International Medical Service, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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6
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Sasai N, Tada S, Ohshiro J, Kogiso C, Shinozuka T. Regulation of progenitor cell survival by a novel chromatin remodeling factor during neural tube development. Dev Growth Differ 2024; 66:89-100. [PMID: 38014908 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
During development, progenitor cell survival is essential for proper tissue functions, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we show that ERCC6L2, a member of the Snf2 family of helicase-like proteins, plays an essential role in the survival of developing chick neural cells. ERCC6L2 expression is induced by the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling molecule by a mechanism similar to that of the known Shh target genes Ptch1 and Gli1. ERCC6L2 blocks programmed cell death induced by Shh inhibition and this inhibition is independent of neural tube patterning. ERCC6L2 knockdown by siRNA resulted in the aberrant appearance of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, ERCC6L2 cooperates with the Shh signal and plays an essential role in the induction of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2. Taken together, ERCC6L2 acts as a key factor in ensuring the survival of neural progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriaki Sasai
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Shogo Tada
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Jumi Ohshiro
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Chikara Kogiso
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Takuma Shinozuka
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
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7
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Farheen S, PM MM, Rehman S, Hoda MF, Gupta Y, Ali A, Chosdol K, Shahi MH. Homeodomain Transcription Factors Nkx2.2 and Pax6 as Novel Biomarkers for Meningioma Tumor Treatment. Indian J Clin Biochem 2024; 39:47-59. [PMID: 38223000 PMCID: PMC10784245 DOI: 10.1007/s12291-022-01085-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Meningioma is a common brain tumour which has neither a specific detection nor treatment method. The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) cell signaling pathway is a crucial regulatory pathway of mammalian organogenesis and tumorigenesis including meningioma. Shh cell signalling pathway cascade function by main transcription factor Gli1 and which further regulates in its downstream to Pax6 and Nkx2.2. This current study is aimed to explore the regulation of the Sonic hedgehog-Gli1 cell signaling pathway and its potential downstream targets in meningioma samples. A total of 24 surgically resected meningioma samples were used in this current study.Cytological changes were assessed using electron microscopic techniques as well as hematoxylin & eosin and DAPI staining. The expression pattern of Gli1, Nkx2.2 and Pax6 transcription factors were determined by using immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression was assessed using RT-qPCR assays. Later, the whole transcriptome analysis of samples was performed with the amploseq technique. Results were compared with those obtained in normal human brain tissue (or normal meninges). Compared to the normal human brain tissue, meningioma samples showed crowded nuclei with morphological changes. Transcription factor Nkx2.2 expressed highly in all samples (24/24, 100%). Twenty-one of the 24 meningiomas (88%) showed high Gli1 and Pax6 expression. Whole transcriptome analysis of two meningioma samples also exhibited a very high increase in Gli1 expression signal in meningioma samples as compare to normal control. Hence, we may conclude that the Shh-Gli1 pathway is aberrantly activated in meningioma cells and is canonically upregulating the expression of transcription factors Pax6 and Nkx2.2. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-022-01085-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Farheen
- Interdisciplinary Brain Research Centre, J. N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University (A.M.U), Aligarh, 202002 Uttra Pradesh India
| | - Mubeena Mariyath PM
- Interdisciplinary Brain Research Centre, J. N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University (A.M.U), Aligarh, 202002 Uttra Pradesh India
| | - Suhailur Rehman
- Department of Pathology, J. N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Md. Fakhrul Hoda
- Department of Neurosurgery, J. N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Yakhlesh Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Asif Ali
- Interdisciplinary Brain Research Centre, J. N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University (A.M.U), Aligarh, 202002 Uttra Pradesh India
| | - Kunzang Chosdol
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mehdi H. Shahi
- Interdisciplinary Brain Research Centre, J. N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University (A.M.U), Aligarh, 202002 Uttra Pradesh India
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8
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Vermeiren S, Cabochette P, Dannawi M, Desiderio S, San José AS, Achouri Y, Kricha S, Sitte M, Salinas-Riester G, Vanhollebeke B, Brunet JF, Bellefroid EJ. Prdm12 represses the expression of the visceral neuron determinants Phox2a/b in developing somatosensory ganglia. iScience 2023; 26:108364. [PMID: 38025786 PMCID: PMC10663820 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prdm12 is a transcriptional regulator essential for the emergence of the somatic nociceptive lineage during sensory neurogenesis. The exact mechanisms by which Prdm12 promotes nociceptor development remain, however, poorly understood. Here, we report that the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia hypoplasia induced by the loss of Prdm12 involves Bax-dependent apoptosis and that it is accompanied by the ectopic expression of the visceral sensory neuron determinants Phox2a and Phox2b, which is, however, not sufficient to impose a complete fate switch in surviving somatosensory neurons. Mechanistically, our data reveal that Prdm12 is required from somatosensory neural precursors to early post-mitotic differentiating nociceptive neurons to repress Phox2a/b and that its repressive function is context dependent. Together, these findings reveal that besides its essential role in nociceptor survival during development, Prdm12 also promotes nociceptor fate via an additional mechanism, by preventing precursors from engaging into an alternate Phox2 driven visceral neuronal type differentiation program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Vermeiren
- Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Pauline Cabochette
- Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Maya Dannawi
- Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Simon Desiderio
- Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Alba Sabaté San José
- Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Younes Achouri
- Transgenesis Platform, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Institut de Duve, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sadia Kricha
- Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Maren Sitte
- NGS Integrative Genomics, Department of Human Genetics at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Salinas-Riester
- NGS Integrative Genomics, Department of Human Genetics at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Benoit Vanhollebeke
- Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Jean-François Brunet
- Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), Inserm, CNRS, École Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 8197, 75005 Paris, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1024, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Eric J. Bellefroid
- Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
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9
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Frith TJR, Briscoe J, Boezio GLM. From signalling to form: the coordination of neural tube patterning. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 159:168-231. [PMID: 38729676 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The development of the vertebrate spinal cord involves the formation of the neural tube and the generation of multiple distinct cell types. The process starts during gastrulation, combining axial elongation with specification of neural cells and the formation of the neuroepithelium. Tissue movements produce the neural tube which is then exposed to signals that provide patterning information to neural progenitors. The intracellular response to these signals, via a gene regulatory network, governs the spatial and temporal differentiation of progenitors into specific cell types, facilitating the assembly of functional neuronal circuits. The interplay between the gene regulatory network, cell movement, and tissue mechanics generates the conserved neural tube pattern observed across species. In this review we offer an overview of the molecular and cellular processes governing the formation and patterning of the neural tube, highlighting how the remarkable complexity and precision of vertebrate nervous system arises. We argue that a multidisciplinary and multiscale understanding of the neural tube development, paired with the study of species-specific strategies, will be crucial to tackle the open questions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James Briscoe
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.
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10
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Kim YI, O'Rourke R, Sagerström CG. scMultiome analysis identifies embryonic hindbrain progenitors with mixed rhombomere identities. eLife 2023; 12:e87772. [PMID: 37947350 PMCID: PMC10662952 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhombomeres serve to position neural progenitors in the embryonic hindbrain, thereby ensuring appropriate neural circuit formation, but the molecular identities of individual rhombomeres and the mechanism whereby they form has not been fully established. Here, we apply scMultiome analysis in zebrafish to molecularly resolve all rhombomeres for the first time. We find that rhombomeres become molecularly distinct between 10hpf (end of gastrulation) and 13hpf (early segmentation). While the embryonic hindbrain transiently contains alternating odd- versus even-type rhombomeres, our scMultiome analyses do not detect extensive odd versus even molecular characteristics in the early hindbrain. Instead, we find that each rhombomere displays a unique gene expression and chromatin profile. Prior to the appearance of distinct rhombomeres, we detect three hindbrain progenitor clusters (PHPDs) that correlate with the earliest visually observed segments in the hindbrain primordium that represent prospective rhombomere r2/r3 (possibly including r1), r4, and r5/r6, respectively. We further find that the PHPDs form in response to Fgf and RA morphogens and that individual PHPD cells co-express markers of multiple mature rhombomeres. We propose that the PHPDs contain mixed-identity progenitors and that their subdivision into individual rhombomeres requires the resolution of mixed transcription and chromatin states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Il Kim
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical SchoolAuroraUnited States
| | - Rebecca O'Rourke
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical SchoolAuroraUnited States
| | - Charles G Sagerström
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical SchoolAuroraUnited States
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11
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Legnini I, Emmenegger L, Zappulo A, Rybak-Wolf A, Wurmus R, Martinez AO, Jara CC, Boltengagen A, Hessler T, Mastrobuoni G, Kempa S, Zinzen R, Woehler A, Rajewsky N. Spatiotemporal, optogenetic control of gene expression in organoids. Nat Methods 2023; 20:1544-1552. [PMID: 37735569 PMCID: PMC10555836 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-01986-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Organoids derived from stem cells have become an increasingly important tool for studying human development and modeling disease. However, methods are still needed to control and study spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression in organoids. Here we combined optogenetics and gene perturbation technologies to activate or knock-down RNA of target genes in programmable spatiotemporal patterns. To illustrate the usefulness of our approach, we locally activated Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling in an organoid model for human neurodevelopment. Spatial and single-cell transcriptomic analyses showed that this local induction was sufficient to generate stereotypically patterned organoids and revealed new insights into SHH's contribution to gene regulation in neurodevelopment. With this study, we propose optogenetic perturbations in combination with spatial transcriptomics as a powerful technology to reprogram and study cell fates and tissue patterning in organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivano Legnini
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany.
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy.
| | - Lisa Emmenegger
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alessandra Zappulo
- Systems Biology of Neural Tissue Differentiation, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Agnieszka Rybak-Wolf
- Organoid Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ricardo Wurmus
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Science, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Oliveras Martinez
- Systems Biology Imaging Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cledi Cerda Jara
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anastasiya Boltengagen
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Talé Hessler
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guido Mastrobuoni
- Proteomic and Metabolomics Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Kempa
- Proteomic and Metabolomics Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Zinzen
- Systems Biology of Neural Tissue Differentiation, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- Systems Biology Imaging Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrew Woehler
- Systems Biology Imaging Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany.
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany.
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany.
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Berlin, Germany.
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12
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Sen SQ. Generating neural diversity through spatial and temporal patterning. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 142:54-66. [PMID: 35738966 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The nervous system consists of a vast diversity of neurons and glia that are accurately assembled into functional circuits. What are the mechanisms that generate these diverse cell types? During development, an epithelial sheet with neurogenic potential is initially regionalised into spatially restricted domains of gene expression. From this, pools of neural stem cells (NSCs) with distinct molecular profiles and the potential to generate different neuron types, are specified. These NSCs then divide asymmetrically to self-renew and generate post-mitotic neurons or glia. As NSCs age, they experience transitions in gene expression, which further allows them to generate different neurons or glia over time. Versions of this general template of spatial and temporal patterning operate during the development of different parts of different nervous systems. Here, I cover our current knowledge of Drosophila brain and optic lobe development as well as the development of the vertebrate cortex and spinal cord within the framework of this above template. I highlight where our knowledge is lacking, where mechanisms beyond these might operate, and how the emergence of new technologies might help address unanswered questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Q Sen
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, UAS-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore, India.
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13
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Kim YI, O’Rourke R, Sagerström CG. scMultiome analysis identifies embryonic hindbrain progenitors with mixed rhombomere identities. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.27.525932. [PMID: 36747868 PMCID: PMC9900950 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.27.525932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Rhombomeres serve to position neural progenitors in the embryonic hindbrain, thereby ensuring appropriate neural circuit formation, but the molecular identities of individual rhombomeres and the mechanism whereby they form have not been fully established. Here we apply scMultiome analysis in zebrafish to molecularly resolve all rhombomeres for the first time. We find that rhombomeres become molecularly distinct between 10hpf (end of gastrulation) and 13hpf (early segmentation). While the mature hindbrain consists of alternating odd- versus even-type rhombomeres, our scMultiome analyses do not detect extensive odd versus even characteristics in the early hindbrain. Instead, we find that each rhombomere displays a unique gene expression and chromatin profile. Prior to the appearance of distinct rhombomeres, we detect three hindbrain progenitor clusters (PHPDs) that correlate with the earliest visually observed segments in the hindbrain primordium and that represent prospective rhombomere r2/r3 (possibly including r1), r4 and r5/r6, respectively. We further find that the PHPDs form in response to Fgf and RA morphogens and that individual PHPD cells co-express markers of multiple mature rhombomeres. We propose that the PHPDs contain mixed-identity progenitors and that their subdivision into individual mature rhombomeres requires resolution of mixed transcription and chromatin states.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Charles G. Sagerström
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical School, 12801 E. 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045
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14
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Delás MJ, Kalaitzis CM, Fawzi T, Demuth M, Zhang I, Stuart HT, Costantini E, Ivanovitch K, Tanaka EM, Briscoe J. Developmental cell fate choice in neural tube progenitors employs two distinct cis-regulatory strategies. Dev Cell 2023; 58:3-17.e8. [PMID: 36516856 PMCID: PMC7614300 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In many developing tissues, the patterns of gene expression that assign cell fate are organized by graded secreted signals. Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) interpret these signals to control gene expression, but how this is accomplished remains poorly understood. In the neural tube, a gradient of the morphogen sonic hedgehog (Shh) patterns neural progenitors. We identify two distinct ways in which CREs translate graded Shh into differential gene expression in mouse neural progenitors. In most progenitors, a common set of CREs control gene activity by integrating cell-type-specific inputs. By contrast, the most ventral progenitors use a unique set of CREs, established by the pioneer factor FOXA2. This parallels the role of FOXA2 in endoderm, where FOXA2 binds some of the same sites. Together, the data identify distinct cis-regulatory strategies for the interpretation of morphogen signaling and raise the possibility of an evolutionarily conserved role for FOXA2 across tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tamara Fawzi
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | | | - Isabel Zhang
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Hannah T Stuart
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK; Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Elena Costantini
- Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Elly M Tanaka
- Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - James Briscoe
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
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15
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Zaret KS. Two ways to skin a new cell fate. Dev Cell 2023; 58:1-2. [PMID: 36626868 PMCID: PMC9979843 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
To induce cell fate changes, do transcription factors engage open domains of chromatin or elicit chromatin opening in a pioneering fashion? In this issue of Developmental Cell, Delás et al. show that the same sonic hedgehog (Shh) inducing signal can yield different neural tube fates by either modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth S Zaret
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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16
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Bahrami-Nejad Z, Zhang ZB, Tholen S, Sharma S, Rabiee A, Zhao ML, Kraemer FB, Teruel MN. Early enforcement of cell identity by a functional component of the terminally differentiated state. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001900. [PMID: 36469503 PMCID: PMC9721491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
How progenitor cells can attain a distinct differentiated cell identity is a challenging problem given the fluctuating signaling environment in which cells exist and that critical transcription factors are often not unique to a differentiation process. Here, we test the hypothesis that a unique differentiated cell identity can result from a core component of the differentiated state doubling up as a signaling protein that also drives differentiation. Using live single-cell imaging in the adipocyte differentiation system, we show that progenitor fat cells (preadipocytes) can only commit to terminally differentiate after up-regulating FABP4, a lipid buffer that is highly enriched in mature adipocytes. Upon induction of adipogenesis in mouse preadipocyte cells, we show that after a long delay, cells first abruptly start to engage a positive feedback between CEBPA and PPARG before then engaging, after a second delay, a positive feedback between FABP4 and PPARG. These sequential positive feedbacks both need to engage in order to drive PPARG levels past the threshold for irreversible differentiation. In the last step before commitment, PPARG transcriptionally increases FABP4 expression while fatty acid-loaded FABP4 increases PPARG activity. Together, our study suggests a control principle for robust cell identity whereby a core component of the differentiated state also promotes differentiation from its own progenitor state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Bahrami-Nejad
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Zhi-Bo Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and the Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Stefan Tholen
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Sanjeev Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and the Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Atefeh Rabiee
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, United States of America
| | - Michael L. Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Fredric B. Kraemer
- Department of Medicine/Division of Endocrinology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Mary N. Teruel
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and the Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Weill Center for Metabolic Health, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
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17
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Rowton M, Perez-Cervantes C, Hur S, Jacobs-Li J, Lu E, Deng N, Guzzetta A, Hoffmann AD, Stocker M, Steimle JD, Lazarevic S, Oubaha S, Yang XH, Kim C, Yu S, Eckart H, Koska M, Hanson E, Chan SSK, Garry DJ, Kyba M, Basu A, Ikegami K, Pott S, Moskowitz IP. Hedgehog signaling activates a mammalian heterochronic gene regulatory network controlling differentiation timing across lineages. Dev Cell 2022; 57:2181-2203.e9. [PMID: 36108627 PMCID: PMC10506397 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Many developmental signaling pathways have been implicated in lineage-specific differentiation; however, mechanisms that explicitly control differentiation timing remain poorly defined in mammals. We report that murine Hedgehog signaling is a heterochronic pathway that determines the timing of progenitor differentiation. Hedgehog activity was necessary to prevent premature differentiation of second heart field (SHF) cardiac progenitors in mouse embryos, and the Hedgehog transcription factor GLI1 was sufficient to delay differentiation of cardiac progenitors in vitro. GLI1 directly activated a de novo progenitor-specific network in vitro, akin to that of SHF progenitors in vivo, which prevented the onset of the cardiac differentiation program. A Hedgehog signaling-dependent active-to-repressive GLI transition functioned as a differentiation timer, restricting the progenitor network to the SHF. GLI1 expression was associated with progenitor status across germ layers, and it delayed the differentiation of neural progenitors in vitro, suggesting a broad role for Hedgehog signaling as a heterochronic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Rowton
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Carlos Perez-Cervantes
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Suzy Hur
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jessica Jacobs-Li
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Emery Lu
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nikita Deng
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alexander Guzzetta
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Andrew D Hoffmann
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Matthew Stocker
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Steimle
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sonja Lazarevic
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sophie Oubaha
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Xinan H Yang
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chul Kim
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shuhan Yu
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Heather Eckart
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mervenaz Koska
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Erika Hanson
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sunny S K Chan
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Daniel J Garry
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Michael Kyba
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Anindita Basu
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kohta Ikegami
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sebastian Pott
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ivan P Moskowitz
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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18
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Hawley J, Manning C, Biga V, Glendinning P, Papalopulu N. Dynamic switching of lateral inhibition spatial patterns. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220339. [PMID: 36000231 PMCID: PMC9399705 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hes genes are transcriptional repressors activated by Notch. In the developing mouse neural tissue, HES5 expression oscillates in neural progenitors (Manning et al. 2019 Nat. Commun. 10, 1-19 (doi:10.1038/s41467-019-10734-8)) and is spatially organized in small clusters of cells with synchronized expression (microclusters). Furthermore, these microclusters are arranged with a spatial periodicity of three-four cells in the dorso-ventral axis and show regular switching between HES5 high/low expression on a longer time scale and larger amplitude than individual temporal oscillators (Biga et al. 2021 Mol. Syst. Biol. 17, e9902 (doi:10.15252/msb.20209902)). However, our initial computational modelling of coupled HES5 could not explain these features of the experimental data. In this study, we provide theoretical results that address these issues with biologically pertinent additions. Here, we report that extending Notch signalling to non-neighbouring progenitor cells is sufficient to generate spatial periodicity of the correct size. In addition, introducing a regular perturbation of Notch signalling by the emerging differentiating cells induces a temporal switching in the spatial pattern, which is longer than an individual cell's periodicity. Thus, with these two new mechanisms, a computational model delivers outputs that closely resemble the complex tissue-level HES5 dynamics. Finally, we predict that such dynamic patterning spreads out differentiation events in space, complementing our previous findings whereby the local synchronization controls the rate of differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Hawley
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Cerys Manning
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Veronica Biga
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Paul Glendinning
- Department of Mathematics, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Nancy Papalopulu
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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19
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Di Minin G, Holzner M, Grison A, Dumeau CE, Chan W, Monfort A, Jerome-Majewska LA, Roelink H, Wutz A. TMED2 binding restricts SMO to the ER and Golgi compartments. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001596. [PMID: 35353806 PMCID: PMC9000059 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hedgehog (HH) signaling is important for embryonic pattering and stem cell differentiation. The G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) Smoothened (SMO) is the key HH signal transducer modulating both transcription-dependent and transcription-independent responses. We show that SMO protects naive mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from dissociation-induced cell death. We exploited this SMO dependency to perform a genetic screen in haploid ESCs where we identify the Golgi proteins TMED2 and TMED10 as factors for SMO regulation. Super-resolution microscopy shows that SMO is normally retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi compartments, and we demonstrate that TMED2 binds to SMO, preventing localization to the plasma membrane. Mutation of TMED2 allows SMO accumulation at the plasma membrane, recapitulating early events after HH stimulation. We demonstrate the physiologic relevance of this interaction in neural differentiation, where TMED2 functions to repress HH signal strength. Identification of TMED2 as a binder and upstream regulator of SMO opens the way for unraveling the events in the ER–Golgi leading to HH signaling activation. Hedgehog signals orchestrate tissue patterning by binding the receptor Patched and restricting the signal transducer Smoothened. A genetic screen reveals Tmed2 as a new interactor of Smoothened that is required for regulating Smoothened transport from the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi to the plasma membrane and hence modulating the strength of Hedgehog signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Di Minin
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Hönggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (GDM); (AW)
| | - Markus Holzner
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Hönggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alice Grison
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Charles E. Dumeau
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Hönggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wesley Chan
- Department Anatomy and Cell Biology, Human Genetics and McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Human Genetics and McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Asun Monfort
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Hönggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Loydie A. Jerome-Majewska
- Department Anatomy and Cell Biology, Human Genetics and McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Human Genetics and McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Henk Roelink
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Anton Wutz
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Hönggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (GDM); (AW)
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20
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Belmonte-Mateos C, Pujades C. From Cell States to Cell Fates: How Cell Proliferation and Neuronal Differentiation Are Coordinated During Embryonic Development. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:781160. [PMID: 35046768 PMCID: PMC8761814 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.781160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) exhibits an extraordinary diversity of neurons, with the right cell types and proportions at the appropriate sites. Thus, to produce brains with specific size and cell composition, the rates of proliferation and differentiation must be tightly coordinated and balanced during development. Early on, proliferation dominates; later on, the growth rate almost ceases as more cells differentiate and exit the cell cycle. Generation of cell diversity and morphogenesis takes place concomitantly. In the vertebrate brain, this results in dramatic changes in the position of progenitor cells and their neuronal derivatives, whereas in the spinal cord morphogenetic changes are not so important because the structure mainly grows by increasing its volume. Morphogenesis is under control of specific genetic programs that coordinately unfold over time; however, little is known about how they operate and impact in the pools of progenitor cells in the CNS. Thus, the spatiotemporal coordination of these processes is fundamental for generating functional neuronal networks. Some key aims in developmental neurobiology are to determine how cell diversity arises from pluripotent progenitor cells, and how the progenitor potential changes upon time. In this review, we will share our view on how the advance of new technologies provides novel data that challenge some of the current hypothesis. We will cover some of the latest studies on cell lineage tracing and clonal analyses addressing the role of distinct progenitor cell division modes in balancing the rate of proliferation and differentiation during brain morphogenesis. We will discuss different hypothesis proposed to explain how progenitor cell diversity is generated and how they challenged prevailing concepts and raised new questions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristina Pujades
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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21
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Gupta S, Butler SJ. Getting in touch with your senses: Mechanisms specifying sensory interneurons in the dorsal spinal cord. WIREs Mech Dis 2021; 13:e1520. [PMID: 34730293 PMCID: PMC8459260 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The spinal cord is functionally and anatomically divided into ventrally derived motor circuits and dorsally derived somatosensory circuits. Sensory stimuli originating either at the periphery of the body, or internally, are relayed to the dorsal spinal cord where they are processed by distinct classes of sensory dorsal interneurons (dIs). dIs convey sensory information, such as pain, heat or itch, either to the brain, and/or to the motor circuits to initiate the appropriate response. They also regulate the intensity of sensory information and are the major target for the opioid analgesics. While the developmental mechanisms directing ventral and dorsal cell fates have been hypothesized to be similar, more recent research has suggested that dI fates are specified by novel mechanisms. In this review, we will discuss the molecular events that specify dorsal neuronal patterning in the spinal cord, thereby generating diverse dI identities. We will then discuss how this molecular understanding has led to the development of robust stem cell methods to derive multiple spinal cell types, including the dIs, and the implication of these studies for treating spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. This article is categorized under: Neurological Diseases > Stem Cells and Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Gupta
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Samantha J. Butler
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell ResearchUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research CenterUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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22
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Mukaigasa K, Sakuma C, Yaginuma H. The developmental hourglass model is applicable to the spinal cord based on single-cell transcriptomes and non-conserved cis-regulatory elements. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:372-391. [PMID: 34473348 PMCID: PMC9293469 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The developmental hourglass model predicts that embryonic morphology is most conserved at the mid-embryonic stage and diverges at the early and late stages. To date, this model has been verified by examining the anatomical features or gene expression profiles at the whole embryonic level. Here, by data mining approach utilizing multiple genomic and transcriptomic datasets from different species in combination, and by experimental validation, we demonstrate that the hourglass model is also applicable to a reduced element, the spinal cord. In the middle of spinal cord development, dorsoventrally arrayed neuronal progenitor domains are established, which are conserved among vertebrates. By comparing the publicly available single-cell transcriptome datasets of mice and zebrafish, we found that ventral subpopulations of post-mitotic spinal neurons display divergent molecular profiles. We also detected the non-conservation of cis-regulatory elements located around the progenitor fate determinants, indicating that the cis-regulatory elements contributing to the progenitor specification are evolvable. These results demonstrate that, despite the conservation of the progenitor domains, the processes before and after the progenitor domain specification diverged. This study will be helpful to understand the molecular basis of the developmental hourglass model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuki Mukaigasa
- Department of Neuroanatomy and EmbryologySchool of MedicineFukushima Medical UniversityFukushimaJapan
| | - Chie Sakuma
- Department of Neuroanatomy and EmbryologySchool of MedicineFukushima Medical UniversityFukushimaJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Yaginuma
- Department of Neuroanatomy and EmbryologySchool of MedicineFukushima Medical UniversityFukushimaJapan
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23
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Katsuyama T, Kadoya M, Shirai M, Sasai N. Sox14 is essential for initiation of neuronal differentiation in the chick spinal cord. Dev Dyn 2021; 251:350-361. [PMID: 34181293 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neural tube comprises several different types of progenitors and postmitotic neurons that co-ordinately act with each other to play integrated functions. Its development consists of two phases: proliferation of progenitor cells and differentiation into postmitotic neurons. How progenitor cells differentiate into each corresponding neuron is an important question for understanding the mechanisms of neuronal development. RESULTS Here we introduce one of the Sox transcription factors, Sox14, which plays an essential role in the promotion of neuronal differentiation. Sox14 belongs to the SoxB2 subclass and its expression starts in the progenitor regions before neuronal differentiation is initiated at the trunk level of the neural tube. After neuronal differentiation is initiated, Sox14 expression gradually becomes confined to the V2a region of the neural tube, where Chx10 is co-expressed. Overexpression of Sox14 restricts progenitor cell proliferation. Conversely, the blockade of Sox14 expression by the RNAi strategy inhibits V2a neuron differentiation and causes expansion of the progenitor domain. We further found that Sox14 acted as a transcriptional activator. CONCLUSIONS Sox14 acts as a modulator of cell proliferation and is essential for initiation of neuronal differentiation in the chick neural tube.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiki Katsuyama
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Minori Kadoya
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Manabu Shirai
- Omics Research Center (ORC), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Noriaki Sasai
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
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24
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Olivieri D, Castelli E, Kawamura YK, Papasaikas P, Lukonin I, Rittirsch M, Hess D, Smallwood SA, Stadler MB, Peters AHFM, Betschinger J. Cooperation between HDAC3 and DAX1 mediates lineage restriction of embryonic stem cells. EMBO J 2021; 40:e106818. [PMID: 33909924 PMCID: PMC8204867 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020106818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are biased toward producing embryonic rather than extraembryonic endoderm fates. Here, we identify the mechanism of this barrier and report that the histone deacetylase Hdac3 and the transcriptional corepressor Dax1 cooperatively limit the lineage repertoire of mESCs by silencing an enhancer of the extraembryonic endoderm-specifying transcription factor Gata6. This restriction is opposed by the pluripotency transcription factors Nr5a2 and Esrrb, which promote cell type conversion. Perturbation of the barrier extends mESC potency and allows formation of 3D spheroids that mimic the spatial segregation of embryonic epiblast and extraembryonic endoderm in early embryos. Overall, this study shows that transcriptional repressors stabilize pluripotency by biasing the equilibrium between embryonic and extraembryonic lineages that is hardwired into the mESC transcriptional network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Olivieri
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
| | - Eleonora Castelli
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
- Faculty of SciencesUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Yumiko K Kawamura
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
| | - Panagiotis Papasaikas
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsBaselSwitzerland
| | - Ilya Lukonin
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
| | - Melanie Rittirsch
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
| | - Daniel Hess
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
| | | | - Michael B Stadler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsBaselSwitzerland
| | - Antoine H F M Peters
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
- Faculty of SciencesUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Joerg Betschinger
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
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25
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Kearns CA, Walker M, Ravanelli AM, Scott K, Arzbecker MR, Appel B. Zebrafish spinal cord oligodendrocyte formation requires boc function. Genetics 2021; 218:6289992. [PMID: 34057474 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The axis of the vertebrate neural tube is patterned, in part, by a ventral to dorsal gradient of Shh signaling. In the ventral spinal cord, Shh induces concentration-dependent expression of transcription factors, subdividing neural progenitors into distinct domains that subsequently produce distinct neuronal and glial subtypes. In particular, progenitors of the pMN domain express the bHLH transcription factor Olig2 and produce motor neurons followed by oligodendrocytes, the myelinating glial cell type of the central nervous system. In addition to its role in patterning ventral progenitors, Shh signaling must be maintained through development to specify pMN progenitors for oligodendrocyte fate. Using a forward genetic screen in zebrafish for mutations that disrupt development of oligodendrocytes, we identified a new mutant allele of boc, which encodes a type I transmembrane protein that functions as a coreceptor for Shh. Embryos homozygous for the bocco25 allele, which creates a missense mutation in a Fibronectin type III domain that binds Shh, have normally patterned spinal cords but fail to maintain pMN progenitors, resulting in a deficit of oligodendrocytes. Using a sensitive fluorescent detection method for in situ RNA hybridization, we found that spinal cord cells express boc in a graded fashion that is inverse to the gradient of Shh signaling activity and that boc function is necessary to maintain pMN progenitors by shaping the Shh signaling gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A Kearns
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, 80045, USA
| | - Macie Walker
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, 80045, USA
| | - Andrew M Ravanelli
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, 80045, USA
| | - Kayt Scott
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, 80045, USA
| | - Madeline R Arzbecker
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, 80045, USA
| | - Bruce Appel
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, 80045, USA
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26
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Causeret F, Moreau MX, Pierani A, Blanquie O. The multiple facets of Cajal-Retzius neurons. Development 2021; 148:268379. [PMID: 34047341 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Cajal-Retzius neurons (CRs) are among the first-born neurons in the developing cortex of reptiles, birds and mammals, including humans. The peculiarity of CRs lies in the fact they are initially embedded into the immature neuronal network before being almost completely eliminated by cell death at the end of cortical development. CRs are best known for controlling the migration of glutamatergic neurons and the formation of cortical layers through the secretion of the glycoprotein reelin. However, they have been shown to play numerous additional key roles at many steps of cortical development, spanning from patterning and sizing functional areas to synaptogenesis. The use of genetic lineage tracing has allowed the discovery of their multiple ontogenetic origins, migratory routes, expression of molecular markers and death dynamics. Nowadays, single-cell technologies enable us to appreciate the molecular heterogeneity of CRs with an unprecedented resolution. In this Review, we discuss the morphological, electrophysiological, molecular and genetic criteria allowing the identification of CRs. We further expose the various sources, migration trajectories, developmental functions and death dynamics of CRs. Finally, we demonstrate how the analysis of public transcriptomic datasets allows extraction of the molecular signature of CRs throughout their transient life and consider their heterogeneity within and across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Causeret
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Team Genetics and Development of the Cerebral Cortex, F-75015 Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, F-75014 Paris, France
| | - Matthieu X Moreau
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Team Genetics and Development of the Cerebral Cortex, F-75015 Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, F-75014 Paris, France
| | - Alessandra Pierani
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Team Genetics and Development of the Cerebral Cortex, F-75015 Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, F-75014 Paris, France.,Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, F-75014 Paris, France
| | - Oriane Blanquie
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
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27
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Exelby K, Herrera-Delgado E, Perez LG, Perez-Carrasco R, Sagner A, Metzis V, Sollich P, Briscoe J. Precision of tissue patterning is controlled by dynamical properties of gene regulatory networks. Development 2021; 148:dev197566. [PMID: 33547135 PMCID: PMC7929933 DOI: 10.1242/dev.197566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
During development, gene regulatory networks allocate cell fates by partitioning tissues into spatially organised domains of gene expression. How the sharp boundaries that delineate these gene expression patterns arise, despite the stochasticity associated with gene regulation, is poorly understood. We show, in the vertebrate neural tube, using perturbations of coding and regulatory regions, that the structure of the regulatory network contributes to boundary precision. This is achieved, not by reducing noise in individual genes, but by the configuration of the network modulating the ability of stochastic fluctuations to initiate gene expression changes. We use a computational screen to identify network properties that influence boundary precision, revealing two dynamical mechanisms by which small gene circuits attenuate the effect of noise in order to increase patterning precision. These results highlight design principles of gene regulatory networks that produce precise patterns of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Exelby
- Developmental Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Edgar Herrera-Delgado
- Developmental Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
- Department of Mathematics, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
- Genetics and Developmental Biology Unit, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - Lorena Garcia Perez
- Developmental Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | | | - Andreas Sagner
- Developmental Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Vicki Metzis
- Developmental Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Peter Sollich
- Department of Mathematics, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
- Faculty of Physics, Institute for Theoretical Physics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - James Briscoe
- Developmental Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
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28
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Hall ET, Dillard ME, Stewart DP, Zhang Y, Wagner B, Levine RM, Pruett-Miller SM, Sykes A, Temirov J, Cheney RE, Mori M, Robinson CG, Ogden SK. Cytoneme delivery of Sonic Hedgehog from ligand-producing cells requires Myosin 10 and a Dispatched-BOC/CDON co-receptor complex. eLife 2021; 10:61432. [PMID: 33570491 PMCID: PMC7968926 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphogens function in concentration-dependent manners to instruct cell fate during tissue patterning. The cytoneme morphogen transport model posits that specialized filopodia extend between morphogen-sending and responding cells to ensure that appropriate signaling thresholds are achieved. How morphogens are transported along and deployed from cytonemes, how quickly a cytoneme-delivered, receptor-dependent signal is initiated, and whether these processes are conserved across phyla are not known. Herein, we reveal that the actin motor Myosin 10 promotes vesicular transport of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) morphogen in mouse cell cytonemes, and that SHH morphogen gradient organization is altered in neural tubes of Myo10-/- mice. We demonstrate that cytoneme-mediated deposition of SHH onto receiving cells induces a rapid, receptor-dependent signal response that occurs within seconds of ligand delivery. This activity is dependent upon a novel Dispatched (DISP)-BOC/CDON co-receptor complex that functions in ligand-producing cells to promote cytoneme occurrence and facilitate ligand delivery for signal activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T Hall
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Miriam E Dillard
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Daniel P Stewart
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Ben Wagner
- Cell and Tissue Imaging Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Rachel M Levine
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States.,Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Shondra M Pruett-Miller
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States.,Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - April Sykes
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Jamshid Temirov
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Richard E Cheney
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Motomi Mori
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Camenzind G Robinson
- Cell and Tissue Imaging Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Stacey K Ogden
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
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29
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Fan X, Masamsetti VP, Sun JQ, Engholm-Keller K, Osteil P, Studdert J, Graham ME, Fossat N, Tam PP. TWIST1 and chromatin regulatory proteins interact to guide neural crest cell differentiation. eLife 2021; 10:62873. [PMID: 33554859 PMCID: PMC7968925 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein interaction is critical molecular regulatory activity underlining cellular functions and precise cell fate choices. Using TWIST1 BioID-proximity-labeling and network propagation analyses, we discovered and characterized a TWIST-chromatin regulatory module (TWIST1-CRM) in the neural crest cells (NCC). Combinatorial perturbation of core members of TWIST1-CRM: TWIST1, CHD7, CHD8, and WHSC1 in cell models and mouse embryos revealed that loss of the function of the regulatory module resulted in abnormal differentiation of NCCs and compromised craniofacial tissue patterning. Following NCC delamination, low level of TWIST1-CRM activity is instrumental to stabilize the early NCC signatures and migratory potential by repressing the neural stem cell programs. High level of TWIST1 module activity at later phases commits the cells to the ectomesenchyme. Our study further revealed the functional interdependency of TWIST1 and potential neurocristopathy factors in NCC development. Shaping the head and face during development relies on a complex ballet of molecular signals that orchestrates the movement and specialization of various groups of cells. In animals with a backbone for example, neural crest cells (NCCs for short) can march long distances from the developing spine to become some of the tissues that form the skull and cartilage but also the pigment cells and nervous system. NCCs mature into specific cell types thanks to a complex array of factors which trigger a precise sequence of binary fate decisions at the right time and place. Amongst these factors, the protein TWIST1 can set up a cascade of genetic events that control how NCCs will ultimately form tissues in the head. To do so, the TWIST1 protein interacts with many other molecular actors, many of which are still unknown. To find some of these partners, Fan et al. studied TWIST1 in the NCCs of mice and cells grown in the lab. The experiments showed that TWIST1 interacted with CHD7, CHD8 and WHSC1, three proteins that help to switch genes on and off, and which contribute to NCCs moving across the head during development. Further work by Fan et al. then revealed that together, these molecular actors are critical for NCCs to form cells that will form facial bones and cartilage, as opposed to becoming neurons. This result helps to show that there is a trade-off between NCCs forming the face or being part of the nervous system. One in three babies born with a birth defect shows anomalies of the head and face: understanding the exact mechanisms by which NCCs contribute to these structures may help to better predict risks for parents, or to develop new approaches for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Fan
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - V Pragathi Masamsetti
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jane Qj Sun
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kasper Engholm-Keller
- Synapse Proteomics Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Pierre Osteil
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Joshua Studdert
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mark E Graham
- Synapse Proteomics Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nicolas Fossat
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Patrick Pl Tam
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
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30
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Nedelec S, Martinez-Arias A. In vitro models of spinal motor circuit's development in mammals: achievements and challenges. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 66:240-249. [PMID: 33677159 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The connectivity patterns of neurons sustaining the functionality of spinal locomotor circuits rely on the specification of hundreds of motor neuron and interneuron subtypes precisely arrayed within the embryonic spinal cord. Knowledge acquired by developmental biologists on the molecular mechanisms underpinning this process in vivo has supported the development of 2D and 3D differentiation strategies to generate spinal neuronal diversity from mouse and human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Here, we review recent breakthroughs in this field and the perspectives opened up by models of in vitro embryogenesis to approach the mechanisms underlying neuronal diversification and the formation of functional mouse and human locomotor circuits. Beyond serving fundamental investigations, these new approaches should help engineering neuronal circuits differentially impacted in neuromuscular disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or spinal muscular atrophies, and thus open new avenues for disease modeling and drug screenings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Nedelec
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, 75005, Paris, France; Inserm, UMR-S 1270, 75005 Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, Science and Engineering Faculty, 75005 Paris, France.
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31
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Azambuja AP, Simoes-Costa M. A regulatory sub-circuit downstream of Wnt signaling controls developmental transitions in neural crest formation. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009296. [PMID: 33465092 PMCID: PMC7846109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of cell fate commitment involves sequential changes in the gene expression profiles of embryonic progenitors. This is exemplified in the development of the neural crest, a migratory stem cell population derived from the ectoderm of vertebrate embryos. During neural crest formation, cells transition through distinct transcriptional states in a stepwise manner. The mechanisms underpinning these shifts in cell identity are still poorly understood. Here we employ enhancer analysis to identify a genetic sub-circuit that controls developmental transitions in the nascent neural crest. This sub-circuit links Wnt target genes in an incoherent feedforward loop that controls the sequential activation of genes in the neural crest lineage. By examining the cis-regulatory apparatus of Wnt effector gene AXUD1, we found that multipotency factor SP5 directly promotes neural plate border identity, while inhibiting premature expression of specification genes. Our results highlight the importance of repressive interactions in the neural crest gene regulatory network and illustrate how genes activated by the same upstream signal become temporally segregated during progressive fate restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Azambuja
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Marcos Simoes-Costa
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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32
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Sasai N, Kadoya M, Ong Lee Chen A. Neural induction: Historical views and application to pluripotent stem cells. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:26-37. [PMID: 33289091 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are a useful experimental material to recapitulate the differentiation steps of early embryos, which are usually invisible and inaccessible from outside of the body, especially in mammals. ES cells have greatly facilitated the analyses of gene expression profiles and cell characteristics. In addition, understanding the mechanisms during neural differentiation is important for clinical purposes, such as developing new therapeutic methods or regenerative medicine. As neurons have very limited regenerative ability, neurodegenerative diseases are usually intractable, and patients suffer from the disease throughout their lifetimes. The functional cells generated from ES cells in vitro could replace degenerative areas by transplantation. In this review, we will first demonstrate the historical views and widely accepted concepts regarding the molecular mechanisms of neural induction and positional information to produce the specific types of neurons in model animals. Next, we will describe how these concepts have recently been applied to the research in the establishment of the methodology of neural differentiation from mammalian ES cells. Finally, we will focus on examples of the applications of differentiation systems to clinical purposes. Overall, the discussion will focus on how historical developmental studies are applied to state-of-the-art stem cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriaki Sasai
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Minori Kadoya
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Agnes Ong Lee Chen
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
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33
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Zinner M, Lukonin I, Liberali P. Design principles of tissue organisation: How single cells coordinate across scales. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2020; 67:37-45. [PMID: 32889170 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cells act as building blocks of multicellular organisms, forming higher-order structures at different biological scales. Niches, tissues and, ultimately, entire organisms consist of single cells that remain in constant communication. Emergence of developmental patterns and tissue architecture thus relies on single cells acting as a collective, coordinating growth, migration, cell fate transitions and cell type sorting. For this, information has to be transmitted forward from cells to tissues and fed back to the individual cell to allow dynamic and robust coordination. Here, we define the design principles of tissue organisation integrating chemical, genetic and mechanical cues. We also review the state-of-the-art technologies used for dissecting collective cellular behaviours at single cell- and tissue-level resolution. We finally outline future challenges that lie in a comprehensive understanding of how single cells coordinate across biological scales to insure robust development, homoeostasis and regeneration of tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marietta Zinner
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ilya Lukonin
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Prisca Liberali
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001, Basel, Switzerland.
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34
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The Role of Tissue-Specific Ubiquitin Ligases, RNF183, RNF186, RNF182 and RNF152, in Disease and Biological Function. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113921. [PMID: 32486221 PMCID: PMC7313026 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitylation plays multiple roles not only in proteasome-mediated protein degradation but also in various other cellular processes including DNA repair, signal transduction, and endocytosis. Ubiquitylation is mediated by ubiquitin ligases, which are predicted to be encoded by more than 600 genes in humans. RING finger (RNF) proteins form the majority of these ubiquitin ligases. It has also been predicted that there are 49 RNF proteins containing transmembrane regions in humans, several of which are specifically localized to membrane compartments in the secretory and endocytic pathways. Of these, RNF183, RNF186, RNF182, and RNF152 are closely related genes with high homology. These genes share a unique common feature of exhibiting tissue-specific expression patterns, such as in the kidney, nervous system, and colon. The products of these genes are also reported to be involved in various diseases such as cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer's disease, and chronic kidney disease, and in various biological functions such as apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, osmotic stress, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and Notch signaling. This review summarizes the current knowledge of these tissue-specific ubiquitin ligases, focusing on their physiological roles and significance in diseases.
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Delás MJ, Briscoe J. Repressive interactions in gene regulatory networks: When you have no other choice. Curr Top Dev Biol 2020; 139:239-266. [PMID: 32450962 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Tightly regulated gene expression programs, orchestrated by complex interactions between transcription factors, control cell type specification during development. Repressive interactions play a critical role in these networks, facilitating decision-making between two or more alternative cell fates. Here, we use the ventral neural tube as an example to illustrate how cross repressive interactions within a network drive pattern formation and specify cell types in response to a graded patterning signal. This and other systems serve to highlight how external signals are integrated through the cis regulatory elements controlling key genes and provide insight into the molecular underpinning of the process. Even the simplest networks can lead to counterintuitive results and we argue that a combination of experimental dissection and modeling approaches will be necessary to fully understand network behavior and the underlying design principles. Studying these gene regulatory networks as a whole ultimately allows us to extract fundamental properties applicable across systems that can expand our mechanistic understanding of how organisms develop.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James Briscoe
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.
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36
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Sagner A, Briscoe J. Establishing neuronal diversity in the spinal cord: a time and a place. Development 2019; 146:146/22/dev182154. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.182154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The vertebrate spinal cord comprises multiple functionally distinct neuronal cell types arranged in characteristic positions. During development, these different types of neurons differentiate from transcriptionally distinct neural progenitors that are arrayed in discrete domains along the dorsal-ventral and anterior-posterior axes of the embryonic spinal cord. This organization arises in response to morphogen gradients acting upstream of a gene regulatory network, the architecture of which determines the spatial and temporal pattern of gene expression. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in deciphering the regulatory network that underlies the specification of distinct progenitor and neuronal cell identities. In this Review, we outline how distinct neuronal cell identities are established in response to spatial and temporal patterning systems, and outline novel experimental approaches to study the emergence and function of neuronal diversity in the spinal cord.
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Chen TH, Chen JA. Multifaceted roles of microRNAs: From motor neuron generation in embryos to degeneration in spinal muscular atrophy. eLife 2019; 8:e50848. [PMID: 31738166 PMCID: PMC6861003 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Two crucial questions in neuroscience are how neurons establish individual identity in the developing nervous system and why only specific neuron subtypes are vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases. In the central nervous system, spinal motor neurons serve as one of the best-characterized cell types for addressing these two questions. In this review, we dissect these questions by evaluating the emerging role of regulatory microRNAs in motor neuron generation in developing embryos and their potential contributions to neurodegenerative diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Given recent promising results from novel microRNA-based medicines, we discuss the potential applications of microRNAs for clinical assessments of SMA disease progression and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai-Heng Chen
- PhD Program in Translational Medicine, Graduate Institute of Clinical MedicineKaohsiung Medical University, Academia SinicaKaohsiungTaiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric EmergencyKaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, College of MedicineKaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
| | - Jun-An Chen
- PhD Program in Translational Medicine, Graduate Institute of Clinical MedicineKaohsiung Medical University, Academia SinicaKaohsiungTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
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Sasai N, Toriyama M, Kondo T. Hedgehog Signal and Genetic Disorders. Front Genet 2019; 10:1103. [PMID: 31781166 PMCID: PMC6856222 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The hedgehog (Hh) family comprises sonic hedgehog (Shh), Indian hedgehog (Ihh), and desert hedgehog (Dhh), which are versatile signaling molecules involved in a wide spectrum of biological events including cell differentiation, proliferation, and survival; establishment of the vertebrate body plan; and aging. These molecules play critical roles from embryogenesis to adult stages; therefore, alterations such as abnormal expression or mutations of the genes involved and their downstream factors cause a variety of genetic disorders at different stages. The Hh family involves many signaling mediators and functions through complex mechanisms, and achieving a comprehensive understanding of the entire signaling system is challenging. This review discusses the signaling mediators of the Hh pathway and their functions at the cellular and organismal levels. We first focus on the roles of Hh signaling mediators in signal transduction at the cellular level and the networks formed by these factors. Then, we analyze the spatiotemporal pattern of expression of Hh pathway molecules in tissues and organs, and describe the phenotypes of mutant mice. Finally, we discuss the genetic disorders caused by malfunction of Hh signaling-related molecules in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriaki Sasai
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Division of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Michinori Toriyama
- Systems Neurobiology and Medicine, Division of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, Sanda, Japan
| | - Toru Kondo
- Division of Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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Kadoya M, Sasai N. Negative Regulation of mTOR Signaling Restricts Cell Proliferation in the Floor Plate. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1022. [PMID: 31607856 PMCID: PMC6773814 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural tube is composed of a number of neural progenitors and postmitotic neurons distributed in a quantitatively and spatially precise manner. The floor plate, located in the ventral-most region of the neural tube, has a lot of unique characteristics, including a low cell proliferation rate. The mechanisms by which this region-specific proliferation rate is regulated remain elusive. Here we show that the activity of the mTOR signaling pathway, which regulates the proliferation of the neural progenitor cells, is significantly lower in the floor plate than in other domains of the embryonic neural tube. We identified the forkhead-type transcription factor FoxA2 as a negative regulator of mTOR signaling in the floor plate, and showed that FoxA2 transcriptionally induces the expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF152, which together with its substrate RagA, regulates cell proliferation via the mTOR pathway. Silencing of RNF152 led to the aberrant upregulation of the mTOR signal and aberrant cell division in the floor plate. Taken together, the present findings suggest that floor plate cell number is controlled by the negative regulation of mTOR signaling through the activity of FoxA2 and its downstream effector RNF152.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minori Kadoya
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Noriaki Sasai
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
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40
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Yatsuzuka A, Hori A, Kadoya M, Matsuo-Takasaki M, Kondo T, Sasai N. GPR17 is an essential regulator for the temporal adaptation of sonic hedgehog signalling in neural tube development. Development 2019; 146:dev.176784. [PMID: 31444216 DOI: 10.1242/dev.176784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Dorsal-ventral pattern formation of the neural tube is regulated by temporal and spatial activities of extracellular signalling molecules. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) assigns ventral neural subtypes via activation of the Gli transcription factors. Shh activity in the neural progenitor cells changes dynamically during differentiation, but the mechanisms regulating this dynamicity are not fully understood. Here, we show that temporal change of intracellular cAMP levels confers the temporal Shh signal, and the purinergic G-protein-coupled receptor GPR17 plays an essential role in this regulation. GPR17 is highly expressed in the ventral progenitor regions of the neural tube and acts as a negative regulator of the Shh signal in chick embryos. Although the activation of the GPR17-related signal inhibits ventral identity, perturbation of Gpr17 expression leads to aberrant expansion of ventral neural domains. Notably, perturbation of Gpr17 expression partially inhibits the negative feedback of Gli activity. Moreover, GPR17 increases cAMP activity, suggesting that it exerts its function by inhibiting the processing of Gli3 protein. GPR17 also negatively regulates Shh signalling in neural cells differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells, suggesting that GPR17 function is conserved among different organisms. Our results demonstrate that GPR17 is a novel negative regulator of Shh signalling in a wide range of cellular contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuki Yatsuzuka
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Akiko Hori
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Minori Kadoya
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Mami Matsuo-Takasaki
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
| | - Toru Kondo
- Division of Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0815, Japan
| | - Noriaki Sasai
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
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41
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Leung B, Shimeld SM. Evolution of vertebrate spinal cord patterning. Dev Dyn 2019; 248:1028-1043. [PMID: 31291046 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate spinal cord is organized across three developmental axes, anterior-posterior (AP), dorsal-ventral (DV), and medial-lateral (ML). Patterning of these axes is regulated by canonical intercellular signaling pathways: the AP axis by Wnt, fibroblast growth factor, and retinoic acid (RA), the DV axis by Hedgehog, Tgfβ, and Wnt, and the ML axis where proliferation is controlled by Notch. Developmental time plays an important role in which signal does what and when. Patterning across the three axes is not independent, but linked by interactions between signaling pathway components and their transcriptional targets. Combined this builds a sophisticated organ with many different types of cell in specific AP, DV, and ML positions. Two living lineages share phylum Chordata with vertebrates, amphioxus, and tunicates, while the jawless fish such as lampreys, survive as the most basally divergent vertebrate lineage. Genes and mechanisms shared between lampreys and other vertebrates tell us what predated vertebrates, while those also shared with other chordates tell us what evolved early in chordate evolution. Between these lie vertebrate innovations: genetic and developmental changes linked to evolution of new morphology. These include gene duplications, differences in how signals are received, and new regulatory connections between signaling pathways and their target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigid Leung
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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42
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Abstract
Twenty-five years ago, Lewis Wolpert, the eminent developmental biologist, asked the question, "Do We Understand Development?" He concluded that such rapid progress had been made in the preceding two decades that "It is not unreasonable to think that enough will eventually be known to program a computer and simulate some aspects of development." This prediction has been fulfilled, at least partially, with data-driven simulations of several different developmental processes being developed in the intervening years. Nevertheless, the question remains of whether we "understand" development and if simulations are sufficient to provide an explanation of development. While in silico replications and models are undoubtedly an important tool in the investigation and dissection of developmental processes, which complement traditional experimental methods, these need to be supplemented by theory that identifies principles and provides coherent explanations. Here, I use the example of pattern formation in the vertebrate neural tube to illustrate this idea.
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Domsch K, Carnesecchi J, Disela V, Friedrich J, Trost N, Ermakova O, Polychronidou M, Lohmann I. The Hox transcription factor Ubx stabilizes lineage commitment by suppressing cellular plasticity in Drosophila. eLife 2019; 8:42675. [PMID: 31050646 PMCID: PMC6513553 DOI: 10.7554/elife.42675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During development cells become restricted in their differentiation potential by repressing alternative cell fates, and the Polycomb complex plays a crucial role in this process. However, how alternative fate genes are lineage-specifically silenced is unclear. We studied Ultrabithorax (Ubx), a multi-lineage transcription factor of the Hox class, in two tissue lineages using sorted nuclei and interfered with Ubx in mesodermal cells. We find that depletion of Ubx leads to the de-repression of genes normally expressed in other lineages. Ubx silences expression of alternative fate genes by retaining the Polycomb Group protein Pleiohomeotic at Ubx targeted genomic regions, thereby stabilizing repressive chromatin marks in a lineage-dependent manner. Our study demonstrates that Ubx stabilizes lineage choice by suppressing the multipotency encoded in the genome via its interaction with Pho. This mechanism may explain why the Hox code is maintained throughout the lifecycle, since it could set a block to transdifferentiation in adult cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Domsch
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Vanessa Disela
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jana Friedrich
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nils Trost
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Olga Ermakova
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ingrid Lohmann
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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44
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Delile J, Rayon T, Melchionda M, Edwards A, Briscoe J, Sagner A. Single cell transcriptomics reveals spatial and temporal dynamics of gene expression in the developing mouse spinal cord. Development 2019; 146:dev173807. [PMID: 30846445 PMCID: PMC6602353 DOI: 10.1242/dev.173807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The coordinated spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression in the vertebrate neural tube determines the identity of neural progenitors and the function and physiology of the neurons they generate. Progress has been made deciphering the gene regulatory programmes that are responsible for this process; however, the complexity of the tissue has hampered the systematic analysis of the network and the underlying mechanisms. To address this, we used single cell mRNA sequencing to profile cervical and thoracic regions of the developing mouse neural tube between embryonic days 9.5-13.5. We confirmed that the data accurately recapitulates neural tube development, allowing us to identify new markers for specific progenitor and neuronal populations. In addition, the analysis highlighted a previously underappreciated temporal component to the mechanisms that generate neuronal diversity, and revealed common features in the sequence of transcriptional events that lead to the differentiation of specific neuronal subtypes. Together, the data offer insight into the mechanisms that are responsible for neuronal specification and provide a compendium of gene expression for classifying spinal cord cell types that will support future studies of neural tube development, function and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Delile
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Teresa Rayon
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | | | - Amelia Edwards
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - James Briscoe
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Andreas Sagner
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
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45
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Andrews MG, Kong J, Novitch BG, Butler SJ. New perspectives on the mechanisms establishing the dorsal-ventral axis of the spinal cord. Curr Top Dev Biol 2018; 132:417-450. [PMID: 30797516 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2018.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Distinct classes of neurons arise at different positions along the dorsal-ventral axis of the spinal cord leading to spinal neurons being segregated along this axis according to their physiological properties and functions. Thus, the neurons associated with motor control are generally located in, or adjacent to, the ventral horn whereas the interneurons (INs) that mediate sensory activities are present within the dorsal horn. Here, we review classic and recent studies examining the developmental mechanisms that establish the dorsal-ventral axis in the embryonic spinal cord. Intriguingly, while the cellular organization of the dorsal and ventral halves of the spinal cord looks superficially similar during early development, the underlying molecular mechanisms that establish dorsal vs ventral patterning are markedly distinct. For example, the ventral spinal cord is patterned by the actions of a single growth factor, sonic hedgehog (Shh) acting as a morphogen, i.e., concentration-dependent signal. Recent studies have shed light on the mechanisms by which the spatial and temporal gradient of Shh is transduced by cells to elicit the generation of different classes of ventral INs, and motor neurons (MNs). In contrast, the dorsal spinal cord is patterned by the action of multiple factors, most notably by members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt families. While less is known about dorsal patterning, recent studies have suggested that the BMPs do not act as morphogens to specify dorsal IN identities as previously proposed, rather each BMP has signal-specific activities. Finally, we consider the promise that elucidation of these mechanisms holds for neural repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Andrews
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer Kong
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bennett G Novitch
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Samantha J Butler
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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Boije H, Kullander K. Origin and circuitry of spinal locomotor interneurons generating different speeds. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 53:16-21. [PMID: 29733915 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The spinal circuitry governing the undulatory movements of swimming vertebrates consist of excitatory and commissural inhibitory interneurons and motor neurons. This locomotor network generates the rhythmic output, coordinate left/right alternation, and permit communication across segments. Through evolution, more complex movement patterns have emerged, made possible by sub-specialization of neural populations within the spinal cord. Walking tetrapods use a similar basic circuitry, but have added layers of complexity for the coordination of intralimbic flexor and extensor muscles as well as interlimbic coordination between the body halves and fore/hindlimbs. Although the basics of these circuits are known there is a gap in our knowledge regarding how different speeds and gaits are coordinated. Analysing subpopulations among described neuronal populations may bring insight into how changes in locomotor output are orchestrated by a hard-wired network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Boije
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Klas Kullander
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Herrera-Delgado E, Perez-Carrasco R, Briscoe J, Sollich P. Memory functions reveal structural properties of gene regulatory networks. PLoS Comput Biol 2018; 14:e1006003. [PMID: 29470492 PMCID: PMC5839594 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) control cellular function and decision making during tissue development and homeostasis. Mathematical tools based on dynamical systems theory are often used to model these networks, but the size and complexity of these models mean that their behaviour is not always intuitive and the underlying mechanisms can be difficult to decipher. For this reason, methods that simplify and aid exploration of complex networks are necessary. To this end we develop a broadly applicable form of the Zwanzig-Mori projection. By first converting a thermodynamic state ensemble model of gene regulation into mass action reactions we derive a general method that produces a set of time evolution equations for a subset of components of a network. The influence of the rest of the network, the bulk, is captured by memory functions that describe how the subnetwork reacts to its own past state via components in the bulk. These memory functions provide probes of near-steady state dynamics, revealing information not easily accessible otherwise. We illustrate the method on a simple cross-repressive transcriptional motif to show that memory functions not only simplify the analysis of the subnetwork but also have a natural interpretation. We then apply the approach to a GRN from the vertebrate neural tube, a well characterised developmental transcriptional network composed of four interacting transcription factors. The memory functions reveal the function of specific links within the neural tube network and identify features of the regulatory structure that specifically increase the robustness of the network to initial conditions. Taken together, the study provides evidence that Zwanzig-Mori projections offer powerful and effective tools for simplifying and exploring the behaviour of GRNs. Gene regulatory networks are essential for cell fate specification and function. But the recursive links that comprise these networks often make determining their properties and behaviour complicated. Computational models of these networks can also be difficult to decipher. To reduce the complexity of such models we employ a Zwanzig-Mori projection approach. This allows a system of ordinary differential equations, representing a network, to be reduced to an arbitrary subnetwork consisting of part of the initial network, with the rest of the network (bulk) captured by memory functions. These memory functions account for the bulk by describing signals that return to the subnetwork after some time, having passed through the bulk. We show how this approach can be used to simplify analysis and to probe the behaviour of a gene regulatory network. Applying the method to a transcriptional network in the vertebrate neural tube reveals previously unappreciated properties of the network. By taking advantage of the structure of the memory functions we identify interactions within the network that are unnecessary for sustaining correct patterning. Upon further investigation we find that these interactions are important for conferring robustness to variation in initial conditions. Taken together we demonstrate the validity and applicability of the Zwanzig-Mori projection approach to gene regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Herrera-Delgado
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Mathematics, King’s College London, Strand, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ruben Perez-Carrasco
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Mathematics, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Briscoe
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (JB); (PS)
| | - Peter Sollich
- Department of Mathematics, King’s College London, Strand, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (JB); (PS)
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48
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Sagner A, Gaber ZB, Delile J, Kong JH, Rousso DL, Pearson CA, Weicksel SE, Melchionda M, Mousavy Gharavy SN, Briscoe J, Novitch BG. Olig2 and Hes regulatory dynamics during motor neuron differentiation revealed by single cell transcriptomics. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2003127. [PMID: 29389974 PMCID: PMC5811045 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During tissue development, multipotent progenitors differentiate into specific cell types in characteristic spatial and temporal patterns. We addressed the mechanism linking progenitor identity and differentiation rate in the neural tube, where motor neuron (MN) progenitors differentiate more rapidly than other progenitors. Using single cell transcriptomics, we defined the transcriptional changes associated with the transition of neural progenitors into MNs. Reconstruction of gene expression dynamics from these data indicate a pivotal role for the MN determinant Olig2 just prior to MN differentiation. Olig2 represses expression of the Notch signaling pathway effectors Hes1 and Hes5. Olig2 repression of Hes5 appears to be direct, via a conserved regulatory element within the Hes5 locus that restricts expression from MN progenitors. These findings reveal a tight coupling between the regulatory networks that control patterning and neuronal differentiation and demonstrate how Olig2 acts as the developmental pacemaker coordinating the spatial and temporal pattern of MN generation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zachary B. Gaber
- Department of Neurobiology, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | | | - Jennifer H. Kong
- Department of Neurobiology, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - David L. Rousso
- Department of Neurobiology, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Caroline A. Pearson
- Department of Neurobiology, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Steven E. Weicksel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Bennett G. Novitch
- Department of Neurobiology, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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Regulatory networks specifying cortical interneurons from human embryonic stem cells reveal roles for CHD2 in interneuron development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E11180-E11189. [PMID: 29229852 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1712365115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical interneurons (cINs) modulate excitatory neuronal activity by providing local inhibition. During fetal development, several cIN subtypes derive from the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), a transient ventral telencephalic structure. While altered cIN development contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders, the inaccessibility of human fetal brain tissue during development has hampered efforts to define molecular networks controlling this process. Here, we modified protocols for directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, obtaining efficient, accelerated production of MGE-like progenitors and MGE-derived cIN subtypes with the expected electrophysiological properties. We defined transcriptome changes accompanying this process and integrated these data with direct transcriptional targets of NKX2-1, a transcription factor controlling MGE specification. This analysis defined NKX2-1-associated genes with enriched expression during MGE specification and cIN differentiation, including known and previously unreported transcription factor targets with likely roles in MGE specification, and other target classes regulating cIN migration and function. NKX2-1-associated peaks were enriched for consensus binding motifs for NKX2-1, LHX, and SOX transcription factors, suggesting roles in coregulating MGE gene expression. Among the NKX2-1 direct target genes with cIN-enriched expression was CHD2, which encodes a chromatin remodeling protein mutated to cause human epilepsies. Accordingly, CHD2 deficiency impaired cIN specification and altered later electrophysiological function, while CHD2 coassociated with NKX2-1 at cis-regulatory elements and was required for their transactivation by NKX2-1 in MGE-like progenitors. This analysis identified several aspects of gene-regulatory networks underlying human MGE specification and suggested mechanisms by which NKX2-1 acts with chromatin remodeling activities to regulate gene expression programs underlying cIN development.
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Lai HC, Seal RP, Johnson JE. Making sense out of spinal cord somatosensory development. Development 2017; 143:3434-3448. [PMID: 27702783 DOI: 10.1242/dev.139592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The spinal cord integrates and relays somatosensory input, leading to complex motor responses. Research over the past couple of decades has identified transcription factor networks that function during development to define and instruct the generation of diverse neuronal populations within the spinal cord. A number of studies have now started to connect these developmentally defined populations with their roles in somatosensory circuits. Here, we review our current understanding of how neuronal diversity in the dorsal spinal cord is generated and we discuss the logic underlying how these neurons form the basis of somatosensory circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen C Lai
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rebecca P Seal
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Jane E Johnson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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