1
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Arias AM, Dias A, Wehmeyer AE, Arnold SJ, Fiúza UM. A modular organization of mammalian gastrulation and the Spemann-Mangold organizer. Cells Dev 2025:204031. [PMID: 40412479 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204031] [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: 01/20/2025] [Revised: 05/19/2025] [Accepted: 05/21/2025] [Indexed: 05/27/2025]
Abstract
Studies in amphibian embryos revealed the existence of groups of cells, organizers, that play a central role in laying down the body plan. One, the Spemann-Mangold Organizer (SMO) is associated with the induction of the nervous system and the development of the head, whereas a second one has been linked with the development of the trunk and the tail. Homologues of these organizers have been described in other vertebrates. In the mouse, the SMO organizer has been associated with a region of the mid- early gastrula and the tail-trunk Organizer with the node. Altogether these observations suggest a modular organization of the vertebrate body plan into three domains. One, most anterior, competent to form the brain, a middle one, associated with neural induction and the head, and one dedicated to axial extension. Work with gastruloids, pluripotent stem cell models of mammalian development, reveal that these modules are independent developmental units. Here we discuss the relationship of the gastruloids findings to the activity of organizers in embryos and the implications of this modular organization for the evolution of the vertebrate body plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Martinez Arias
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Passeig de Lluís Companys, 23, L'Eixample, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - André Dias
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandra E Wehmeyer
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian J Arnold
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Signalling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ulla-Maj Fiúza
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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2
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Emig AA, Hansen M, Grimm S, Coarfa C, Lord ND, Williams MK. Temporal dynamics of BMP/Nodal ratio drive tissue-specific gastrulation morphogenesis. Development 2025; 152:dev202931. [PMID: 39651654 PMCID: PMC12070064 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202931] [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: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 11/29/2024] [Indexed: 12/11/2024]
Abstract
Anteroposterior elongation of the vertebrate body plan is driven by convergence and extension (C&E) gastrulation movements in both the mesoderm and neuroectoderm, but how or whether molecular regulation of C&E differs between tissues remains an open question. Using a zebrafish explant model of anteroposterior axis extension, we show that C&E of the neuroectoderm and mesoderm can be uncoupled ex vivo, and that morphogenesis of individual tissues results from distinct morphogen signaling dynamics. Using precise temporal manipulation of BMP and Nodal signaling, we identify a critical developmental window during which high or low BMP/Nodal ratios induce neuroectoderm- or mesoderm-driven C&E, respectively. Increased BMP activity similarly enhances C&E specifically in the ectoderm of intact zebrafish gastrulae, highlighting the in vivo relevance of our findings. Together, these results demonstrate that temporal dynamics of BMP and Nodal morphogen signaling activate distinct morphogenetic programs governing C&E gastrulation movements within individual tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa A. Emig
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Megan Hansen
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sandra Grimm
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nathan D. Lord
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Margot Kossmann Williams
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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3
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McNamara HM, Guyer AM, Jia BZ, Parot VJ, Dobbs CD, Schier AF, Cohen AE, Lord ND. Optogenetic control of Nodal signaling patterns. Development 2025; 152:dev204506. [PMID: 40145591 PMCID: PMC12070070 DOI: 10.1242/dev.204506] [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: 11/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2025] [Indexed: 03/28/2025]
Abstract
A crucial step in early embryogenesis is the establishment of spatial patterns of signaling activity. Tools to perturb morphogen signals with high resolution in space and time can help reveal how embryonic cells decode these signals to make appropriate fate decisions. Here, we present new optogenetic reagents and an experimental pipeline for creating designer Nodal signaling patterns in live zebrafish embryos. Nodal receptors were fused to the light-sensitive heterodimerizing pair Cry2/CIB1N, and the type II receptor was sequestered to the cytosol. The improved optoNodal2 reagents eliminate dark activity and improve response kinetics, without sacrificing dynamic range. We adapted an ultra-widefield microscopy platform for parallel light patterning in up to 36 embryos, and demonstrated precise spatial control over Nodal signaling activity and downstream gene expression. Patterned Nodal activation drove precisely controlled internalization of endodermal precursors. Furthermore, we used patterned illumination to generate synthetic signaling patterns in Nodal signaling mutants, rescuing several characteristic developmental defects. This study establishes an experimental toolkit for systematic exploration of Nodal signaling patterns in live embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alison M. Guyer
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Bill Z. Jia
- Department of Systems Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Vicente J. Parot
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820244, Chile
| | - Caleb D. Dobbs
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | | | - Adam E. Cohen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Nathan D. Lord
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
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4
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Wimmer W, Delingette H. Second order kinematic surface fitting in anatomical structures. Med Image Anal 2025; 101:103488. [PMID: 39933333 DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2025.103488] [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] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2025] [Indexed: 02/13/2025]
Abstract
Symmetry detection and morphological classification of anatomical structures play pivotal roles in medical image analysis. The application of kinematic surface fitting, a method for characterizing shapes through parametric stationary velocity fields, has shown promising results in computer vision and computer-aided design. However, existing research has predominantly focused on first order rotational velocity fields, which may not adequately capture the intricate curved and twisted nature of anatomical structures. To address this limitation, we propose an innovative approach utilizing a second order velocity field for kinematic surface fitting. This advancement accommodates higher rotational shape complexity and improves the accuracy of symmetry detection in anatomical structures. We introduce a robust fitting technique and validate its performance through testing on synthetic shapes and real anatomical structures. Our method not only enables the detection of curved rotational symmetries (core lines) but also facilitates morphological classification by deriving intrinsic shape parameters related to curvature and torsion. We illustrate the usefulness of our technique by categorizing the shape of human cochleae in terms of the intrinsic velocity field parameters. The results showcase the potential of our method as a valuable tool for medical image analysis, contributing to the assessment of complex anatomical shapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilhelm Wimmer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Germany.
| | - Hervé Delingette
- Inria, Université Côte d'Azur, Epione team, Sophia Antipolis, France
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5
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Chang CT, Tsai T, Solnica-Krezel L. Temporal regulation of endoderm convergence and extension by the BMP activity gradient through mesoderm-dependent and independent mechanisms. Cells Dev 2025:204021. [PMID: 40090551 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204021] [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: 12/30/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2025] [Accepted: 03/10/2025] [Indexed: 03/18/2025]
Abstract
One hundred years ago, Spemann and Mangold identified the organizer, a critical embryonic region that establishes vertebrate body axes by directing cell fate and morphogenesis. A conserved vertebrate mechanism involves the regulation of a ventral-to-dorsal BMP activity gradient during gastrulation by the organizer-expressed molecules. In zebrafish, BMP signaling controls mesodermal cell convergence and extension (C&E) by inhibiting Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) signaling and regulating cell adhesion. This allows lateral cells to converge toward the dorsal midline while directing ventral cells toward the tail bud. However, BMP's role in endodermal cell movements and the temporal precision of its regulatory functions remain poorly understood. Using optogenetics and other loss- and gain-of-function approaches, we investigated BMP's role in mesoderm and endoderm C&E. We found that low BMP signaling promotes extension in both germ layers, whereas high BMP signaling inhibits their C&E. Remarkably, BMP signaling activation for 1 h rapidly redirected dorsal to ventral migration of both mesodermal and endodermal cells. However, when BMP signaling was selectively elevated in endoderm in embryos with reduced BMP signaling, endoderm still mimicked mesodermal cell movements, indicating that endodermal responses to BMP are non-cell autonomous. We show that movements of endodermal cells in gastrulae with normal or elevated BMP signaling are not entirely dependent on mesoderm or the Cxcl12b/Cxcr4a GPCR pathway, suggesting additional mechanisms underlie endoderm C&E. Our findings highlight the critical role of the BMP morphogen gradient in coordinated C&E movements of mesodermal and endodermal cells. BMP employs both direct and indirect mechanisms to ensure robust embryonic patterning and morphogenesis of germ layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Teng Chang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tony Tsai
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Lila Solnica-Krezel
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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6
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Chidiac R, Yang A, Kubarakos E, Mikolajewicz N, Han H, Almeida MP, Thibeault PE, Lin S, MacLeod G, Gratton JP, Moffat J, Angers S. Selective activation of FZD2 and FZD7 reveals non-redundant function during mesoderm differentiation. Stem Cell Reports 2025; 20:102391. [PMID: 39824186 PMCID: PMC11864152 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.102391] [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] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 12/11/2024] [Accepted: 12/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/20/2025] Open
Abstract
During gastrulation, Wnt-β-catenin signaling dictates lineage bifurcation generating different mesoderm cell types. However, the specific role of Wnt receptors in mesoderm specification remains elusive. Using selective Frizzled (FZD) and LRP5/6 antibody-based agonists, we examined FZD receptors' function during directed mesoderm differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). We found that FZD2 and FZD7 receptors are expressed at the membrane of hPSCs and that their activation triggers β-catenin signaling with different kinetics, thereby influencing mesoderm patterning choices. Specifically, FZD7 activation enhances both paraxial and lateral mesoderm differentiation, whereas FZD2 activation favors paraxial mesoderm. Mechanistically, FZD2 activation promotes sustained Wnt-β-catenin levels, guiding hPSCs differentiation toward paraxial mesoderm, while blocking lateral mesoderm. In contrast, FZD7 activation kinetics display similar initial activation but more dampening of β-catenin signaling, permitting lateral mesoderm induction in addition to paraxial mesoderm specification. Our findings reveal non-redundant roles for FZD2 and FZD7 in mesoderm specification, offering leverage for precise directed differentiation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rony Chidiac
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andy Yang
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elli Kubarakos
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicholas Mikolajewicz
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hong Han
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maira P Almeida
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pierre E Thibeault
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sichun Lin
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Graham MacLeod
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Gratton
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jason Moffat
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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7
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Shen S, Werner T, Lukowski SW, Andersen S, Sun Y, Shim WJ, Mizikovsky D, Kobayashi S, Outhwaite J, Chiu HS, Chen X, Chapman G, Martin EMMA, Xia D, Pham D, Su Z, Kim D, Yang P, Tan MC, Sinniah E, Zhao Q, Negi S, Redd MA, Powell JE, Dunwoodie SL, Tam PPL, Bodén M, Ho JWK, Nguyen Q, Palpant NJ. Atlas of multilineage stem cell differentiation reveals TMEM88 as a developmental regulator of blood pressure. Nat Commun 2025; 16:1356. [PMID: 39904980 PMCID: PMC11794859 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56533-2] [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: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2025] [Indexed: 02/06/2025] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells provide a scalable approach to analyse molecular regulation of cell differentiation across developmental lineages. Here, we engineer barcoded induced pluripotent stem cells to generate an atlas of multilineage differentiation from pluripotency, encompassing an eight-day time course with modulation of WNT, BMP, and VEGF signalling pathways. Annotation of in vitro cell types with reference to in vivo development reveals diverse mesendoderm lineage cell types including lateral plate and paraxial mesoderm, neural crest, and primitive gut. Interrogation of temporal and signalling-specific gene expression in this atlas, evaluated against cell type-specific gene expression in human complex trait data highlights the WNT-inhibitor gene TMEM88 as a regulator of mesendodermal lineages influencing cardiovascular and anthropometric traits. Genetic TMEM88 loss of function models show impaired differentiation of endodermal and mesodermal derivatives in vitro and dysregulated arterial blood pressure in vivo. Together, this study provides an atlas of multilineage stem cell differentiation and analysis pipelines to dissect genetic determinants of mammalian developmental physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Shen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Tessa Werner
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Samuel W Lukowski
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Stacey Andersen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Genome Innovation Hub, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Yuliangzi Sun
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Woo Jun Shim
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Dalia Mizikovsky
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Sakurako Kobayashi
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jennifer Outhwaite
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Han Sheng Chiu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Xiaoli Chen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Gavin Chapman
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ella M M A Martin
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Di Xia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Genome Innovation Hub, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Duy Pham
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Zezhuo Su
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Daniel Kim
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Pengyi Yang
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Men Chee Tan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Queensland Facility for Advanced Genome Editing, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Enakshi Sinniah
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Qiongyi Zhao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Sumedha Negi
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Meredith A Redd
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Joseph E Powell
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- University of New South Wales, Cellular Genomics Futures Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sally L Dunwoodie
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Patrick P L Tam
- Embryology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Mikael Bodén
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Joshua W K Ho
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Quan Nguyen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Nathan J Palpant
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
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8
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Rito T, Libby ARG, Demuth M, Domart MC, Cornwall-Scoones J, Briscoe J. Timely TGFβ signalling inhibition induces notochord. Nature 2025; 637:673-682. [PMID: 39695233 PMCID: PMC11735409 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08332-w] [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: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2024] [Indexed: 12/20/2024]
Abstract
The formation of the vertebrate body involves the coordinated production of trunk tissues from progenitors located in the posterior of the embryo. Although in vitro models using pluripotent stem cells replicate aspects of this process1-10, they lack crucial components, most notably the notochord-a defining feature of chordates that patterns surrounding tissues11. Consequently, cell types dependent on notochord signals are absent from current models of human trunk formation. Here we performed single-cell transcriptomic analysis of chick embryos to map molecularly distinct progenitor populations and their spatial organization. Guided by this map, we investigated how differentiating human pluripotent stem cells develop a stereotypical spatial organization of trunk cell types. We found that YAP inactivation in conjunction with FGF-mediated MAPK signalling facilitated WNT pathway activation and induced expression of TBXT (also known as BRA). In addition, timely inhibition of WNT-induced NODAL and BMP signalling regulated the proportions of different tissue types, including notochordal cells. This enabled us to create a three-dimensional model of human trunk development that undergoes morphogenetic movements, producing elongated structures with a notochord and ventral neural and mesodermal tissues. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying vertebrate notochord formation and establish a more comprehensive in vitro model of human trunk development. This paves the way for future studies of tissue patterning in a physiologically relevant environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Rito
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
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9
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McNamara HM, Solley SC, Adamson B, Chan MM, Toettcher JE. Recording morphogen signals reveals mechanisms underlying gastruloid symmetry breaking. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:1832-1844. [PMID: 39358450 PMCID: PMC11806519 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01521-9] [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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Aggregates of stem cells can break symmetry and self-organize into embryo-like structures with complex morphologies and gene expression patterns. Mechanisms including reaction-diffusion Turing patterns and cell sorting have been proposed to explain symmetry breaking but distinguishing between these candidate mechanisms of self-organization requires identifying which early asymmetries evolve into subsequent tissue patterns and cell fates. Here we use synthetic 'signal-recording' gene circuits to trace the evolution of signalling patterns in gastruloids, three-dimensional stem cell aggregates that form an anterior-posterior axis and structures resembling the mammalian primitive streak and tailbud. We find that cell sorting rearranges patchy domains of Wnt activity into a single pole that defines the gastruloid anterior-posterior axis. We also trace the emergence of Wnt domains to earlier heterogeneity in Nodal activity even before Wnt activity is detectable. Our study defines a mechanism through which aggregates of stem cells can form a patterning axis even in the absence of external spatial cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold M McNamara
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
| | - Sabrina C Solley
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Britt Adamson
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Michelle M Chan
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Jared E Toettcher
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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10
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Niehrs C, Zapparoli E, Lee H. 'Three signals - three body axes' as patterning principle in bilaterians. Cells Dev 2024:203944. [PMID: 39121910 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2024.203944] [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: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
In vertebrates, the three orthogonal body axes, anteroposterior (AP), dorsoventral (DV) and left-right (LR) are determined at gastrula and neurula stages by the Spemann-Mangold organizer and its equivalents. A common feature of AP and DV axis formation is that an evolutionary conserved interplay between growth factors (Wnt, BMP) and their extracellular antagonists (e.g. Dkk1, Chordin) creates signaling gradients for axial patterning. Recent work showed that LR patterning in Xenopus follows the same principle, with R-spondin 2 (Rspo2) as an extracellular FGF antagonist, which creates a signaling gradient that determines the LR vector. That a triad of anti-FGF, anti-BMP, and anti-Wnt governs LR, DV, and AP axis formation reveals a unifying principle in animal development. We discuss how cross-talk between these three signals confers integrated AP-DV-LR body axis patterning underlying developmental robustness, size scaling, and harmonious regulation. We propose that Urbilateria featured three orthogonal body axes that were governed by a Cartesian coordinate system of orthogonal Wnt/AP, BMP/DV, and FGF/LR signaling gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christof Niehrs
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | | | - Hyeyoon Lee
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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11
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Marc S, Crăciun IC, Sicoe B, Savici J, Boldura OM, Paul C, Otavă G, Văduva C, Stancu A. Monosymmetros Cephalothoracopagus Tetrabrachius and Tetrapus Piglets with Syndromic Evolution. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2127. [PMID: 39061589 PMCID: PMC11274208 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142127] [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: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Conjoined twins are rare congenital malformations that have been reported in mammals. Two different cases are presented in this study. Case No. 1 features monocephalic, thoracopagus-conjoined twin piglets with anencephaly and palatoschisis of the Pietrain breed, and case No. 2 features monocephalic, thoracopagus conjoined twin piglets with palatoschisis and bifid root tongue of a mixed breed. These cases were examined using post-mortem and computed tomography (CT) examinations. In both cases, the conjoined symmetrical twins had a single head, one neck, and fused thoracic cavities, while the abdominal cavities were separated. Similarly, in both cases, they had four forelimbs and four hindlimbs and duplicated foramen magnum. During CT examination, in case No. 1, severe abnormalities were observed in the skull and vertebral column. In the left twin, occult dysraphism was seen from the C2 vertebra until the end of the vertebral column, and in the right twin, from the C3 vertebra until the end of the state vertebral level. In case No. 2, the oral cavity contained a tongue with a bifid root connected with one hyoid bone, and the soft palate presented a small cleft. During CT examination, the parietal bone and the occipital bones were partially duplicated. This case also presented occult dysraphism, but only in the cervical vertebrae, C1-C6 for the left twin and C1-C5 for the right twin. In both cases, abnormalities of the internal organs were revealed during necropsy. Conjoined twins with multiple congenital anomalies presented here enhance our understanding of the various clinical forms of conjoined cases in veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Marc
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania; (S.M.); (I.C.C.); (B.S.); (J.S.); (O.M.B.); (G.O.); (C.V.); (A.S.)
| | - Ioan Claudiu Crăciun
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania; (S.M.); (I.C.C.); (B.S.); (J.S.); (O.M.B.); (G.O.); (C.V.); (A.S.)
| | - Bogdan Sicoe
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania; (S.M.); (I.C.C.); (B.S.); (J.S.); (O.M.B.); (G.O.); (C.V.); (A.S.)
| | - Jelena Savici
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania; (S.M.); (I.C.C.); (B.S.); (J.S.); (O.M.B.); (G.O.); (C.V.); (A.S.)
| | - Oana Maria Boldura
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania; (S.M.); (I.C.C.); (B.S.); (J.S.); (O.M.B.); (G.O.); (C.V.); (A.S.)
| | - Cristina Paul
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Engineering of Organic and Natural Compounds, Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Politehnica University Timișoara, Vasile Pârvan 6, 300223 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Gabriel Otavă
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania; (S.M.); (I.C.C.); (B.S.); (J.S.); (O.M.B.); (G.O.); (C.V.); (A.S.)
| | - Cristina Văduva
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania; (S.M.); (I.C.C.); (B.S.); (J.S.); (O.M.B.); (G.O.); (C.V.); (A.S.)
| | - Adrian Stancu
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania; (S.M.); (I.C.C.); (B.S.); (J.S.); (O.M.B.); (G.O.); (C.V.); (A.S.)
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12
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Gu S, Derynck R, Chen YG, Feng XH. New progress in roles of TGF-β signaling crosstalks in cellular functions, immunity and diseases. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 13:11. [PMID: 38780677 PMCID: PMC11116299 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-024-00194-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The family of secreted dimeric proteins known as the Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) family plays a critical role in facilitating intercellular communication within multicellular animals. A recent symposium on TGF-β Biology - Signaling, Development, and Diseases, held on December 19-21, 2023, in Hangzhou, China, showcased some latest advances in our understanding TGF-β biology and also served as an important forum for scientific collaboration and exchange of ideas. More than twenty presentations and discussions at the symposium delved into the intricate mechanisms of TGF-β superfamily signaling pathways, their roles in normal development and immunity, and the pathological conditions associated with pathway dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuchen Gu
- Center for Life Sciences, Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, 321000, Zhejiang, China.
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Rik Derynck
- Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, San Francisco, USA
| | - Ye-Guang Chen
- The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, Jiangxi, China.
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Xin-Hua Feng
- Center for Life Sciences, Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, 321000, Zhejiang, China.
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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13
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McNamara HM, Jia BZ, Guyer A, Parot VJ, Dobbs C, Schier AF, Cohen AE, Lord ND. Optogenetic control of Nodal signaling patterns. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.11.588875. [PMID: 38645239 PMCID: PMC11030342 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.11.588875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
A crucial step in early embryogenesis is the establishment of spatial patterns of signaling activity. Tools to perturb morphogen signals with high resolution in space and time can help reveal how embryonic cells decode these signals to make appropriate fate decisions. Here, we present new optogenetic reagents and an experimental pipeline for creaHng designer Nodal signaling patterns in live zebrafish embryos. Nodal receptors were fused to the light-sensitive heterodimerizing pair Cry2/CIB1N, and the Type II receptor was sequestered to the cytosol. The improved optoNodal2 reagents eliminate dark activity and improve response kinetics, without sacrificing dynamic range. We adapted an ultra-widefield microscopy platform for parallel light patterning in up to 36 embryos and demonstrated precise spatial control over Nodal signaling activity and downstream gene expression. Patterned Nodal activation drove precisely controlled internalization of endodermal precursors. Further, we used patterned illumination to generate synthetic signaling patterns in Nodal signaling mutants, rescuing several characteristic developmental defects. This study establishes an experimental toolkit for systematic exploration of Nodal signaling patterns in live embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bill Z. Jia
- Department of Systems Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alison Guyer
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Vicente J. Parot
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Caleb Dobbs
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Adam E. Cohen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nathan D. Lord
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
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14
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Sampilo NF, Song JL. microRNA-1 regulates sea urchin skeletogenesis by directly targeting skeletogenic genes and modulating components of signaling pathways. Dev Biol 2024; 508:123-137. [PMID: 38290645 PMCID: PMC10985635 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.01.010] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
microRNAs are evolutionarily conserved non-coding RNAs that direct post-transcriptional regulation of target transcripts. In vertebrates, microRNA-1 (miR-1) is expressed in muscle and has been found to play critical regulatory roles in vertebrate angiogenesis, a process that has been proposed to be analogous to sea urchin skeletogenesis. Results indicate that both miR-1 inhibitor and miR-1 mimic-injected larvae have significantly less F-actin enriched circumpharyngeal muscle fibers and fewer gut contractions. In addition, miR-1 regulates the positioning of skeletogenic primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs) and skeletogenesis of the sea urchin embryo. Interestingly, the gain-of-function of miR-1 leads to more severe PMC patterning and skeletal branching defects than its loss-of-function. The results suggest that miR-1 directly suppresses Ets1/2, Tbr, and VegfR7 of the skeletogenic gene regulatory network, and Nodal, and Wnt1 signaling components. This study identifies potential targets of miR-1 that impacts skeletogenesis and muscle formation and contributes to a deeper understanding of miR-1's function during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Faye Sampilo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Jia L Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
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15
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Wu Z, Shen S, Mizikovsky D, Cao Y, Naval-Sanchez M, Tan SZ, Alvarez YD, Sun Y, Chen X, Zhao Q, Kim D, Yang P, Hill TA, Jones A, Fairlie DP, Pébay A, Hewitt AW, Tam PPL, White MD, Nefzger CM, Palpant NJ. Wnt dose escalation during the exit from pluripotency identifies tranilast as a regulator of cardiac mesoderm. Dev Cell 2024; 59:705-722.e8. [PMID: 38354738 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.019] [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] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is a critical determinant of cell lineage development. This study used Wnt dose-dependent induction programs to gain insights into molecular regulation of stem cell differentiation. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of hiPSCs responding to a dose escalation protocol with Wnt agonist CHIR-99021 during the exit from pluripotency to identify cell types and genetic activity driven by Wnt stimulation. Results of activated gene sets and cell types were used to build a multiple regression model that predicts the efficiency of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Cross-referencing Wnt-associated gene expression profiles to the Connectivity Map database, we identified the small-molecule drug, tranilast. We found that tranilast synergistically activates Wnt signaling to promote cardiac lineage differentiation, which we validate by in vitro analysis of hiPSC differentiation and in vivo analysis of developing quail embryos. Our study provides an integrated workflow that links experimental datasets, prediction models, and small-molecule databases to identify drug-like compounds that control cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixuan Wu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sophie Shen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Dalia Mizikovsky
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yuanzhao Cao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Marina Naval-Sanchez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Siew Zhuan Tan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yanina D Alvarez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yuliangzi Sun
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Xiaoli Chen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Qiongyi Zhao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Daniel Kim
- Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Pengyi Yang
- Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Timothy A Hill
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alun Jones
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David P Fairlie
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Patrick P L Tam
- Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Melanie D White
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Christian M Nefzger
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Nathan J Palpant
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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16
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Schauer A, Pranjic-Ferscha K, Hauschild R, Heisenberg CP. Robust axis elongation by Nodal-dependent restriction of BMP signaling. Development 2024; 151:dev202316. [PMID: 38372390 PMCID: PMC10911127 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202316] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Embryogenesis results from the coordinated activities of different signaling pathways controlling cell fate specification and morphogenesis. In vertebrate gastrulation, both Nodal and BMP signaling play key roles in germ layer specification and morphogenesis, yet their interplay to coordinate embryo patterning with morphogenesis is still insufficiently understood. Here, we took a reductionist approach using zebrafish embryonic explants to study the coordination of Nodal and BMP signaling for embryo patterning and morphogenesis. We show that Nodal signaling triggers explant elongation by inducing mesendodermal progenitors but also suppressing BMP signaling activity at the site of mesendoderm induction. Consistent with this, ectopic BMP signaling in the mesendoderm blocks cell alignment and oriented mesendoderm intercalations, key processes during explant elongation. Translating these ex vivo observations to the intact embryo showed that, similar to explants, Nodal signaling suppresses the effect of BMP signaling on cell intercalations in the dorsal domain, thus allowing robust embryonic axis elongation. These findings suggest a dual function of Nodal signaling in embryonic axis elongation by both inducing mesendoderm and suppressing BMP effects in the dorsal portion of the mesendoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schauer
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | | | - Robert Hauschild
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
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17
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Emig AA, Hansen M, Grimm S, Coarfa C, Lord ND, Williams MK. Temporal dynamics of BMP/Nodal ratio drive tissue-specific gastrulation morphogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.06.579243. [PMID: 38370754 PMCID: PMC10871350 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.06.579243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Anteroposterior (AP) elongation of the vertebrate body plan is driven by convergence and extension (C&E) gastrulation movements in both the mesoderm and neuroectoderm, but how or whether molecular regulation of C&E differs between tissues remains an open question. Using a zebrafish explant model of AP axis extension, we show that C&E of the neuroectoderm and mesoderm can be uncoupled ex vivo, and that morphogenesis of individual tissues results from distinct morphogen signaling dynamics. Using precise temporal manipulation of BMP and Nodal signaling, we identify a critical developmental window during which high or low BMP/Nodal ratios induce neuroectoderm- or mesoderm-driven C&E, respectively. Increased BMP activity similarly enhances C&E specifically in the ectoderm of intact zebrafish gastrulae, highlighting the in vivo relevance of our findings. Together, these results demonstrate that temporal dynamics of BMP and Nodal morphogen signaling activate distinct morphogenetic programs governing C&E gastrulation movements within individual tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa A Emig
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Megan Hansen
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Sandra Grimm
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Nathan D Lord
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Margot Kossmann Williams
- Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Previous address: Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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18
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Boer LL, Winter E, Gorissen B, Oostra RJ. Phenotypically Discordant Anomalies in Conjoined Twins: Quirks of Nature Governed by Molecular Pathways? Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3427. [PMID: 37998563 PMCID: PMC10669976 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13223427] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A multitude of additional anomalies can be observed in virtually all types of symmetrical conjoined twins. These concomitant defects can be divided into different dysmorphological patterns. Some of these patterns reveal their etiological origin through their topographical location. The so-called shared anomalies are traceable to embryological adjustments and directly linked to the conjoined-twinning mechanism itself, inherently located within the boundaries of the coalescence area. In contrast, discordant patterns are anomalies present in only one of the twin members, intrinsically distant from the area of union. These dysmorphological entities are much more difficult to place in a developmental perspective, as it is presumed that conjoined twins share identical intra-uterine environments and intra-embryonic molecular and genetic footprints. However, their existence testifies that certain developmental fields and their respective developmental pathways take different routes in members of conjoined twins. This observation remains a poorly understood phenomenon. This article describes 69 cases of external discordant patterns within different types of otherwise symmetrical mono-umbilical conjoined twins and places them in a developmental perspective and a molecular framework. Gaining insights into the phenotypes and underlying (biochemical) mechanisms could potentially pave the way and generate novel etiological visions in the formation of conjoined twins itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas L. Boer
- Department of Medical Imaging, Section Anatomy and Museum for Anatomy and Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Eduard Winter
- Pathologisch-Anatomische Sammlung im Narrenturm-NHM, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ben Gorissen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Section Anatomy and Museum for Anatomy and Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roelof-Jan Oostra
- Department of Medical Biology, Sections Clinical Anatomy & Embryology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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19
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Kemmler CL, Smolikova J, Moran HR, Mannion BJ, Knapp D, Lim F, Czarkwiani A, Hermosilla Aguayo V, Rapp V, Fitch OE, Bötschi S, Selleri L, Farley E, Braasch I, Yun M, Visel A, Osterwalder M, Mosimann C, Kozmik Z, Burger A. Conserved enhancers control notochord expression of vertebrate Brachyury. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6594. [PMID: 37852970 PMCID: PMC10584899 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42151-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The cell type-specific expression of key transcription factors is central to development and disease. Brachyury/T/TBXT is a major transcription factor for gastrulation, tailbud patterning, and notochord formation; however, how its expression is controlled in the mammalian notochord has remained elusive. Here, we identify the complement of notochord-specific enhancers in the mammalian Brachyury/T/TBXT gene. Using transgenic assays in zebrafish, axolotl, and mouse, we discover three conserved Brachyury-controlling notochord enhancers, T3, C, and I, in human, mouse, and marsupial genomes. Acting as Brachyury-responsive, auto-regulatory shadow enhancers, in cis deletion of all three enhancers in mouse abolishes Brachyury/T/Tbxt expression selectively in the notochord, causing specific trunk and neural tube defects without gastrulation or tailbud defects. The three Brachyury-driving notochord enhancers are conserved beyond mammals in the brachyury/tbxtb loci of fishes, dating their origin to the last common ancestor of jawed vertebrates. Our data define the vertebrate enhancers for Brachyury/T/TBXTB notochord expression through an auto-regulatory mechanism that conveys robustness and adaptability as ancient basis for axis development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie L Kemmler
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jana Smolikova
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hannah R Moran
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Brandon J Mannion
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Comparative Biochemistry Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Dunja Knapp
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabian Lim
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anna Czarkwiani
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Viviana Hermosilla Aguayo
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Rapp
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivia E Fitch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Seraina Bötschi
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Licia Selleri
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emma Farley
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ingo Braasch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Maximina Yun
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Axel Visel
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian Mosimann
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Alexa Burger
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
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20
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McNamara HM, Solley SC, Adamson B, Chan MM, Toettcher JE. Recording morphogen signals reveals origins of gastruloid symmetry breaking. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.02.543474. [PMID: 37333235 PMCID: PMC10274695 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.02.543474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
When cultured in three dimensional spheroids, mammalian stem cells can reproducibly self-organize a single anterior-posterior axis and sequentially differentiate into structures resembling the primitive streak and tailbud. Whereas the embryo's body axes are instructed by spatially patterned extra-embryonic cues, it is unknown how these stem cell gastruloids break symmetry to reproducibly define a single anterior-posterior (A-P) axis. Here, we use synthetic gene circuits to trace how early intracellular signals predict cells' future anterior-posterior position in the gastruloid. We show that Wnt signaling evolves from a homogeneous state to a polarized state, and identify a critical 6-hour time period when single-cell Wnt activity predicts future cellular position, prior to the appearance of polarized signaling patterns or morphology. Single-cell RNA sequencing and live-imaging reveal that early Wnt-high and Wnt-low cells contribute to distinct cell types and suggest that axial symmetry breaking is driven by sorting rearrangements involving differential cell adhesion. We further extend our approach to other canonical embryonic signaling pathways, revealing that even earlier heterogeneity in TGFβ signaling predicts A-P position and modulates Wnt signaling during the critical time period. Our study reveals a sequence of dynamic cellular processes that transform a uniform cell aggregate into a polarized structure and demonstrates that a morphological axis can emerge out of signaling heterogeneity and cell movements even in the absence of exogenous patterning cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold M. McNamara
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
| | - Sabrina C. Solley
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
| | - Britt Adamson
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
| | - Michelle M. Chan
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
| | - Jared E. Toettcher
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
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21
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Emig AA, Williams MLK. Gastrulation morphogenesis in synthetic systems. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 141:3-13. [PMID: 35817656 PMCID: PMC9825685 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in pluripotent stem cell culture allow researchers to generate not only most embryonic cell types, but also morphologies of many embryonic structures, entirely in vitro. This recreation of embryonic form from naïve cells, known as synthetic morphogenesis, has important implications for both developmental biology and regenerative medicine. However, the capacity of stem cell-based models to recapitulate the morphogenetic cell behaviors that shape natural embryos remains unclear. In this review, we explore several examples of synthetic morphogenesis, with a focus on models of gastrulation and surrounding stages. By varying cell types, source species, and culture conditions, researchers have recreated aspects of primitive streak formation, emergence and elongation of the primary embryonic axis, neural tube closure, and more. Here, we describe cell behaviors within in vitro/ex vivo systems that mimic in vivo morphogenesis and highlight opportunities for more complete models of early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa A Emig
- Center for Precision Environmental Health & Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
| | - Margot L K Williams
- Center for Precision Environmental Health & Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, USA.
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22
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Cheng T, Xing YY, Liu C, Li YF, Huang Y, Liu X, Zhang YJ, Zhao GQ, Dong Y, Fu XX, Tian YM, Shu LP, Megason SG, Xu PF. Nodal coordinates the anterior-posterior patterning of germ layers and induces head formation in zebrafish explants. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112351. [PMID: 37018074 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112351] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Much progress has been made toward generating analogs of early embryos, such as gastruloids and embryoids, in vitro. However, methods for how to fully mimic the cell movements of gastrulation and coordinate germ-layer patterning to induce head formation are still lacking. Here, we show that a regional Nodal gradient applied to zebrafish animal pole explant can generate a structure that recapitulates the key cell movements of gastrulation. Using single-cell transcriptome and in situ hybridization analysis, we assess the dynamics of the cell fates and patterning of this structure. The mesendoderm differentiates into the anterior endoderm, prechordal plate, notochord, and tailbud-like cells along an anterior-posterior axis, and an anterior-posterior-patterned head-like structure (HLS) progressively forms during late gastrulation. Among 105 immediate Nodal targets, 14 genes contain axis-induction ability, and 5 of them induce a complete or partial head structure when overexpressed in the ventral side of zebrafish embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Cheng
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan-Yi Xing
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic and Developmental Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yun-Fei Li
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying-Jie Zhang
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guo-Qin Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Yang Dong
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin-Xin Fu
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi-Meng Tian
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li-Ping Shu
- Department of Immunology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Sean G Megason
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Peng-Fei Xu
- Women's Hospital, Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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23
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Kemmler CL, Smolikova J, Moran HR, Mannion BJ, Knapp D, Lim F, Czarkwiani A, Hermosilla Aguayo V, Rapp V, Fitch OE, Bötschi S, Selleri L, Farley E, Braasch I, Yun M, Visel A, Osterwalder M, Mosimann C, Kozmik Z, Burger A. Conserved enhancer logic controls the notochord expression of vertebrate Brachyury. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.20.536761. [PMID: 37131681 PMCID: PMC10153258 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.20.536761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The cell type-specific expression of key transcription factors is central to development. Brachyury/T/TBXT is a major transcription factor for gastrulation, tailbud patterning, and notochord formation; however, how its expression is controlled in the mammalian notochord has remained elusive. Here, we identify the complement of notochord-specific enhancers in the mammalian Brachyury/T/TBXT gene. Using transgenic assays in zebrafish, axolotl, and mouse, we discover three Brachyury-controlling notochord enhancers T3, C, and I in human, mouse, and marsupial genomes. Acting as Brachyury-responsive, auto-regulatory shadow enhancers, deletion of all three enhancers in mouse abolishes Brachyury/T expression selectively in the notochord, causing specific trunk and neural tube defects without gastrulation or tailbud defects. Sequence and functional conservation of Brachyury-driving notochord enhancers with the brachyury/tbxtb loci from diverse lineages of fishes dates their origin to the last common ancestor of jawed vertebrates. Our data define the enhancers for Brachyury/T/TBXTB notochord expression as ancient mechanism in axis development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie L. Kemmler
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jana Smolikova
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hannah R. Moran
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Brandon J. Mannion
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Comparative Biochemistry Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Dunja Knapp
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabian Lim
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
- Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anna Czarkwiani
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Viviana Hermosilla Aguayo
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Rapp
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivia E. Fitch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Seraina Bötschi
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Licia Selleri
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emma Farley
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Ingo Braasch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Maximina Yun
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Axel Visel
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, Berne University Hospital, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Mosimann
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alexa Burger
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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24
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Ducos B, Bensimon D, Scerbo P. Vertebrate Cell Differentiation, Evolution, and Diseases: The Vertebrate-Specific Developmental Potential Guardians VENTX/ NANOG and POU5/ OCT4 Enter the Stage. Cells 2022; 11:cells11152299. [PMID: 35892595 PMCID: PMC9331430 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
During vertebrate development, embryonic cells pass through a continuum of transitory pluripotent states that precede multi-lineage commitment and morphogenesis. Such states are referred to as “refractory/naïve” and “competent/formative” pluripotency. The molecular mechanisms maintaining refractory pluripotency or driving the transition to competent pluripotency, as well as the cues regulating multi-lineage commitment, are evolutionarily conserved. Vertebrate-specific “Developmental Potential Guardians” (vsDPGs; i.e., VENTX/NANOG, POU5/OCT4), together with MEK1 (MAP2K1), coordinate the pluripotency continuum, competence for multi-lineage commitment and morphogenesis in vivo. During neurulation, vsDPGs empower ectodermal cells of the neuro-epithelial border (NEB) with multipotency and ectomesenchyme potential through an “endogenous reprogramming” process, giving rise to the neural crest cells (NCCs). Furthermore, vsDPGs are expressed in undifferentiated-bipotent neuro-mesodermal progenitor cells (NMPs), which participate in posterior axis elongation and growth. Finally, vsDPGs are involved in carcinogenesis, whereby they confer selective advantage to cancer stem cells (CSCs) and therapeutic resistance. Intriguingly, the heterogenous distribution of vsDPGs in these cell types impact on cellular potential and features. Here, we summarize the findings about the role of vsDPGs during vertebrate development and their selective advantage in evolution. Our aim to present a holistic view regarding vsDPGs as facilitators of both cell plasticity/adaptability and morphological innovation/variation. Moreover, vsDPGs may also be at the heart of carcinogenesis by allowing malignant cells to escape from physiological constraints and surveillance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Ducos
- LPENS, PSL, CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- IBENS, PSL, CNRS, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
- High Throughput qPCR Core Facility, ENS, PSL, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (B.D.); (D.B.); (P.S.)
| | - David Bensimon
- LPENS, PSL, CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- IBENS, PSL, CNRS, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90094, USA
- Correspondence: (B.D.); (D.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Pierluigi Scerbo
- LPENS, PSL, CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- IBENS, PSL, CNRS, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (B.D.); (D.B.); (P.S.)
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25
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Xing C, Shen W, Gong B, Li Y, Yan L, Meng A. Maternal Factors and Nodal Autoregulation Orchestrate Nodal Gene Expression for Embryonic Mesendoderm Induction in the Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:887987. [PMID: 35693948 PMCID: PMC9178097 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.887987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nodal proteins provide crucial signals for mesoderm and endoderm induction. In zebrafish embryos, the nodal genes ndr1/squint and ndr2/cyclops are implicated in mesendoderm induction. It remains elusive how ndr1 and ndr2 expression is regulated spatiotemporally. Here we investigated regulation of ndr1 and ndr2 expression using Mhwa mutants that lack the maternal dorsal determinant Hwa with deficiency in β-catenin signaling, Meomesa mutants that lack maternal Eomesodermin A (Eomesa), Meomesa;Mhwa double mutants, and the Nodal signaling inhibitor SB431542. We show that ndr1 and ndr2 expression is completely abolished in Meomesa;Mhwa mutant embryos, indicating an essential role of maternal eomesa and hwa. Hwa-activated β-catenin signaling plays a major role in activation of ndr1 expression in the dorsal blastodermal margin, while eomesa is mostly responsible for ndr1 expression in the lateroventral margin and Nodal signaling contributes to ventral expansion of the ndr1 expression domain. However, ndr2 expression mainly depends on maternal eomesa with minor or negligible contribution of maternal hwa and Nodal autoregulation. These mechanisms may help understand regulation of Nodal expression in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cencan Xing
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Daxing Research Institute, University of Science and Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Weimin Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Gong
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqi Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Yan
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Anming Meng
- Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Anming Meng,
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26
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Hill CS. Establishment and interpretation of NODAL and BMP signaling gradients in early vertebrate development. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 149:311-340. [PMID: 35606059 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family ligands play crucial roles in orchestrating early embryonic development. Most significantly, two family members, NODAL and BMP form signaling gradients and indeed in fish, frogs and sea urchins these two opposing gradients are sufficient to organize a complete embryonic axis. This review focuses on how these gradients are established and interpreted during early vertebrate development. The review highlights key principles that are emerging, in particular the importance of signaling duration as well as ligand concentration in both gradient generation and their interpretation. Feedforward and feedback loops involving other signaling pathways are also essential for providing spatial and temporal information downstream of the NODAL and BMP signaling pathways. Finally, new data suggest the existence of buffering mechanisms, whereby early signaling defects can be readily corrected downstream later in development, suggesting that signaling gradients do not have to be as precise as previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline S Hill
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.
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27
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An H, Smith JW, Ji B, Cotty S, Zhou S, Yao L, Kalutantirige FC, Chen W, Ou Z, Su X, Feng J, Chen Q. Mechanism and performance relevance of nanomorphogenesis in polyamide films revealed by quantitative 3D imaging and machine learning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk1888. [PMID: 35196079 PMCID: PMC8865778 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk1888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biological morphogenesis has inspired many efficient strategies to diversify material structure and functionality using a fixed set of components. However, implementation of morphogenesis concepts to design soft nanomaterials is underexplored. Here, we study nanomorphogenesis in the form of the three-dimensional (3D) crumpling of polyamide membranes used for commercial molecular separation, through an unprecedented integration of electron tomography, reaction-diffusion theory, machine learning (ML), and liquid-phase atomic force microscopy. 3D tomograms show that the spatial arrangement of crumples scales with monomer concentrations in a form quantitatively consistent with a Turing instability. Membrane microenvironments quantified from the nanomorphologies of crumples are combined with the Spiegler-Kedem model to accurately predict methanol permeance. ML classifies vastly heterogeneous crumples into just four morphology groups, exhibiting distinct mechanical properties. Our work forges quantitative links between synthesis and performance in polymer thin films, which can be applicable to diverse soft nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyosung An
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - John W. Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Bingqiang Ji
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Stephen Cotty
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Lehan Yao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Wenxiang Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Zihao Ou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Xiao Su
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jie Feng
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
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28
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Eve A. Transitions in development – an interview with Margot Kossmann Williams. Development 2022; 149:274216. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.200424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Margot Kossmann Williams is an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, USA. Margot uses zebrafish genetics, live imaging and embryonic explants to investigate how cell movements, such as those underlying axis elongation, are coordinated. We met Margot over Teams for a chat about careers, mentors and starting a new group just before a pandemic.
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29
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Strain maps characterize the symmetry of convergence and extension patterns during zebrafish gastrulation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19357. [PMID: 34588480 PMCID: PMC8481280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98233-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
During gastrulation of the zebrafish embryo, the cap of blastoderm cells organizes into the axial body plan of the embryo with left–right symmetry and head–tail, dorsal–ventral polarities. Our labs have been interested in the mechanics of early development and have investigated whether these large-scale cell movements can be described as tissue-level mechanical strain by a tectonics-based approach. The first step is to image the positions of all nuclei from mid-epiboly to early segmentation by digital sheet light microscopy, organize the surface of the embryo into multi-cell spherical domains, construct velocity fields from the movements of these domains and extract strain rate maps from the change in density of the domains. During gastrulation, tensile/expansive and compressive strains in the axial and equatorial directions are detected as anterior and posterior expansion along the anterior–posterior axis and medial–lateral compression across the dorsal–ventral axis and corresponds to the well characterized morphological movements of convergence and extension. Following gastrulation strain is represented by localized medial expansion at the onset of segmentation and anterior expansion at the onset of neurulation. In addition to linear strain, symmetric patterns of rotation/curl are first detected in the animal hemispheres at mid-epiboly and then the vegetal hemispheres by the end of gastrulation. In embryos treated with C59, a Wnt inhibitor that inhibits head and tail extension, the axial extension and vegetal curl are absent. By analysing the temporal sequence of large-scale movements, deformations across the embryo can be attributed to a combination of epiboly and dorsal convergence-extension.
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30
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Steventon B, Busby L, Arias AM. Establishment of the vertebrate body plan: Rethinking gastrulation through stem cell models of early embryogenesis. Dev Cell 2021; 56:2405-2418. [PMID: 34520764 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
A striking property of vertebrate embryos is the emergence of a conserved body plan across a wide range of organisms through the process of gastrulation. As the body plan unfolds, gene regulatory networks (GRNs) and multicellular interactions (cell regulatory networks, CRNs) combine to generate a conserved set of morphogenetic events that lead to the phylotypic stage. Interrogation of these multilevel interactions requires manipulation of the mechanical environment, which is difficult in vivo. We review recent studies of stem cell models of early embryogenesis from different species showing that, independent of species origin, cells in culture form similar structures. The main difference between embryos and in vitro models is the boundary conditions of the multicellular ensembles. We discuss these observations and suggest that the mechanical and geometric boundary conditions of different embryos before gastrulation hide a morphogenetic ground state that is revealed in the stem-cell-based models of embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lara Busby
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Alfonso Martinez Arias
- Systems Bioengineering, DCEXS, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader, 88 ICREA, Pag Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain.
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31
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Anlas K, Trivedi V. Studying evolution of the primary body axis in vivo and in vitro. eLife 2021; 10:e69066. [PMID: 34463611 PMCID: PMC8456739 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The metazoan body plan is established during early embryogenesis via collective cell rearrangements and evolutionarily conserved gene networks, as part of a process commonly referred to as gastrulation. While substantial progress has been achieved in terms of characterizing the embryonic development of several model organisms, underlying principles of many early patterning processes nevertheless remain enigmatic. Despite the diversity of (pre-)gastrulating embryo and adult body shapes across the animal kingdom, the body axes, which are arguably the most fundamental features, generally remain identical between phyla. Recently there has been a renewed appreciation of ex vivo and in vitro embryo-like systems to model early embryonic patterning events. Here, we briefly review key examples and propose that similarities in morphogenesis and associated gene expression dynamics may reveal an evolutionarily conserved developmental mode as well as provide further insights into the role of external or extraembryonic cues in shaping the early embryo. In summary, we argue that embryo-like systems can be employed to inform previously uncharted aspects of animal body plan evolution as well as associated patterning rules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vikas Trivedi
- EMBL BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- EMBL Heidelberg, Developmental BiologyHeidelbergGermany
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Piotrowska M. Avoiding the potentiality trap: thinking about the moral status of synthetic embryos. Monash Bioeth Rev 2021; 38:166-180. [PMID: 31741321 DOI: 10.1007/s40592-019-00099-5] [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] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Research ethics committees must sometimes deliberate about objects that do not fit nicely into any existing category. This is currently the case with the "gastruloid," which is a self-assembling blob of cells that resembles a human embryo. The resemblance makes it tempting to group it with other members of that kind, and thus to ask whether gastruloids really are embryos. But fitting an ambiguous object into an existing category with well-worn pathways in research ethics, like the embryo, is only a temporary fix. The bigger problem is that we no longer know what an embryo is. We haven't had a non-absurd definition of 'embryo' for several decades and without a well-defined comparison class, asking whether gastruloids belong to the morally relevant class of things we call embryos is to ask a question without an answer. What's the alternative? A better approach needs to avoid what I'll refer to as "the potentiality trap" and, instead, rely on the emergence of morally salient facts about gastruloids and other synthetic embryos.
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Xu PF, Borges RM, Fillatre J, de Oliveira-Melo M, Cheng T, Thisse B, Thisse C. Construction of a mammalian embryo model from stem cells organized by a morphogen signalling centre. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3277. [PMID: 34078907 PMCID: PMC8172561 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23653-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Generating properly differentiated embryonic structures in vitro from pluripotent stem cells remains a challenge. Here we show that instruction of aggregates of mouse embryonic stem cells with an experimentally engineered morphogen signalling centre, that functions as an organizer, results in the development of embryo-like entities (embryoids). In situ hybridization, immunolabelling, cell tracking and transcriptomic analyses show that these embryoids form the three germ layers through a gastrulation process and that they exhibit a wide range of developmental structures, highly similar to neurula-stage mouse embryos. Embryoids are organized around an axial chordamesoderm, with a dorsal neural plate that displays histological properties similar to the murine embryo neuroepithelium and that folds into a neural tube patterned antero-posteriorly from the posterior midbrain to the tip of the tail. Lateral to the chordamesoderm, embryoids display somitic and intermediate mesoderm, with beating cardiac tissue anteriorly and formation of a vasculature network. Ventrally, embryoids differentiate a primitive gut tube, which is patterned both antero-posteriorly and dorso-ventrally. Altogether, embryoids provide an in vitro model of mammalian embryo that displays extensive development of germ layer derivatives and that promises to be a powerful tool for in vitro studies and disease modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Fei Xu
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Institute of Genetics and Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Jonathan Fillatre
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Maraysa de Oliveira-Melo
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Tao Cheng
- Institute of Genetics and Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bernard Thisse
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Christine Thisse
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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Reassembling gastrulation. Dev Biol 2021; 474:71-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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35
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Integration of Nodal and BMP Signaling by Mutual Signaling Effector Antagonism. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107487. [PMID: 32268105 PMCID: PMC7166084 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Opposing sources of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Nodal signaling molecules are sufficient to induce the formation of a full axis in zebrafish embryos. To address how these signals orchestrate patterning, we transplant sources of fluorescently tagged Nodal and BMP into zebrafish embryos, robustly inducing the formation of secondary axes. Nodal and BMP signal non-cell-autonomously and form similar protein gradients in this context, but the signaling range of Nodal (pSmad2) is shorter than the BMP range (pSmad5). This yields a localized region of pSmad2 activity around the Nodal source, overlapping with a broad domain of pSmad5 activity across the embryo. Cell fates induced in various regions stereotypically correlate with pSmad2-to-pSmad5 ratios and can even be induced BMP- and Nodal-independently with different ratios of constitutively active Smad2 and Smad5. Strikingly, we find that Smad2 and Smad5 antagonize each other for specific cell fates, providing a mechanism for how cells integrate and discriminate between overlapping signals during development. Nodal induces pSmad at a shorter range than BMP due to slower activation kinetics Different ratios of active Smad2 and Smad5 can induce different embryonic structures Smad2 and Smad5 inhibit each other or act synergistically to induce specific cell fates
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36
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Kakebeen AD, Huebner RJ, Shindo A, Kwon K, Kwon T, Wills AE, Wallingford JB. A temporally resolved transcriptome for developing "Keller" explants of the Xenopus laevis dorsal marginal zone. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:717-731. [PMID: 33368695 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Explanted tissues from vertebrate embryos reliably develop in culture and have provided essential paradigms for understanding embryogenesis, from early embryological investigations of induction, to the extensive study of Xenopus animal caps, to the current studies of mammalian gastruloids. Cultured explants of the Xenopus dorsal marginal zone ("Keller" explants) serve as a central paradigm for studies of convergent extension cell movements, yet we know little about the global patterns of gene expression in these explants. RESULTS In an effort to more thoroughly develop this important model system, we provide here a time-resolved bulk transcriptome for developing Keller explants. CONCLUSIONS The dataset reported here provides a useful resource for those using Keller explants for studies of morphogenesis and provide genome-scale insights into the temporal patterns of gene expression in an important tissue when explanted and grown in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneke D Kakebeen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Robert J Huebner
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Asako Shindo
- Division of Biological Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kujin Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Taejoon Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea.,Center for Genomic Integrity, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Andrea E Wills
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - John B Wallingford
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
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Drew K, Lee C, Cox RM, Dang V, Devitt CC, McWhite CD, Papoulas O, Huizar RL, Marcotte EM, Wallingford JB. A systematic, label-free method for identifying RNA-associated proteins in vivo provides insights into vertebrate ciliary beating machinery. Dev Biol 2020; 467:108-117. [PMID: 32898505 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Cell-type specific RNA-associated proteins are essential for development and homeostasis in animals. Despite a massive recent effort to systematically identify RNA-associated proteins, we currently have few comprehensive rosters of cell-type specific RNA-associated proteins in vertebrate tissues. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of determining the RNA-associated proteome of a defined vertebrate embryonic tissue using DIF-FRAC, a systematic and universal (i.e., label-free) method. Application of DIF-FRAC to cultured tissue explants of Xenopus mucociliary epithelium identified dozens of known RNA-associated proteins as expected, but also several novel RNA-associated proteins, including proteins related to assembly of the mitotic spindle and regulation of ciliary beating. In particular, we show that the inner dynein arm tether Cfap44 is an RNA-associated protein that localizes not only to axonemes, but also to liquid-like organelles in the cytoplasm called DynAPs. This result led us to discover that DynAPs are generally enriched for RNA. Together, these data provide a useful resource for a deeper understanding of mucociliary epithelia and demonstrate that DIF-FRAC will be broadly applicable for systematic identification of RNA-associated proteins from embryonic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Drew
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Chanjae Lee
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Rachael M Cox
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Vy Dang
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Caitlin C Devitt
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Claire D McWhite
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Ophelia Papoulas
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Ryan L Huizar
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Edward M Marcotte
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - John B Wallingford
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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38
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Experimental embryology of gastrulation: pluripotent stem cells as a new model system. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 64:78-83. [PMID: 32663757 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Gastrulation is an inherently complicated process involving a well-orchestrated series of collective cellular behaviours that lead to the emergence of the body plan of the organism. A convenient method to explore the mechanical and chemical interactions that underpin this process, is to isolate specific tissues and to allow them to develop in isolation or in a novel environment. These approaches are the essence of experimental embryology and have enabled an understanding of the underlying principles of embryogenesis, in a way that observation alone could not. The recent rise of 3D culture systems using Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) has enabled the extension of this approach to mammalian systems. Here, we argue that these ESC based methods are consistent with the program of experimental embryology, and discuss the insights that can be gained from this perspective, particularly focussing the process of gastrulation and the associated emergence of the body plan.
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Abstract
The lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) forms the progenitor cells that constitute the heart and cardiovascular system, blood, kidneys, smooth muscle lineage and limb skeleton in the developing vertebrate embryo. Despite this central role in development and evolution, the LPM remains challenging to study and to delineate, owing to its lineage complexity and lack of a concise genetic definition. Here, we outline the processes that govern LPM specification, organization, its cell fates and the inferred evolutionary trajectories of LPM-derived tissues. Finally, we discuss the development of seemingly disparate organ systems that share a common LPM origin. Summary: The lateral plate mesoderm is the origin of several major cell types and organ systems in the vertebrate body plan. How this mesoderm territory emerges and partitions into its downstream fates provides clues about vertebrate development and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin D Prummel
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, 12801 E 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Susan Nieuwenhuize
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, 12801 E 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Mosimann
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, 12801 E 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA .,Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
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40
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Axis Specification in Zebrafish Is Robust to Cell Mixing and Reveals a Regulation of Pattern Formation by Morphogenesis. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2984-2994.e3. [PMID: 32559447 PMCID: PMC7416079 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental question in developmental biology is how the early embryo establishes the spatial coordinate system that is later important for the organization of the embryonic body plan. Although we know a lot about the signaling and gene-regulatory networks required for this process, much less is understood about how these can operate to pattern tissues in the context of the extensive cell movements that drive gastrulation. In zebrafish, germ layer specification depends on the inheritance of maternal mRNAs [1, 2, 3], cortical rotation to generate a dorsal pole of β-catenin activity [4, 5, 6, 7, 8], and the release of Nodal signals from the yolk syncytial layer (YSL) [9, 10, 11, 12]. To determine whether germ layer specification is robust to altered cell-to-cell positioning, we separated embryonic cells from the yolk and allowed them to develop as spherical aggregates. These aggregates break symmetry autonomously to form elongated structures with an anterior-posterior pattern. Both forced reaggregation and endogenous cell mixing reveals how robust early axis specification is to spatial disruption of maternal pre-patterning. During these movements, a pole of Nodal signaling emerges that is required for explant elongation via the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway. Blocking of PCP-dependent elongation disrupts the shaping of opposing poles of BMP and Wnt/TCF activity and the anterior-posterior patterning of neural tissue. These results lead us to suggest that embryo elongation plays a causal role in timing the exposure of cells to changes in BMP and Wnt signal activity during zebrafish gastrulation. Video Abstract
Whole-zebrafish 256-cell stage embryo explants elongate Patterned germ layers are established Mesoderm formation is robust to extensive cell mixing Inhibition of morphogenesis blocks formation of signaling gradients
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41
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Kozmikova I, Kozmik Z. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is an evolutionarily conserved determinant of chordate dorsal organizer. eLife 2020; 9:56817. [PMID: 32452768 PMCID: PMC7292647 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the mechanisms of axis formation in amphioxus is a key step to understanding the evolution of chordate body plan. The current view is that Nodal signaling is the only factor promoting the dorsal axis specification in the amphioxus, whereas Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays no role in this process. Here, we re-examined the role of Wnt/βcatenin signaling in the dorsal/ventral patterning of amphioxus embryo. We demonstrated that the spatial activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is located in presumptive dorsal cells from cleavage to gastrula stage, and provided functional evidence that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is necessary for the specification of dorsal cell fate in a stage-dependent manner. Microinjection of Wnt8 and Wnt11 mRNA induced ectopic dorsal axis in neurulae and larvae. Finally, we demonstrated that Nodal and Wnt/β-catenin signaling cooperate to promote the dorsal-specific gene expression in amphioxus gastrula. Our study reveals high evolutionary conservation of dorsal organizer formation in the chordate lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Kozmikova
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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42
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Williams ML, Solnica-Krezel L. Nodal and planar cell polarity signaling cooperate to regulate zebrafish convergence and extension gastrulation movements. eLife 2020; 9:54445. [PMID: 32319426 PMCID: PMC7250581 DOI: 10.7554/elife.54445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During vertebrate gastrulation, convergence and extension (C and E) of the primary anteroposterior (AP) embryonic axis is driven by polarized mediolateral (ML) cell intercalations and is influenced by AP axial patterning. Nodal signaling is essential for patterning of the AP axis while planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling polarizes cells with respect to this axis, but how these two signaling systems interact during C and E is unclear. We find that the neuroectoderm of Nodal-deficient zebrafish gastrulae exhibits reduced C and E cell behaviors, which require Nodal signaling in both cell- and non-autonomous fashions. PCP signaling is partially active in Nodal-deficient embryos and its inhibition exacerbates their C and E defects. Within otherwise naïve zebrafish blastoderm explants, however, Nodal induces C and E in a largely PCP-dependent manner, arguing that Nodal acts both upstream of and in parallel with PCP during gastrulation to regulate embryonic axis extension cooperatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot Lk Williams
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
| | - Lilianna Solnica-Krezel
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States
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43
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Schauer A, Pinheiro D, Hauschild R, Heisenberg CP. Zebrafish embryonic explants undergo genetically encoded self-assembly. eLife 2020; 9:55190. [PMID: 32250246 PMCID: PMC7190352 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cell cultures are thought to self-organize into embryoid bodies, able to undergo symmetry-breaking, germ layer specification and even morphogenesis. Yet, it is unclear how to reconcile this remarkable self-organization capacity with classical experiments demonstrating key roles for extrinsic biases by maternal factors and/or extraembryonic tissues in embryogenesis. Here, we show that zebrafish embryonic tissue explants, prepared prior to germ layer induction and lacking extraembryonic tissues, can specify all germ layers and form a seemingly complete mesendoderm anlage. Importantly, explant organization requires polarized inheritance of maternal factors from dorsal-marginal regions of the blastoderm. Moreover, induction of endoderm and head-mesoderm, which require peak Nodal-signaling levels, is highly variable in explants, reminiscent of embryos with reduced Nodal signals from the extraembryonic tissues. Together, these data suggest that zebrafish explants do not undergo bona fide self-organization, but rather display features of genetically encoded self-assembly, where intrinsic genetic programs control the emergence of order.
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44
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45
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Rogers KW, Müller P. Optogenetic approaches to investigate spatiotemporal signaling during development. Curr Top Dev Biol 2019; 137:37-77. [PMID: 32143750 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2019.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Embryogenesis is coordinated by signaling pathways that pattern the developing organism. Many aspects of this process are not fully understood, including how signaling molecules spread through embryonic tissues, how signaling amplitude and dynamics are decoded, and how multiple signaling pathways cooperate to pattern the body plan. Optogenetic approaches can be used to address these questions by providing precise experimental control over a variety of biological processes. Here, we review how these strategies have provided new insights into developmental signaling and discuss how they could contribute to future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine W Rogers
- Systems Biology of Development Group, Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Müller
- Systems Biology of Development Group, Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society, Tübingen, Germany; Modeling Tumorigenesis Group, Translational Oncology Division, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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46
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Economou AD, Hill CS. Temporal dynamics in the formation and interpretation of Nodal and BMP morphogen gradients. Curr Top Dev Biol 2019; 137:363-389. [PMID: 32143749 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2019.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
One of the most powerful ideas in developmental biology has been that of the morphogen gradient. In the classical view, a signaling molecule is produced at a local source from where it diffuses, resulting in graded levels across the tissue. This gradient provides positional information, with thresholds in the level of the morphogen determining the position of different cell fates. While experimental studies have uncovered numerous potential morphogens in biological systems, it is becoming increasingly apparent that one important feature, not captured in the simple model, is the role of time in both the formation and interpretation of morphogen gradients. We will focus on two members of the transforming growth factor-β family that are known to play a vital role as morphogens in early vertebrate development: the Nodals and the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Primarily drawing on the early zebrafish embryo, we will show how recent studies have demonstrated the importance of feedback and other interactions that evolve through time, in shaping morphogen gradients. We will further show how rather than simply reading out levels of a morphogen, the duration of ligand exposure can be a crucial determinant of how cells interpret morphogens, in particular through the unfolding of downstream transcriptional events and in their interactions with other pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Economou
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline S Hill
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.
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47
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Abstract
Soon after fertilization the zebrafish embryo generates the pool of cells that will give rise to the germline and the three somatic germ layers of the embryo (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm). As the basic body plan of the vertebrate embryo emerges, evolutionarily conserved developmental signaling pathways, including Bmp, Nodal, Wnt, and Fgf, direct the nearly totipotent cells of the early embryo to adopt gene expression profiles and patterns of cell behavior specific to their eventual fates. Several decades of molecular genetics research in zebrafish has yielded significant insight into the maternal and zygotic contributions and mechanisms that pattern this vertebrate embryo. This new understanding is the product of advances in genetic manipulations and imaging technologies that have allowed the field to probe the cellular, molecular and biophysical aspects underlying early patterning. The current state of the field indicates that patterning is governed by the integration of key signaling pathways and physical interactions between cells, rather than a patterning system in which distinct pathways are deployed to specify a particular cell fate. This chapter focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the genetic and molecular control of the events that impart cell identity and initiate the patterning of tissues that are prerequisites for or concurrent with movements of gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence L Marlow
- Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, New York, NY, United States.
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48
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Hof DJ, Versteeg EMM, van de Lest CHA, Daamen WF, van Kuppevelt TH. A versatile salt-based method to immobilize glycosaminoglycans and create growth factor gradients. Glycoconj J 2019; 36:227-236. [PMID: 31055697 PMCID: PMC6548755 DOI: 10.1007/s10719-019-09872-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are known to play pivotal roles in physiological processes and pathological conditions. To study interactions of GAGs with proteins, immobilization of GAGs is often required. Current methodologies for immobilization involve modification of GAGs and/or surfaces, which can be time-consuming and may involve specialized equipment. Here, we use an efficient and low-cost method to immobilize GAGs without any (chemical) modification using highly concentrated salt solutions. A number of salts from the Hofmeister series were probed for their capacity to immobilize heparin and chondroitin-6-sulfate on microtiter plates applying single chain antibodies against GAGs for detection (ELISA). From all salts tested, the cosmotropic salt ammonium sulfate was most efficient, especially at high concentrations (80–100% (v/v) saturation). Immobilized GAGs were bioavailable as judged by their binding of FGF2 and VEGF, and by their susceptibility towards GAG lyases (heparinase I, II and III, chondroitinase ABC). Using 80% (v/v) saturated ammonium sulfate, block and continuous gradients of heparin were established and a gradient of FGF2 was created using a heparin block gradient as a template. In conclusion, high concentrations of ammonium sulfate are effective for immobilization of GAGs and for the establishment of gradients of both GAGs and GAG-binding molecules, which enables the study to the biological roles of GAGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danique J Hof
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M M Versteeg
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Chris H A van de Lest
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Equine Sciences and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke F Daamen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Toin H van Kuppevelt
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Samal P, van Blitterswijk C, Truckenmüller R, Giselbrecht S. Grow with the Flow: When Morphogenesis Meets Microfluidics. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1805764. [PMID: 30767289 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201805764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Developmental biology has advanced the understanding of the intricate and dynamic processes involved in the formation of an organism from a single cell. However, many gaps remain in the knowledge of embryonic development, especially regarding tissue morphogenesis. A possible approach to mimic such phenomena uses pluripotent stem cells in in vitro morphogenetic models. Herein, these systems are summarized with emphasis on the ability to better manipulate and control cellular interfaces with either liquid or solid materials using microengineered tools, which is critical for attaining deeper insights into pattern formation and stem cell differentiation during organogenesis. The role of conventional and customized cell-culture systems in supporting important advances in the field of morphogenesis is discussed, and the fascinating role that material sciences and microengineering currently play and are expected to play in the future is highlighted. In conclusion, it is proffered that continued microfluidics innovations when applied to morphogenesis promise to provide important insights to advance many multidisciplinary fields, including regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinak Samal
- Department of Complex Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- Department of Complex Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Roman Truckenmüller
- Department of Complex Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Giselbrecht
- Department of Complex Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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50
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Lin F, Shao Y, Xue X, Zheng Y, Li Z, Xiong C, Fu J. Biophysical phenotypes and determinants of anterior vs. posterior primitive streak cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells. Acta Biomater 2019; 86:125-134. [PMID: 30641291 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Formation of the primitive streak (PS) marks one of the most important developmental milestones in embryonic development. However, our understanding of cellular mechanism(s) underlying cell fate diversification along the anterior-posterior axis of the PS remains incomplete. Furthermore, differences in biophysical phenotypes between anterior and posterior PS cells, which could affect their functions and regulate their fate decisions, remain uncharacterized. Herein, anterior and posterior PS cells were derived using human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-based in vitro culture systems. We observed that anterior and posterior PS cells displayed significantly different biophysical phenotypes, including cell morphology, migration, and traction force generation, which was further regulated by different levels of Activin A- and BMP4-mediated developmental signaling. Our data further suggested that intracellular cytoskeletal contraction could mediate anterior and posterior PS differentiation and phenotypic bifurcation through its effect on Activin A- and BMP4-mediated intracellular signaling events. Together, our data provide new information about biophysical phenotypes of anterior and posterior PS cells and reveal an important role of intracellular cytoskeletal contractility in regulating anterior and posterior PS differentiation of hPSCs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Formation of the primitive streak (PS) marks one of the most important developmental milestones in embryonic development. However, molecular and cellular mechanism(s) underlying functional diversification of embryonic cells along the anterior-posterior axis of the PS remains incompletely understood. This work describes the first study to characterize the biophysical properties of anterior and posterior PS cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Importantly, our data showing the important role of cytoskeleton contraction in controlling anterior vs. posterior PS cell phenotypic switch (through its effect on intracellular Smad signaling activities downstream of Activin A and BMP4) should shed new light on biomechanical regulations of the development and anterior-posterior patterning of the PS. Our work will contribute significantly to uncovering new biophysical principles and cellular mechanisms driving cell lineage diversification and patterning during the PS formation.
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