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Lee HC, Fadaili Y, Stern CD. Development and functions of the area opaca of the chick embryo. Dev Biol 2025; 519:13-20. [PMID: 39662721 PMCID: PMC11785533 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 12/02/2024] [Accepted: 12/08/2024] [Indexed: 12/13/2024]
Abstract
Before radial symmetry-breaking of the blastoderm, the chick embryo is distinctly divided into a central area pellucida and a surrounding region, the area opaca. In this review, we focus on the area opaca and its functions. First, we survey current knowledge about how the area opaca is formed during the intrauterine period and how it sets up its initial tissue structure. With the formation of a vascularized mesoderm layer, the area opaca becomes subdivided into an inner area vasculosa and an outer area vitellina, which contribute to the development of extraembryonic membranes: the yolk sac and chorion. Second, we review the various functions of the area opaca during development including supplying nutrients, driving the expansion of the embryo by a specialized population of edge cells, and active, instructive signaling that plays a role in the establishment of embryonic polarity and orchestrates the formation of another extraembryonic tissue, the marginal zone, essential for positioning the first midline structure, the primitive streak, at the beginning of gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyung Chul Lee
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea.
| | - Yara Fadaili
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Claudio D Stern
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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2
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Fadaili Y, Lu HC, Lee HC, Ryazapova A, Stern CD. Canonical Wnt signalling from the area opaca induces and maintains the marginal zone in pre-primitive-streak stage chick embryos. Development 2025; 152:dev204350. [PMID: 39804118 PMCID: PMC11829775 DOI: 10.1242/dev.204350] [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: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 12/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2025]
Abstract
In chick embryos before primitive streak formation, the outermost extra-embryonic region, known as the area opaca (AO), was generally thought to act only by providing nutrients and mechanical support to the embryo. Immediately internal to the AO is a ring of epiblast called the marginal zone (MZ), separating the former from the inner area pellucida (AP) epiblast. The MZ does not contribute cells to any part of the embryo but is involved in determining the position of primitive streak formation from the adjacent AP epiblast. Recently, it was discovered that the AO can induce an MZ from AP epiblast. Here, we explore the nature of this inductive signal. We find that WNT8C is highly expressed in the AO, whereas canonical Wnt pathway targets are enriched in the MZ, along with strong nuclear β-catenin localization. Using isolation and recombination experiments combined with gain- and loss-of-function by exogenous chemical modulators of the pathway, we reveal that Wnt signalling is essential for induction and maintenance of the MZ, as well as sufficient to induce MZ properties in AP epiblast. We propose that canonical Wnt signalling is responsible for induction of the MZ by the area opaca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Fadaili
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Hui-Chun Lu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Hyung Chul Lee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Amra Ryazapova
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Claudio D. Stern
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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3
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Caldarelli P, Chamolly A, Villedieu A, Alegria-Prévot O, Phan C, Gros J, Corson F. Self-organized tissue mechanics underlie embryonic regulation. Nature 2024; 633:887-894. [PMID: 39261736 PMCID: PMC11424473 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07934-8] [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: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Early amniote development is highly self-organized, capable of adapting to interference through local and long-range cell-cell interactions. This process, called embryonic regulation1, has been well illustrated in experiments on avian embryos, in which subdividing the epiblast disk into different parts not only redirects cell fates to eventually form a complete and well-proportioned embryo at its original location, but also leads to the self-organization of additional, fully formed embryos2,3 in the other separated parts. The cellular interactions underlying embryonic self-organization are widely believed to be mediated by molecular signals, yet the identity of such signals is unclear. Here, by analysing intact and mechanically perturbed quail embryos, we show that the mechanical forces that drive embryogenesis self-organize, with contractility locally self-activating and the ensuing tension acting as a long-range inhibitor. This mechanical feedback governs the persistent pattern of tissue flows that shape the embryo4-6 and also steers the concomitant emergence of embryonic territories by modulating gene expression, ensuring the formation of a single embryo under normal conditions, yet allowing the emergence of multiple, well-proportioned embryos after perturbations. Thus, mechanical forces act at the core of embryonic self-organization, shaping both tissues and gene expression to robustly yet plastically canalize early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Caldarelli
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Paris, France
- Collège Doctoral, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Alexander Chamolly
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, ENS, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Aurélien Villedieu
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Paris, France
| | - Olinda Alegria-Prévot
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Paris, France
| | - Carole Phan
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Paris, France
| | - Jerome Gros
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Paris, France.
| | - Francis Corson
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, ENS, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
- Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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4
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Lee HC, Oliveira NMM, Hastings C, Baillie-Benson P, Moverley AA, Lu HC, Zheng Y, Wilby EL, Weil TT, Page KM, Fu J, Moris N, Stern CD. Regulation of long-range BMP gradients and embryonic polarity by propagation of local calcium-firing activity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1463. [PMID: 38368410 PMCID: PMC10874436 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45772-4] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Many amniote vertebrate species including humans can form identical twins from a single embryo, but this only occurs rarely. It has been suggested that the primitive-streak-forming embryonic region emits signals that inhibit streak formation elsewhere but the signals involved, how they are transmitted and how they act has not been elucidated. Here we show that short tracks of calcium firing activity propagate through extraembryonic tissue via gap junctions and prevent ectopic primitive streak formation in chick embryos. Cross-regulation of calcium activity and an inhibitor of primitive streak formation (Bone Morphogenetic Protein, BMP) via NF-κB and NFAT establishes a long-range BMP gradient spanning the embryo. This mechanism explains how embryos of widely different sizes can maintain positional information that determines embryo polarity. We provide evidence for similar mechanisms in two different human embryo models and in Drosophila, suggesting an ancient evolutionary origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyung Chul Lee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju, 61186, Korea.
| | - Nidia M M Oliveira
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- College of Professional Services, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Cato Hastings
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Adam A Moverley
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hui-Chun Lu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Tower, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Yi Zheng
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Elise L Wilby
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Timothy T Weil
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Karen M Page
- Department of Mathematics, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jianping Fu
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Naomi Moris
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Claudio D Stern
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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Bardhan S, Bhargava N, Dighe S, Vats N, Naganathan SR. Emergence of a left-right symmetric body plan in vertebrate embryos. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 159:310-342. [PMID: 38729680 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
External bilateral symmetry is a prevalent feature in vertebrates, which emerges during early embryonic development. To begin with, vertebrate embryos are largely radially symmetric before transitioning to bilaterally symmetry, after which, morphogenesis of various bilateral tissues (e.g somites, otic vesicle, limb bud), and structures (e.g palate, jaw) ensue. While a significant amount of work has probed the mechanisms behind symmetry breaking in the left-right axis leading to asymmetric positioning of internal organs, little is known about how bilateral tissues emerge at the same time with the same shape and size and at the same position on the two sides of the embryo. By discussing emergence of symmetry in many bilateral tissues and structures across vertebrate model systems, we highlight that understanding symmetry establishment is largely an open field, which will provide deep insights into fundamental problems in developmental biology for decades to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddhartha Bardhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Nandini Bhargava
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Swarali Dighe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Neha Vats
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Sundar Ram Naganathan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India.
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Alkhammas AH, Al-Thuwaini TM, Al-Shuhaib MBS, Khazaal NM. Association of Novel C319T Variant of PITX2 Gene 3'UTR Region With Reproductive Performance in Awassi Sheep. Bioinform Biol Insights 2023; 17:11779322231179018. [PMID: 37313032 PMCID: PMC10259137 DOI: 10.1177/11779322231179018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Several genes influence sheep's reproductive performance, among them the paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2) gene. Thus, this study aimed to examine whether the variability within the PITX2 gene is associated with the reproductive performance of Awassi ewes. A total of 123 single-progeny ewes and 109 twin ewes were used to extract genomic DNA. An amplicon of 4 sequence fragments from exons 2, 4, 5 (upstream portion), and 5 (downstream portion) of the PITX2 gene was generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 228, 304, 381, and 382 bp, respectively. Three genotypes of 382 bp amplicons were identified: CC, CT, and TT. Sequence analysis revealed a novel mutation in the CT genotype 319C > T. Statistical analysis revealed that single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 319C > T was associated with reproductive performance. Single-nucleotide polymorphism 319C > T-carrying ewes had significantly (P ⩽ .01) lower litter sizes, twinning rates, lambing rates, and more days to lambing than those carrying CT and CC genotypes. Based on a logistic regression analysis, it was confirmed that the 319C > T SNP decreased litter size. Ewes with TT genotype produced fewer lambs than ewes with CT and CC genotypes. According to these results, the variant 319C> T SNP negatively affects the reproductive performance of Awassi sheep. Ewes carrying the 319C > T SNP have a lower litter size and are less prolific than those without the SNP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed H Alkhammas
- Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Al-Qasim Green University, Al-Qasim, Iraq
| | - Tahreer M Al-Thuwaini
- Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Al-Qasim Green University, Al-Qasim, Iraq
| | | | - Neam M Khazaal
- Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
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Abas R, Masrudin SS, Harun AM, Omar NS, Omar NS, Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, Malaysia, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Gastrulation and Body Axes Formation: A Molecular Concept and Its Clinical Correlates. Malays J Med Sci 2022; 29:6-14. [PMID: 36818899 PMCID: PMC9910376 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2022.29.6.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During the third week of human pregnancy, an embryo transforms from two germinal disc layers of hypoblast and epiblast to three germinal layers of endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. Gastrulation is a complex process that includes cellular mobility, morphogenesis and cell signalling, as well as chemical morphogenic gradients, transcription factors and differential gene expression. During gastrulation, many signalling channels coordinate individual cell actions in precise time and location. These channels control cell proliferation, shape, fate and migration to the correct sites. Subsequently, the anteroposterior (AP), dorsoventral (DV) and left-right (LR) body axes are formed before and during gastrulation via these signalling regulation signals. Hence, the anomalies in gastrulation caused by insults to certain molecular pathways manifest as a wide range of body axes-related disorders. This article outlines the formation of body axes during gastrulation and the anomalies as well as the clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razif Abas
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia,Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Siti Saleha Masrudin
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Noorkardiffa Syawalina Omar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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8
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Soukup J, Manethova M, Faistova H, Krbal L, Vitovcova B, Hornychova H, Drugda J, Cesak T, Netuka D, Gabalec F, Ryska A. Pitx2 is a useful marker of midgut‐derived neuroendocrine tumours ‐ an immunohistochemical study of 224 cases. Histopathology 2022; 81:799-807. [DOI: 10.1111/his.14789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Soukup
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Monika Manethova
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Hana Faistova
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Lukas Krbal
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Vitovcova
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics Charles University Faculty of Medicine Hradec Kralove Czech Republic
| | - Helena Hornychova
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Jan Drugda
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Cesak
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - David Netuka
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neurooncology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University Military University Hospital Prague Prague Czech Republic
| | - Filip Gabalec
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Ales Ryska
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové Czech Republic
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9
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Lee HC, Hastings C, Stern CD. The extra-embryonic area opaca plays a role in positioning the primitive streak of the early chick embryo. Development 2022; 149:275748. [PMID: 35723262 PMCID: PMC9270967 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Classical studies have established that the marginal zone, a ring of extra-embryonic epiblast immediately surrounding the embryonic epiblast (area pellucida) of the chick embryo, is important in setting embryonic polarity by positioning the primitive streak, the site of gastrulation. The more external extra-embryonic region (area opaca) was thought to have only nutritive and support functions. Using experimental embryology approaches, this study reveals three separable functions for this outer region. First, juxtaposition of the area opaca directly onto the area pellucida induces a new marginal zone from the latter; this induced domain is entirely posterior in character. Second, ablation and grafting experiments using an isolated anterior half of the blastoderm and pieces of area opaca suggest that the area opaca can influence the polarity of the adjacent marginal zone. Finally, we show that the loss of the ability of such isolated anterior half-embryos to regulate (re-establish polarity spontaneously) at the early primitive streak stage can be rescued by replacing the area opaca by one from a younger stage. These results uncover new roles of chick extra-embryonic tissues in early development. Summary: Two adjacent extra-embryonic tissues, the area opaca and the marginal zone, interact to influence the polarity of the early chick embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyung Chul Lee
- University College London Department of Cell and Developmental Biology , , Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT , UK
| | - Cato Hastings
- University College London Department of Cell and Developmental Biology , , Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT , UK
| | - Claudio D. Stern
- University College London Department of Cell and Developmental Biology , , Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT , UK
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10
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Lee HC, Hastings C, Oliveira NMM, Pérez-Carrasco R, Page KM, Wolpert L, Stern CD. 'Neighbourhood watch' model: embryonic epiblast cells assess positional information in relation to their neighbours. Development 2022; 149:275390. [PMID: 35438131 PMCID: PMC9188750 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In many developing and regenerating systems, tissue pattern is established through gradients of informative morphogens, but we know little about how cells interpret these. Using experimental manipulation of early chick embryos, including misexpression of an inducer (VG1 or ACTIVIN) and an inhibitor (BMP4), we test two alternative models for their ability to explain how the site of primitive streak formation is positioned relative to the rest of the embryo. In one model, cells read morphogen concentrations cell-autonomously. In the other, cells sense changes in morphogen status relative to their neighbourhood. We find that only the latter model can account for the experimental results, including some counter-intuitive predictions. This mechanism (which we name the ‘neighbourhood watch’ model) illuminates the classic ‘French Flag Problem’ and how positional information is interpreted by a sheet of cells in a large developing system. Summary: In a large developing system, the chick embryo before gastrulation, cells may interpret gradients of positional signals relative to their neighbours to position the primitive streak, establishing bilateral symmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyung Chul Lee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Cato Hastings
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nidia M M Oliveira
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Rubén Pérez-Carrasco
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Karen M Page
- Department of Mathematics, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Lewis Wolpert
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Claudio D Stern
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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11
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Plöger R, Viebahn C. Expression patterns of signalling molecules and transcription factors in the early rabbit embryo and their significance for modelling amniote axis formation. Dev Genes Evol 2021; 231:73-83. [PMID: 34100128 PMCID: PMC8213660 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-021-00677-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: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The anterior-posterior axis is a central element of the body plan and, during amniote gastrulation, forms through several transient domains with specific morphogenetic activities. In the chick, experimentally proven activity of signalling molecules and transcription factors lead to the concept of a 'global positioning system' for initial axis formation whereas in the (mammotypical) rabbit embryo, a series of morphological or molecular domains are part of a putative 'three-anchor-point model'. Because circular expression patterns of genes involved in axis formation exist in both amniote groups prior to, and during, gastrulation and may thus be suited to reconcile these models, the expression patterns of selected genes known in the chick, namely the ones coding for the transcription factors eomes and tbx6, the signalling molecule wnt3 and the wnt inhibitor pkdcc, were analysed in the rabbit embryonic disc using in situ hybridisation and placing emphasis on their germ layer location. Peripheral wnt3 and eomes expression in all layers is found initially to be complementary to central pkdcc expression in the hypoblast during early axis formation. Pkdcc then appears - together with a posterior-anterior gradient in wnt3 and eomes domains - in the epiblast posteriorly before the emerging primitive streak is marked by pkdcc and tbx6 at its anterior and posterior extremities, respectively. Conserved circular expression patterns deduced from some of this data may point to shared mechanisms in amniote axis formation while the reshaping of localised gene expression patterns is discussed as part of the 'three-anchor-point model' for establishing the mammalian body plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Plöger
- Institute of Anatomy and Embryology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Viebahn
- Institute of Anatomy and Embryology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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12
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Gao X, Zhang C, Zheng P, Dan Q, Luo H, Ma X, Lu C. Arsenic suppresses GDF1 expression via ROS-dependent downregulation of specificity protein 1. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 271:116302. [PMID: 33360347 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Inorganic arsenic, an environmental contaminant, has adverse health outcomes. Our previous studies showed that arsenic causes abnormal cardiac development in zebrafish embryos by downregulating Dvr1/GDF1 expression and that folic acid protects against these effects. However, the mechanism by which arsenic represses Dvr1/GDF1 expression remains unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that specificity protein 1 (Sp1) acts as a transcriptional activator of GDF1. Arsenic treatment downregulated Sp1 at both the mRNA and protein level and its downstream targets GDF1 and SIRT1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that the occupancy of Sp1 on the GDF1 or SIRT1 promoter was significantly reduced in response to arsenite. Further investigation showed that Sp1 overexpression inhibited the arsenic-mediated decrease in GDF1 and SIRT1, while Sp1 knockdown had the opposite effect. We found that expression of the oxidative adaptor p66shc was inversely related to that of SIRT1 and that the binding of SIRT1 to the p66shc promoter was sharply attenuated by arsenite treatment. SIRT1 overexpression attenuated p66shc expression but enhanced GDF1 protein expression, while SIRT1 depletion exerted the opposite effect. Both the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and folic acid reversed the arsenic-mediated repression of Sp1, GDF1 and SIRT1. Moreover, wild-type p66shc overexpression enhanced the arsenic-mediated repression of Sp1, GDF1 and SIRT1, which was accompanied by an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, while both overexpression of a dominant negative p66shcSer36Ala mutant and deficiency in p66shc reversed these effects. Taken together, our results revealed that arsenic suppresses GDF1 expression via the ROS-dependent downregulation of the Sp1/SIRT1 axis, which forms a negative feedback loop with p66shc to regulate oxidative stress. Our findings reveal a novel molecular mechanism underlying arsenic toxicity and provide new insight into the protective effect of folic acid in arsenic-mediated toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Gao
- Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China; Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Panpan Zheng
- Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China; Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qinghua Dan
- Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China; Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyan Luo
- Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Ma
- Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Cailing Lu
- Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China; Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
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13
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Li C, Li Y, Qin G, Chen Z, Qu M, Zhang B, Han X, Wang X, Qian PY, Lin Q. Regulatory Role of Retinoic Acid in Male Pregnancy of the Seahorse. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 1:100052. [PMID: 34557717 PMCID: PMC8454549 DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2020.100052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Seahorses epitomize the exuberance of evolution. They have the unique characteristic of male pregnancy, which includes the carrying of many embryos in a brood pouch that incubates and nourishes the embryos, similar to the mammalian placenta. However, the regulatory networks underlying brood pouch formation and pregnancy remain largely unknown. In this study, comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling on the lined seahorse Hippocampus erectus, with unformed, newly formed, and pregnant brood pouches identified a total of 141 and 2,533 differentially expressed genes together with 73 and 121 significantly differential metabolites related to brood pouch formation and pregnancy, respectively. Specifically, integrative omics analysis revealed that retinoic acid (RA) synthesis and signaling pathway played essential roles in the formation of the brood pouch and pregnancy. RA might function upstream of testosterone and progesterone, thereby directly influencing brood pouch formation by regulating the expression of fshr and cyp7a1. Our results also revealed that RA regulates antioxidant defenses, particularly during male pregnancy. Alternatively, pregnancy caused a consistent decrease in RA, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, and glutathione synthetase, and an increase in susceptibility to oxidative stress, which may balance brood pouch development and reproduction in seahorses and pave the way to successful gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), 511458 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongxin Li
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), 511458 Guangzhou, China.,Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Geng Qin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zelin Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Qu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xue Han
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), 511458 Guangzhou, China.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qiang Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), 511458 Guangzhou, China
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14
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Ishishita S, Tatsumoto S, Kinoshita K, Nunome M, Suzuki T, Go Y, Matsuda Y. Transcriptome analysis revealed misregulated gene expression in blastoderms of interspecific chicken and Japanese quail F1 hybrids. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240183. [PMID: 33044996 PMCID: PMC7549780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybrid incompatibility, such as sterility and inviability, prevents gene flow between closely-related populations as a reproductive isolation barrier. F1 hybrids between chickens and Japanese quail (hereafter, referred to as quail), exhibit a high frequency of developmental arrest at the preprimitive streak stage. To investigate the molecular basis of the developmental arrest at the preprimitive streak stage in chicken–quail F1 hybrid embryos, we investigated chromosomal abnormalities in the hybrid embryos using molecular cytogenetic analysis. In addition, we quantified gene expression in parental species and chicken- and quail-derived allele-specific expression in the hybrids at the early blastoderm and preprimitive streak stages by mRNA sequencing. Subsequently, we compared the directions of change in gene expression, including upregulation, downregulation, or no change, from the early blastoderm stage to the preprimitive streak stage between parental species and their hybrids. Chromosome analysis revealed that the cells of the hybrid embryos contained a fifty-fifty mixture of parental chromosomes, and numerical chromosomal abnormalities were hardly observed in the hybrid cells. Gene expression analysis revealed that a part of the genes that were upregulated from the early blastoderm stage to the preprimitive streak stage in both parental species exhibited no upregulation of both chicken- and quail-derived alleles in the hybrids. GO term enrichment analysis revealed that these misregulated genes are involved in various biological processes, including ribosome-mediated protein synthesis and cell proliferation. Furthermore, the misregulated genes included genes involved in early embryonic development, such as primitive streak formation and gastrulation. These results suggest that numerical chromosomal abnormalities due to a segregation failure does not cause the lethality of chicken–quail hybrid embryos, and that the downregulated expression of the genes that are involved in various biological processes, including translation and primitive streak formation, mainly causes the developmental arrest at the preprimitive streak stage in the hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Ishishita
- Avian Bioscience Research Center, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shoji Tatsumoto
- Cognitive Genomics Research Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLs), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Keiji Kinoshita
- Avian Bioscience Research Center, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Nunome
- Avian Bioscience Research Center, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takayuki Suzuki
- Avian Bioscience Research Center, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Laboratory of Avian Bioscience, Department of Animal Sciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Go
- Cognitive Genomics Research Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLs), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoichi Matsuda
- Avian Bioscience Research Center, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Laboratory of Avian Bioscience, Department of Animal Sciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- * E-mail:
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15
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Serrano Nájera G, Weijer CJ. Cellular processes driving gastrulation in the avian embryo. Mech Dev 2020; 163:103624. [PMID: 32562871 PMCID: PMC7511600 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2020.103624] [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: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Gastrulation consists in the dramatic reorganisation of the epiblast, a one-cell thick epithelial sheet, into a multilayered embryo. In chick, the formation of the internal layers requires the generation of a macroscopic convection-like flow, which involves up to 50,000 epithelial cells in the epiblast. These cell movements locate the mesendoderm precursors into the midline of the epiblast to form the primitive streak. There they acquire a mesenchymal phenotype, ingress into the embryo and migrate outward to populate the inner embryonic layers. This review covers what is currently understood about how cell behaviours ultimately cause these morphogenetic events and how they are regulated. We discuss 1) how the biochemical patterning of the embryo before gastrulation creates compartments of differential cell behaviours, 2) how the global epithelial flows arise from the coordinated actions of individual cells, 3) how the cells delaminate individually from the epiblast during the ingression, and 4) how cells move after the ingression following stereotypical migration routes. We conclude by exploring new technical advances that will facilitate future research in the chick model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Serrano Nájera
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Cornelis J Weijer
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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16
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Abstract
As the crucial non-cellular component of tissues, the extracellular matrix (ECM) provides both physical support and signaling regulation to cells. Some ECM molecules provide a fibrillar environment around cells, while others provide a sheet-like basement membrane scaffold beneath epithelial cells. In this Review, we focus on recent studies investigating the mechanical, biophysical and signaling cues provided to developing tissues by different types of ECM in a variety of developing organisms. In addition, we discuss how the ECM helps to regulate tissue morphology during embryonic development by governing key elements of cell shape, adhesion, migration and differentiation. Summary: This Review discusses our current understanding of how the extracellular matrix helps guide developing tissues by influencing cell adhesion, migration, shape and differentiation, emphasizing the biophysical cues it provides.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Cruz Walma
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-4370, USA
| | - Kenneth M Yamada
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-4370, USA
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17
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Lee HC, Lu HC, Turmaine M, Oliveira NMM, Yang Y, De Almeida I, Stern CD. Molecular anatomy of the pre-primitive-streak chick embryo. Open Biol 2020; 10:190299. [PMID: 32102607 PMCID: PMC7058932 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.190299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The early stages of development of the chick embryo, leading to primitive streak formation (the start of gastrulation), have received renewed attention recently, especially for studies of the mechanisms of large-scale cell movements and those that position the primitive streak in the radial blastodisc. Over the long history of chick embryology, the terminology used to define different regions has been changing, making it difficult to relate studies to each other. To resolve this objectively requires precise definitions of the regions based on anatomical and functional criteria, along with a systematic molecular map that can be compared directly to the functional anatomy. Here, we undertake these tasks. We describe the characteristic cell morphologies (using scanning electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry for cell polarity markers) in different regions and at successive stages. RNAseq was performed for 12 regions of the blastodisc, from which a set of putative regional markers was selected. These were studied in detail by in situ hybridization. Together this provides a comprehensive resource allowing the community to define the regions unambiguously and objectively. In addition to helping with future experimental design and interpretation, this resource will also be useful for evolutionary comparisons between different vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Claudio D. Stern
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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18
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Raffaelli A, Stern CD. Signaling events regulating embryonic polarity and formation of the primitive streak in the chick embryo. Curr Top Dev Biol 2019; 136:85-111. [PMID: 31959299 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2019.10.001] [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] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The avian embryo is a key experimental model system for early development of amniotes. One key difference with invertebrates and "lower" vertebrates like fish and amphibians is that amniotes do not rely so heavily on maternal messages because the zygotic genome is activated very early. Early development also involves considerable growth in volume and mass of the embryo, with cell cycles that include G1 and G2 phases from very early cleavage. The very early maternal to zygotic transition also allows the embryo to establish its own polarity without relying heavily on maternal determinants. In many amniotes including avians and non-rodent mammals, this enables an ability of the embryo to "regulate": a single multicellular embryo can give rise to more than one individual-monozygotic twins. Here we discuss the embryological, cellular, molecular and evolutionary underpinnings of gastrulation in avian embryos as a model amniote embryo. Many of these properties are shared by human embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Raffaelli
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudio D Stern
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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19
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Association of functional variant in GDF1 promoter with risk of congenital heart disease and its regulation by Nkx2.5. Clin Sci (Lond) 2019; 133:1281-1295. [PMID: 31171573 DOI: 10.1042/cs20181024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
GDF1 plays an important role in left–right patterning and genetic mutations in the coding region of GDF1 are associated with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, the genetic variation in the promoter of GDF1 with sporadic CHD and its expression regulation is little known. The association of the genetic variation in GDF1 promoter with CHD was examined in two case–control studies, including 1084 cases and 1198 controls in the first study and 582 cases and 615 controls in the second study. We identified one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs181317402 and two novel genetic mutations located in the promoter region of GDF1. Analysis of combined samples revealed a significant association in genotype and allele frequencies of rs181317402 T/G polymorphism between CHD cases in overall or ventricular septal defects or Tetralogy of Fallot and the control group. rs181317402 allele G polymorphism was significantly associated with a decreased risk of CHD. Furthermore, luciferase assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNA pulldown assay indicated that Nkx2.5 transactivated the expression of GDF1 by binding to the promoter of GDF1. Luciferase activity assay showed that rs181317402 allele G significantly increased the basal and Nkx2.5-mediated activity of GDF1 promoter, while the two genetic mutations had the opposite effect. rs181317402 TG genotype was associated with significantly increased mRNA level of GDF1 compared with TT genotype in 18 CHD individuals. Our results demonstrate for the first time that Nkx2.5 acts upstream of GDF1 and the genetic variants in GDF1 promoter may confer genetic susceptibility to sporadic CHD potentially by altering its expression.
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20
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Hwang YS, Seo M, Choi HJ, Kim SK, Kim H, Han JY. The first whole transcriptomic exploration of pre-oviposited early chicken embryos using single and bulked embryonic RNA-sequencing. Gigascience 2018; 7:1-9. [PMID: 29659814 PMCID: PMC5893961 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giy030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The chicken is a valuable model organism, especially in evolutionary and embryology research because its embryonic development occurs in the egg. However, despite its scientific importance, no transcriptome data have been generated for deciphering the early developmental stages of the chicken because of practical and technical constraints in accessing pre-oviposited embryos. Findings Here, we determine the entire transcriptome of pre-oviposited avian embryos, including oocyte, zygote, and intrauterine embryos from Eyal-giladi and Kochav stage I (EGK.I) to EGK.X collected using a noninvasive approach for the first time. We also compare RNA-sequencing data obtained using a bulked embryo sequencing and single embryo/cell sequencing technique. The raw sequencing data were preprocessed with two genome builds, Galgal4 and Galgal5, and the expression of 17,108 and 26,102 genes was quantified in the respective builds. There were some differences between the two techniques, as well as between the two genome builds, and these were affected by the emergence of long intergenic noncoding RNA annotations. Conclusion The first transcriptome datasets of pre-oviposited early chicken embryos based on bulked and single embryo sequencing techniques will serve as a valuable resource for investigating early avian embryogenesis, for comparative studies among vertebrates, and for novel gene annotation in the chicken genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Sun Hwang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Minseok Seo
- CHO&KIM genomics, SNU Research Park, Seoul National University Mt.4-2, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Channing Division of Network Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hee Jung Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sang Kyung Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Heebal Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.,CHO&KIM genomics, SNU Research Park, Seoul National University Mt.4-2, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa, Nagano 399-4598, Japan
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa, Nagano 399-4598, Japan
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21
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Andres K, Orel J, Lis MW. The phenomenon of the monovular twinning in the endangered zatorska goose. Poult Sci 2018; 97:4425-4432. [PMID: 29992327 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pey293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenomenon of multiple embryos in birds and other oviparous vertebrates is very rare and thus poorly studied. Some populations of wild birds or lines of poultry, including the zatorska goose, may be particularly predisposed to developing monovular twin embryos (MTE). The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of single yolk twin embryos in the zatorska goose and to establish whether these embryos are generated as a result of polyembryony or other developmental anomalies.Embryopathological analysis, which included identification of the developmental stages of all MTEs at the time of death, was carried out on 1,955 unhatched eggs obtained from 20 pedigree breeding flocks of the zatorska goose. Post-mortem examinations revealed as many as 13 MTEs (0.66% compared to embryonated eggs) at varying developmental stages.The results of genotyping of the microsatellite loci of 7 pairs of twins demonstrated genetic similarity in 6 of them; this suggests that they developed from 1 blastoderm, while differences in 2 loci of 1 pair show that the MTE originates from 2 blastodiscs. Pedigree analysis of the MTEs does not provide evidence that predisposition toward twinning results from the genetic background. However, more frequent MTE occurrence could be seen in eggs stored for more than 8 d. It seems that embryos of the zatorska goose are more susceptible to duplication under special conditions, such as prolonged egg storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Andres
- Department of Swine and Small Animal Breeding, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicz Alley 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
| | - Joanna Orel
- Department of Veterinary, Animal Reproduction and Welfare, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicz Alley 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
| | - Marcin W Lis
- Department of Veterinary, Animal Reproduction and Welfare, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicz Alley 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
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22
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Yan H, Jiang E, Zhu H, Hu L, Liu J, Qu L. The novel 22 bp insertion mutation in a promoter region of the <i>PITX2</i> gene is associated with litter size and growth traits in goats. Arch Anim Breed 2018. [DOI: 10.5194/aab-61-329-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract. The paired-like homeodomain 2 (PITX2) gene plays a critical role in
regulating development, reproduction, and growth traits in ruminants. Hence,
the objective of this study was to explore the polymorphisms of this gene and
to evaluate their associations with quantitative traits. Herein, a novel
insertion in the promoter region of the PITX2 gene was reported in
Shaanbei white cashmere (SBWC) goats (n=1012). The genotype distributions
between mothers of single-kid and multi-kid groups within SBWC goats were
significantly different (P<0.01), implying that this indel mutation might
affect the litter size. Furthermore, association analysis found that this
indel mutation was significantly associated with litter size (P=0.001).
Individuals with genotype DD had a significantly smaller litter size than
those with other genotypes (P<0.01). Besides, this indel was significantly
associated with the body length (P=0.042) and the chest width (P=0.031). Especially, the individuals with genotype DD had a significantly
lower body length than those with genotype II (P<0.05), which was
consistent with the trend in litter size. These findings suggested that the
new 22 bp indel mutation within the PITX2 gene is significantly
associated with litter size and growth traits; this can be utilized as a
functional molecular marker in goat breeding.
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23
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Plöger R, Viebahn C. Pitx2 and nodal as conserved early markers of the anterior-posterior axis in the rabbit embryo. Ann Anat 2018; 218:256-264. [PMID: 29705588 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2018.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Attaining molecular and morphological axial polarity during gastrulation is a fundamental early requirement for normal development of the embryo. In mammals, the first morphological sign of the anterior-posterior axis appears anteriorly in the form of the anterior marginal crescent (or anterior visceral endoderm) while in the avian the first such sign is the Koller's sickle at the posterior pole of the embryonic disc. Despite this inverse mode of axis formation many genes and molecular pathways involved in various steps of this process seem to be evolutionarily conserved amongst amniotes, the nodal gene being a well-known example with its functional involvement prior and during gastrulation. The pitx2 gene, however, is a new candidate described in the chick as an early marker for anterior-posterior polarity and as a regulator of axis formation including twinning. To find out whether pitx2 has retained its inductive and early marker function during the evolution of mammals this study analyses pitx2 and nodal expression at parallel stages during formation of the anterior-posterior polarity in the early rabbit embryo using whole-mount in situ hybridization and serial light-microscopical sections. At a late pre-gastrulation stage a localized reduction of nodal expression presages the position of the anterior pole of the embryonic disc and thus serves as the earliest molecular marker of anterior-posterior polarity known so far. Pitx2 is expressed in a polarized manner in the anterior marginal crescent and in the posterior half of the embryonic disc during further development. In the anterior segment of the posterior pitx2 expression domain, the anterior streak domain (ASD) is defined by nodal expression as a hypothetical progenitor region of the anterior half of the primitive streak. The expression patterns of both genes thus serve as signs of a conserved involvement in early axis formation in amniotes and, possibly, in twinning in mammals as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Plöger
- Institute of Anatomy and Embryology, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Viebahn
- Institute of Anatomy and Embryology, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Germany.
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24
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Collins MM, Maischein HM, Dufourcq P, Charpentier M, Blader P, Stainier DY. Pitx2c orchestrates embryonic axis extension via mesendodermal cell migration. eLife 2018; 7:34880. [PMID: 29952749 PMCID: PMC6023614 DOI: 10.7554/elife.34880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pitx2c, a homeodomain transcription factor, is classically known for its left-right patterning role. However, an early wave of pitx2 expression occurs at the onset of gastrulation in several species, indicating a possible earlier role that remains relatively unexplored. Here we show that in zebrafish, maternal-zygotic (MZ) pitx2c mutants exhibit a shortened body axis indicative of convergence and extension (CE) defects. Live imaging reveals that MZpitx2c mutants display less persistent mesendodermal migration during late stages of gastrulation. Transplant data indicate that Pitx2c functions cell non-autonomously to regulate this cell behavior by modulating cell shape and protrusive activity. Using transcriptomic analyses and candidate gene approaches, we identify transcriptional changes in components of the chemokine-ECM-integrin dependent mesendodermal migration network. Together, our results define pathways downstream of Pitx2c that are required during early embryogenesis and reveal novel functions for Pitx2c as a regulator of morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Collins
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Hans-Martin Maischein
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Pascale Dufourcq
- Centre de Biologie du Développement, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Patrick Blader
- Centre de Biologie du Développement, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Didier Yr Stainier
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
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25
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Yang J, Qu Y, Huang Y, Lei F. Dynamic transcriptome profiling towards understanding the morphogenesis and development of diverse feather in domestic duck. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:391. [PMID: 29793441 PMCID: PMC5968480 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4778-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Feathers with complex and fine structure are hallmark avian integument appendages, which have contributed significantly to the survival and breeding for birds. Here, we aimed to explore the differentiation, morphogenesis and development of diverse feathers in the domestic duck. Results Transcriptome profiles of skin owing feather follicle from two body parts at three physiological stages were constructed to understand the molecular network and excavate the candidate genes associated with the development of plumulaceous and flight feather structures. The venn analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between abdomen and wing skin tissues at three developmental stages showed that 38 genes owing identical differentially expression pattern. Together, our data suggest that feather morphological and structural diversity can be possibly related to the homeobox proteins. The key series-clusters, many candidate biological processes and genes were identified for the morphogenesis, growth and development of two feather types. Through comparing the results of developmental transcriptomes from plumulaceous and flight feather, we found that DEGs belonging to the family of WNT, FGF and BMP have certain differences; even the consistent DEGs of skin and feather follicle transcriptomes from abdomen and wing have the different expression patterns. Conclusions Overall, this study detected many functional genes and showed differences in the molecular mechanisms of diverse feather developments. The findings in WNT, FGF and BMP, which were consistent with biological experiments, showed more possible complex modulations. A correlative role of HOX genes was also suggested but future biological verification experiments are required. This work provided valuable information for subsequent research on the morphogenesis of feathers. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4778-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China.,Co-Innovation Center for Qinba Regions' Sustainable Development, School of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Co-Innovation Center for Qinba Regions' Sustainable Development, School of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China.
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. .,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
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26
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Hwang YS, Seo M, Lee BR, Lee HJ, Park YH, Kim SK, Lee HC, Choi HJ, Yoon J, Kim H, Han JY. The transcriptome of early chicken embryos reveals signaling pathways governing rapid asymmetric cellularization and lineage segregation. Development 2018; 145:dev.157453. [PMID: 29467246 DOI: 10.1242/dev.157453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The phylogenomics and comparative functional genomics of avian species were investigated in the Bird 10,000 Genomes (B10K) project because of the important evolutionary position of birds and their value as a research model. However, the systematic profiling of transcriptional changes prior to oviposition has not been investigated in avian species because of the practical difficulties in obtaining pre-oviposited eggs. In this study, a total of 137 pre-oviposited embryos were collected from hen ovaries and oviducts and subjected to RNA-sequencing analyses. Two waves of chicken zygotic genome activation (ZGA) were observed. Functionally distinct developmental programs involving Notch, MAPK, Wnt and TGFβ signaling were separately detected during cleavage and area pellucida formation. Furthermore, the early stages of chicken development were compared with the human and mouse counterparts, highlighting chicken-specific signaling pathways and gradually analogous gene expression via ZGA. These findings provide a genome-wide understanding of avian embryogenesis and comparisons among amniotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Sun Hwang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Minseok Seo
- CHO&KIM Genomics, SNU Research Park, Seoul National University Mt.4-2, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Channing Division of Network Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bo Ram Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hong Jo Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Young Hyun Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sang Kyung Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hyung Chul Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Hee Jung Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Joon Yoon
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Heebal Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.,CHO&KIM Genomics, SNU Research Park, Seoul National University Mt.4-2, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa, Nagano 399-4598, Japan
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea .,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa, Nagano 399-4598, Japan
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27
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Arias CF, Herrero MA, Stern CD, Bertocchini F. A molecular mechanism of symmetry breaking in the early chick embryo. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15776. [PMID: 29150667 PMCID: PMC5694015 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15883-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The first obvious sign of bilateral symmetry in mammalian and avian embryos is the appearance of the primitive streak in the future posterior region of a radially symmetric disc. The primitive streak marks the midline of the future embryo. The mechanisms responsible for positioning the primitive streak remain largely unknown. Here we combine experimental embryology and mathematical modelling to analyse the role of the TGFβ-related molecules BMP4 and Vg1/GDF1 in positioning the primitive streak. Bmp4 and Vg1 are first expressed throughout the embryo, and then become localised to the future anterior and posterior regions of the embryo, where they will, respectively, inhibit or induce formation of the primitive streak. We propose a model based on paracrine signalling to account for the separation of the two domains starting from a homogeneous array of cells, and thus for the topological transformation of a radially symmetric disc to a bilaterally symmetric embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemente F Arias
- Departamento de Matemática Aplicada, Facultad de Matemáticas, and Universidad Complútense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. .,Grupo Interdisciplinar de Sistemas Complejos (GISC), Universidad Complútense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Miguel A Herrero
- Departamento de Matemática Aplicada, Facultad de Matemáticas, and Universidad Complútense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Claudio D Stern
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Federica Bertocchini
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC)-CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
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28
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Houston DW. Vertebrate Axial Patterning: From Egg to Asymmetry. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 953:209-306. [PMID: 27975274 PMCID: PMC6550305 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-46095-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of the bilateral embryonic body axis from a symmetrical egg has been a long-standing question in developmental biology. Historical and modern experiments point to an initial symmetry-breaking event leading to localized Wnt and Nodal growth factor signaling and subsequent induction and formation of a self-regulating dorsal "organizer." This organizer forms at the site of notochord cell internalization and expresses primarily Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) growth factor antagonists that establish a spatiotemporal gradient of BMP signaling across the embryo, directing initial cell differentiation and morphogenesis. Although the basics of this model have been known for some time, many of the molecular and cellular details have only recently been elucidated and the extent that these events remain conserved throughout vertebrate evolution remains unclear. This chapter summarizes historical perspectives as well as recent molecular and genetic advances regarding: (1) the mechanisms that regulate symmetry-breaking in the vertebrate egg and early embryo, (2) the pathways that are activated by these events, in particular the Wnt pathway, and the role of these pathways in the formation and function of the organizer, and (3) how these pathways also mediate anteroposterior patterning and axial morphogenesis. Emphasis is placed on comparative aspects of the egg-to-embryo transition across vertebrates and their evolution. The future prospects for work regarding self-organization and gene regulatory networks in the context of early axis formation are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas W Houston
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, 257 BB, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
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29
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Sydow HG, Pieper T, Viebahn C, Tsikolia N. An Early Chick Embryo Culture Device for Extended Continuous Observation. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1650:309-317. [PMID: 28809031 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7216-6_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Appropriate mechanical tension of the vitelline membrane as the culture substrate for the early chick embryo is frequently reported to be required for successful in vitro development. Here we describe a modified device, made of anodized aluminum, for in vitro culture which we used for studies of left-right symmetry breaking with emphasis on morphology and gene expression as readouts. The technique allows for easy, high-throughput tissue handling and provides a suitable tension in a stable and easily reproducible manner proven to be suitable for correct molecular left-right patterning and heart looping after long-term culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Georg Sydow
- Anatomy and Embryology, University Medical Centre, Kreuzbergring 36, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Pieper
- Anatomy and Embryology, University Medical Centre, Kreuzbergring 36, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Viebahn
- Anatomy and Embryology, University Medical Centre, Kreuzbergring 36, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nikoloz Tsikolia
- Anatomy and Embryology, University Medical Centre, Kreuzbergring 36, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
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30
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Liu L, Ebana Y, Nitta JI, Takahashi Y, Miyazaki S, Tanaka T, Komura M, Isobe M, Furukawa T. Genetic Variants Associated With Susceptibility to Atrial Fibrillation in a Japanese Population. Can J Cardiol 2016; 33:443-449. [PMID: 28129963 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2016.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects millions of individuals worldwide. The genome-wide association studies have identified robust genetic associations with AF. METHODS We genotyped 5461 participants of Japanese ancestry for 11 AF-related loci and determined the effects of carrying different numbers of risk alleles on disease development and age at disease onset. The weighted genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated, and its ability to predict AF was determined. RESULTS Six single-nucleotide polymorphisms-rs593479 (1q24 in PRRX1), rs1906617 (4q25 near PITX2), rs11773845 (7q31 in CAV1), rs6584555 (10q25 in NEURL), rs6490029 (12q24 in CUX2), and rs12932445 (16q22 in ZFHX3) (P < 1.9 × 10-5)-were confirmed as being associated with AF. Patients with a high total number of risk alleles (9-12) had a younger median age at onset of AF (58 years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 55-60 years) than those with a low total number (1-4) (63 years; 95% CI, 61-64 years) (P = 0.0015). We observed a 4.38-fold (95% CI, 3.69-5.19) difference in risk of AF between individuals with scores in the top and bottom quartiles of the GRS. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated an area under the curve of 0.641 (95% CI, 0.628-0.653; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Six loci were validated as associated with AF in a Japanese population. This study suggests that a combination of common genetic markers modestly facilitates discrimination of AF. This is the first report, to our knowledge, to demonstrate that the age of onset of AF is affected by common risk alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian Liu
- Department of Bio-informational Pharmacology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Ebana
- Department of Bio-informational Pharmacology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Nitta
- Cardiovascular Division, Saitama Red Cross Hospital, Saitama, Japan
| | | | | | - Toshihiro Tanaka
- Bio-resource Research Center, Research and Industry-University Alliance Organization, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Mitsuaki Isobe
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Furukawa
- Department of Bio-informational Pharmacology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
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