Germ layer-specific regulation of cell polarity and adhesion gives insight into the evolution of mesoderm
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: In triploblastic animals, Par-proteins regulate cell-polarity and adherens junctions of both ectodermal and endodermal epithelia. But, in embryos of the diploblastic cnidarian Nematostella vectensis , Par-proteins are degraded in all cells in the bifunctional gastrodermal epithelium. Using immunohistochemistry, CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, and overexpression of specific mRNAs, we describe the functional association between Par-proteins, ß-catenin, and snail transcription factor genes in N. vectensis embryos. We demonstrate that the aPKC/Par complex regulates the localization of ß-catenin in the ectoderm by stabilizing its role in cell-adhesion, and that endomesodermal epithelial cells are organized by a different cell-adhesion system than that of overlying ectoderm. We also show that ectopic expression of snail genes, which are expressed in mesodermal derivatives in bilaterians, are sufficient to downregulate Par-proteins and translocate ß-catenin from the junctions to the cytoplasm in ectodermal cells. These data provide molecular insight into the evolution of epithelial structure and distinct mesodermal tissue in metazoan embryos.
Source: eLife
DOI: 10.7554/elife.36740
Institution: University of Florida
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
Awards: Gene regulatory network evolution and the origin of biological novelties, G1769908776, G6050961345, REU Site: Research in molecular, cellular, neuro- and population biology using marine and other comparative models at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, IOS Broadening Participation: Choose Development, A functional analysis of the evolution of metazoan cell polarity
OpenAlex ID: W2952266650