‘Neighbourhood watch’ model: embryonic epiblast cells assess positional information in relation to their neighbours
Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: 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.
Source: Development
DOI: 10.1242/dev.200295
Institutions: University College London, Imperial College London
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Awards: G2927229643, Mechanisms that position the embryonic axis and the causes of identical twins., Organizers: orchestrators of developmental decisions, G4691250445, Mechanisms that position the embryonic axis and the causes of identical twins., G6868616705, DTP Bid Led by University College London
OpenAlex ID: W4224235215