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Delta-Notch signaling induces hypochord development in zebrafish
Andrew J Latimer1, Xinhong Dong, Youlia Markov
1Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|May 17, 2002
Summary
Zebrafish hypochord precursors originate from the organizer's lateral edges. Delta signaling from adjacent mesoderm diversifies midline cell fate, promoting hypochord development over notochord.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Embryology
- Cell signaling
Background:
- Vertebrate midline cells, including hypochord, originate from the gastrula organizer.
- Hypochord is a midline cell type located ventral to the notochord in anamniote embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origin and developmental regulation of hypochord precursors in zebrafish.
- To elucidate the role of Delta signaling in diversifying midline cell fates.
Main Methods:
- Zebrafish gastrulation studies
- Loss-of-function experiments targeting deltaC and deltaD genes
- Analysis of gene expression (no tail, her4) and Notch activity
Main Results:
- Hypochord precursors arise from the lateral edges of the zebrafish gastrula organizer.
- DeltaC and DeltaD signaling are essential for her4 expression and hypochord development.
- Ectopic Notch activity disrupts notochord formation and induces her4 expression.
Conclusions:
- Delta signaling from paraxial mesoderm specifies hypochord fate from adjacent organizer precursors.
- This signaling pathway diversifies midline cell fates, promoting hypochord development instead of notochord.
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