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Determination

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...

Notch Signaling Pathway

Notch Signaling Pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...

Notch Signaling Pathway

Notch Signaling Pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Using Confocal Analysis of Xenopus laevis to Investigate Modulators of Wnt and Shh Morphogen Gradients

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Published on: December 14, 2015

Nodal signaling in vertebrate development.

Alexander F Schier¹

¹Developmental Genetics Program, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. schier@saturn.med.nyu.edu

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology

|October 23, 2003

Summary

Nodal signaling, crucial for embryonic development, orchestrates tissue patterning through a complex network of activators and inhibitors. This TGF-beta pathway precisely controls vertebrate embryogenesis by modulating signals at multiple levels.

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Published on: December 14, 2015

The Power of Simplicity: Sea Urchin Embryos as in Vivo Developmental Models for Studying Complex Cell-to-cell Signaling Network Interactions

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Generation of Naïve Blastoderm Explants from Zebrafish Embryos

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Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling, particularly the Nodal pathway, is fundamental for vertebrate embryonic development.
Nodal signaling establishes embryonic axes, induces germ layers (mesoderm and endoderm), patterns the nervous system, and dictates left-right asymmetry.
The canonical pathway involves activin receptors, Smad2 transcription factors, and FoxH1 coactivators, with additional dependencies on EGF-CFC coreceptors.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing Nodal signaling during vertebrate embryogenesis.
To understand how Nodal signaling is modulated at various levels to achieve precise tissue patterning.
To highlight the concentration-dependent and spatial roles of Nodal factors.

Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of existing literature on Nodal signaling pathways.
Analysis of molecular interactions within the TGF-β superfamily.
Examination of regulatory cascades and autoregulatory loops controlling Nodal activity.

Main Results:

Nodal signaling is tightly regulated by a complex interplay of activators (e.g., EGF-CFC coreceptors) and antagonists (e.g., Lefty, Cerberus).
Modulators include convertases for signal generation and factors like Arkadia and DRAP1 for cellular response regulation.
Nodal signaling operates through complex cascades and feedback loops, exhibiting concentration-dependent and both local and long-range activities.

Conclusions:

Nodal signaling is a highly sophisticated pathway, modulated at nearly every step to ensure precise control over vertebrate embryonic development.
The intricate regulation allows for nuanced tissue patterning and axis formation.
Understanding these regulatory layers is key to comprehending developmental processes.