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Generation of Dispersed Presomitic Mesoderm Cell Cultures for Imaging of the Zebrafish Segmentation Clock in Single Cells
Published on: July 24, 2014
Regionally autonomous segmentation within zebrafish presomitic mesoderm.
Clarissa A Henry1, Cara T Poage, Matthew B McCarthy
1Department of Biology and Center for Developmental Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Zebrafish
|February 6, 2008
Summary
Zebrafish segmentation relies on intercellular signals, but long-range communication is not essential. The presomitic mesoderm (PSM) exhibits regional autonomy in segmentation and somitogenesis, driven by local cell behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Molecular biology
- Cell biology
Background:
- Zebrafish segmentation involves intercellular signaling pathways, similar to other vertebrates.
- The spatial scale of these signaling pathways in zebrafish segmentation is not well understood.
- Her1 transcription waves in zebrafish presomitic mesoderm (PSM) initiate in the tailbud and propagate anteriorly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the tailbud as a potential "pacemaker" or "organizing center" for her1 expression waves.
- To determine the necessity of long-range intercellular communication for zebrafish segmentation and somitogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Microsurgical removal of the zebrafish tailbud.
- Analysis of gene expression patterns (deltaD, papc, myoD) in somites.
- Time-lapse imaging of cellular behavior in newly formed somites.
Main Results:
- Anterior propagation of her1 transcription waves is not affected by tailbud removal.
- Gene expression in somites remains largely unperturbed after tailbud or lateral plate mesoderm removal.
- Cellular identity specification within somites is plastic and can change post-mitosis.
Conclusions:
- Sustained long-range intercellular communication is not required for zebrafish segmentation and somitogenesis.
- Zebrafish PSM segmentation and somitogenesis are largely regionally autonomous processes.
- Local morphogenetic cell behaviors govern the basic segmentation and somitogenesis in zebrafish PSM.
