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Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Self-Assembly of Microtubule Tactoids
Published on: June 23, 2022
Specialized cytonemes induce self-organization of stem cells
Sergi Junyent1, Clare L Garcin1, James L A Szczerkowski1
1Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, SE1 9RT London, United Kingdom.
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Spatial cellular organization is fundamental for embryogenesis. Remarkably, coculturing embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) recapitulates this process, forming embryo-like structures. However, mechanisms driving ESC-TSC interaction remain elusive. We describe specialized ESC-generated cytonemes that react to TSC-secreted Wnts. Cytoneme formation and length are controlled by actin, intracellular calcium stores, and components of the Wnt pathway. ESC cytonemes select self-renewal-promoting Wnts via crosstalk between Wnt receptors, activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), and localized calcium transients. This crosstalk orchestrates Wnt signaling, ESC polarization, ESC-TSC pairing, and consequently synthetic embryogenesis. Our results uncover ESC-TSC contact-mediated signaling, reminiscent of the glutamatergic neuronal synapse, inducing spatial self-organization and embryonic cell specification.
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