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Tissue segregation in the early vertebrate embryo
1CRBM, University of Montpellier and CNRS UMR 5237, 34293 Montpellier, France.
Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
|July 1, 2020
Summary
Vertebrate development relies on cell segregation, including germ layer separation and notochord formation. Conservation across species suggests simple principles like non-adhesive apical domains and differential cell adhesion cues govern these crucial early events.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Understanding the fundamental processes of early vertebrate development is crucial for comprehending organismal complexity.
- Key events include cell segregation, germ layer formation, and the establishment of the primary body axis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on major segregation events in vertebrate embryogenesis.
- To compare developmental processes in amphibians, fish, and mice, highlighting conserved mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of embryonic development across different vertebrate species (amphibians, fish, mice).
- Discussion of cellular mechanisms underlying cell segregation and boundary formation.
Main Results:
- Striking conservation of basic segregation processes observed across diverse vertebrate embryos.
- Identification of two key principles: non-adhesive apical domains for superficial/deep cell segregation and differential contact cues (ephrins, protocadherins) for sharp boundary formation.
Conclusions:
- Simple, conserved principles govern the formation of diverse vertebrate structures during early development.
- Non-adhesive cell domains and differential cell adhesion are fundamental mechanisms for tissue patterning.
Keywords:
Actomyosin contractilityAsymmetric divisionCadherinCell adhesionCell cortexCell migrationCell sortingContact inhibitionCortical tensionDifferential adhesionEmbryonic boundariesEph receptorsEphrinsGastrulationGerm layersInterfacial tensionMorphogenesisMouse embryoPAPCProtocadherinTissue separationTissue surface tensionVertebrate developmentXenopus embryoZebrafish embryopcdh8
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