Competence for neural crest induction is controlled by hydrostatic pressure through Yap

Area of Science:

• Developmental biology
• Cellular mechanics
• Molecular signalling

Background:

• Embryonic induction involves signal-responding tissue interactions, but tissue competence regulation is poorly understood.
• While molecular signals are studied, the influence of tissue mechanics on embryonic competence remains unexplored.
• Neural crest cells are a key embryonic cell population crucial for vertebrate development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of hydrostatic pressure in regulating neural crest cell competence.
• To explore the molecular mechanisms by which hydrostatic pressure affects neural crest induction.
• To determine if this mechanism is conserved across vertebrate species.

Main Methods:

• In vivo manipulation of blastocoel hydrostatic pressure in vertebrate embryos.
• Analysis of Yap signalling and Wnt activation pathways in response to pressure changes.
• Comparative studies in amphibian, mouse, and human cell models.

Main Results:

• Neural crest competence decreases as blastocoel hydrostatic pressure increases.
• Elevated hydrostatic pressure inhibits Yap signalling and impairs Wnt activation.
• Hydrostatic pressure is shown to control neural crest induction in diverse vertebrate models.

Conclusions:

• Tissue mechanics, specifically hydrostatic pressure, play a critical role in regulating embryonic competence.
• Hydrostatic pressure influences key signalling pathways (Yap, Wnt) to control neural crest induction.
• This mechanism of mechanical regulation of competence is conserved throughout vertebrate development.