Optogenetic control of Nodal signaling patterns
Harold M McNamara1, Bill Z Jia2,3, Alison Guyer4
1Lewis Sigler Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|April 22, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed optogenetic tools to precisely control Nodal signaling patterns in zebrafish embryos. This allows detailed study of how cells interpret developmental signals for fate decisions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Optogenetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Establishing spatial signaling patterns is vital for early embryogenesis.
- Understanding how embryonic cells interpret morphogen signals is key to cell fate determination.
Approach:
- Developed novel optogenetic reagents (optoNodal2) for precise spatial and temporal control of Nodal signaling in zebrafish.
- Fused Nodal receptors to light-sensitive Cry2/CIB1N pair and sequestered Type II receptor to the cytosol.
- Utilized ultra-widefield microscopy for parallel light patterning in multiple embryos.
Key Points:
- OptoNodal2 reagents show improved kinetics and no dark activity, maintaining dynamic range.
- Demonstrated precise spatial control over Nodal signaling and downstream gene expression.
- Patterned Nodal activation precisely controlled endodermal precursor internalization.
- Generated synthetic Nodal signaling patterns in mutants, rescuing developmental defects.
Conclusions:
- Established a powerful experimental toolkit for systematic exploration of Nodal signaling patterns in vivo.
- Provides new avenues for investigating morphogen gradient decoding and cell fate decisions during embryogenesis.
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