PUBLICATION

Cell competition corrects noisy Wnt morphogen gradients to achieve robust patterning in the zebrafish embryo

Authors
Akieda, Y., Ogamino, S., Furuie, H., Ishitani, S., Akiyoshi, R., Nogami, J., Masuda, T., Shimizu, N., Ohkawa, Y., Ishitani, T.
ID
ZDB-PUB-191022-13
Date
2019
Source
Nature communications   10: 4710 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Ishitani, Shizuka, Ishitani, Tohru, Shimizu, Nobuyuki
Keywords
none
Datasets
GEO:GSE133526
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Apoptosis/genetics
  • Body Patterning/genetics*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/cytology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/embryology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Morphogenesis/genetics*
  • Time-Lapse Imaging/methods
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics*
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
  • beta Catenin/genetics*
  • beta Catenin/metabolism
PubMed
31624259 Full text @ Nat. Commun.
Abstract
Morphogen signalling forms an activity gradient and instructs cell identities in a signalling strength-dependent manner to pattern developing tissues. However, developing tissues also undergo dynamic morphogenesis, which may produce cells with unfit morphogen signalling and consequent noisy morphogen gradients. Here we show that a cell competition-related system corrects such noisy morphogen gradients. Zebrafish imaging analyses of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling gradient, which acts as a morphogen to establish embryonic anterior-posterior patterning, identify that unfit cells with abnormal Wnt/β-catenin activity spontaneously appear and produce noise in the gradient. Communication between unfit and neighbouring fit cells via cadherin proteins stimulates apoptosis of the unfit cells by activating Smad signalling and reactive oxygen species production. This unfit cell elimination is required for proper Wnt/β-catenin gradient formation and consequent anterior-posterior patterning. Because this gradient controls patterning not only in the embryo but also in adult tissues, this system may support tissue robustness and disease prevention.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping