PUBLICATION

A self-generated Toddler gradient guides mesodermal cell migration

Authors
Stock, J., Kazmar, T., Schlumm, F., Hannezo, E., Pauli, A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-220920-4
Date
2022
Source
Science advances   8: eadd2488 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Kazmar, Tomáš, Pauli, Andrea, Stock, Jessica
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
none
PubMed
36103529 Full text @ Sci Adv
Abstract
The sculpting of germ layers during gastrulation relies on the coordinated migration of progenitor cells, yet the cues controlling these long-range directed movements remain largely unknown. While directional migration often relies on a chemokine gradient generated from a localized source, we find that zebrafish ventrolateral mesoderm is guided by a self-generated gradient of the initially uniformly expressed and secreted protein Toddler/ELABELA/Apela. We show that the Apelin receptor, which is specifically expressed in mesodermal cells, has a dual role during gastrulation, acting as a scavenger receptor to generate a Toddler gradient, and as a chemokine receptor to sense this guidance cue. Thus, we uncover a single receptor-based self-generated gradient as the enigmatic guidance cue that can robustly steer the directional migration of mesoderm through the complex and continuously changing environment of the gastrulating embryo.
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