PUBLICATION
Tokay gecko tail regeneration involves temporally collinear expression of HOXC genes and early expression of satellite cell markers
- Authors
- Nurhidayat, L., Benes, V., Blom, S., Gomes, I., Firdausi, N., de Bakker, M.A.G., Spaink, H.P., Richardson, M.K.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-250109-215
- Date
- 2025
- Source
- BMC Biology 23: 66 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Spaink, Herman P.
- Keywords
- Gekko gecko, Blastema, Developmental patterning genes, Hox genes, Segmentation, Tail regeneration, Tokay gecko
- MeSH Terms
-
- Lizards*/embryology
- Lizards*/genetics
- Lizards*/physiology
- Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle/metabolism
- Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle/physiology
- Animals
- Tail*/physiology
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Genes, Homeobox/genetics
- Regeneration*/genetics
- Regeneration*/physiology
- PubMed
- 39780185 Full text @ BMC Biol.
Citation
Nurhidayat, L., Benes, V., Blom, S., Gomes, I., Firdausi, N., de Bakker, M.A.G., Spaink, H.P., Richardson, M.K. (2025) Tokay gecko tail regeneration involves temporally collinear expression of HOXC genes and early expression of satellite cell markers. BMC Biology. 23:66.
Abstract
Background Regeneration is the replacement of lost or damaged tissue with a functional copy. In axolotls and zebrafish, regeneration involves stem cells produced by de-differentiation. These cells form a growth zone which expresses developmental patterning genes at its apex. This system resembles an embryonic developmental field where cells undergo pattern formation. Some lizards, including geckos, can regenerate their tails, but it is unclear whether they show a "development-like" regeneration pathway.
Results Using the tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) model species, we examined seven stages of tail regeneration, and three stages of embryonic tail bud development, using transcriptomics, single-cell sequencing, and in situ hybridization. We find no apical growth zone in the regenerating tail. The transcriptomes of the regenerating vs. embryonic tails are quite different with respect to developmental patterning genes. Posterior HOXC genes were activated in a temporally collinear sequence in the regenerating tail. The major precursor populations were stromal cells (regenerating tail) vs. pluripotent stem cells (embryonic tail). Segmented skeletal muscles were regenerated with no expression of classical segmentation genes, but with the early activation of satellite cell markers.
Conclusions Our study suggests that tail regeneration in the tokay gecko-unlike tail development-might rely on the activation of resident stem cells, guided by pre-existing positional information.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping