1
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Fung W, Kolotuev I, Heiman MG. Specialized structure and function of the apical extracellular matrix at sense organs. Cells Dev 2024; 179:203942. [PMID: 39067521 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2024.203942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Apical extracellular matrix (aECM) covers every surface of the body and exhibits tissue-specific structures that carry out specialized functions. This is particularly striking at sense organs, where aECM forms the interface between sensory neurons and the environment, and thus plays critical roles in how sensory stimuli are received. Here, we review the extraordinary adaptations of aECM across sense organs and discuss how differences in protein composition and matrix structure assist in sensing mechanical forces (tactile hairs, campaniform sensilla, and the tectorial membrane of the cochlea); tastes and smells (uniporous gustatory sensilla and multiporous olfactory sensilla in insects, and salivary and olfactory mucus in vertebrates); and light (cuticle-derived lenses in arthropods and mollusks). We summarize the power of using C. elegans, in which defined sense organs associate with distinct aECM, as a model for understanding the tissue-specific structural and functional specializations of aECM. Finally, we synthesize results from recent studies in C. elegans and Drosophila into a conceptual framework for aECM patterning, including mechanisms that involve transient cellular or matrix scaffolds, mechanical pulling or pushing forces, and localized secretion or endocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Fung
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Maxwell G Heiman
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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2
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Warder BN, Nelson KA, Sui J, Anllo L, DiNardo S. An actomyosin network organizes niche morphology and responds to feedback from recruited stem cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.08.556877. [PMID: 38746236 PMCID: PMC11092431 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.08.556877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Stem cells often rely on signals from a niche, which in many tissues adopts a precise morphology. What remains elusive is how niches are formed, and how morphology impacts function. To address this, we leverage the Drosophila gonadal niche, which affords genetic tractability and live-imaging. We have previously shown mechanisms dictating niche cell migration to their appropriate position within the gonad, and the resultant consequences on niche function. Here, we show that once positioned, niche cells robustly polarize filamentous actin (F-actin) and Non-muscle Myosin II (MyoII) towards neighboring germ cells. Actomyosin tension along the niche periphery generates a highly reproducible smoothened contour. Without contractility, niches are misshapen and exhibit defects in their ability to regulate germline stem cell behavior. We additionally show that germ cells aid in polarizing MyoII within niche cells, and that extrinsic input is required for niche morphogenesis and function. Our work reveals a feedback mechanism where stem cells shape the niche that guides their behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey N. Warder
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kara A. Nelson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Justin Sui
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lauren Anllo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stephen DiNardo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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3
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Warder BN, Nelson KA, Sui J, Anllo L, DiNardo S. An actomyosin network organizes niche morphology and responds to feedback from recruited stem cells. Curr Biol 2024:S0960-9822(24)00944-8. [PMID: 39137785 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Stem cells often rely on signals from a niche, which in many tissues adopts a precise morphology. What remains elusive is how niches are formed and how morphology impacts function. To address this, we leverage the Drosophila gonadal niche, which affords genetic tractability and live-imaging. We have previously shown mechanisms dictating niche cell migration to their appropriate position within the gonad and the resultant consequences on niche function. Here, we show that once positioned, niche cells robustly polarize filamentous actin (F-actin) and non-muscle myosin II (MyoII) toward neighboring germ cells. Actomyosin tension along the niche periphery generates a highly reproducible smoothened contour. Without contractility, niches are misshapen and exhibit defects in their ability to regulate germline stem cell behavior. We additionally show that germ cells aid in polarizing MyoII within niche cells and that extrinsic input is required for niche morphogenesis and function. Our work reveals a feedback mechanism where stem cells shape the niche that guides their behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey N Warder
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kara A Nelson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Justin Sui
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lauren Anllo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stephen DiNardo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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4
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Töpfer U, Ryu J, Guerra Santillán KY, Schulze J, Fischer-Friedrich E, Tanentzapf G, Dahmann C. AdamTS proteases control basement membrane heterogeneity and organ shape in Drosophila. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114399. [PMID: 38944833 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The basement membrane (BM) is an extracellular matrix that plays important roles in animal development. A spatial heterogeneity in composition and structural properties of the BM provide cells with vital cues for morphogenetic processes such as cell migration or cell polarization. Here, using the Drosophila egg chamber as a model system, we show that the BM becomes heterogeneous during development, with a reduction in Collagen IV density at the posterior pole and differences in the micropattern of aligned fiber-like structures. We identified two AdamTS matrix proteases required for the proper elongated shape of the egg chamber, yet the molecular mechanisms by which they act are different. Stall is required to establish BM heterogeneity by locally limiting Collagen IV protein density, whereas AdamTS-A alters the micropattern of fiber-like structures within the BM at the posterior pole. Our results suggest that AdamTS proteases control BM heterogeneity required for organ shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Töpfer
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Jinhee Ryu
- School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Karla Yanín Guerra Santillán
- School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jana Schulze
- School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany; Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Guy Tanentzapf
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Christian Dahmann
- School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany.
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5
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Pani AM. Organogenesis: How active forces maintain integrity of migrating cells under pressure. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R693-R696. [PMID: 39043144 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Cells experience dynamic internal and external forces during animal development. Two new studies reveal critical and unexpected roles for cytoskeletal regulators and nuclear positioning in maintaining the physical integrity of migrating leader cells during Caenorhabditis elegans organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel M Pani
- Departments of Biology and Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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6
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Mo A, Liang Y, Cao X, Jiang J, Liu Y, Cao X, Qiu Y, He D. Polymer chain extenders induce significant toxicity through DAF-16 and SKN-1 pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans: A comparative analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 473:134730. [PMID: 38797076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Polymer chain extenders, commonly used in plastic production, have garnered increasing attention due to their potential environmental impacts. However, a comprehensive understanding of their ecological risks remains largely unknown. In this study, we employed the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate toxicological profiles of ten commonly-used chain extenders. Exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of these chain extenders (ranging from 0.1 µg L-1 to 10 mg L-1) caused significant variations in toxicity. Lethality assays demonstrated the LC50 values ranged from 92.42 µg L-1 to 1553.65 mg L-1, indicating marked differences in acute toxicity. Sublethal exposures could inhibit nematodes' growth, shorten lifespan, and induce locomotor deficits, neuronal damage, and reproductive toxicity. Molecular analyses further elucidated the involvement of the DAF-16 and SKN-1 signaling pathways, as evidenced by upregulated expression of genes including ctl-1,2,3, sod-3, gcs-1, and gst-4. It implicates these pathways in mediating oxidative stress and toxicities induced by chain extenders. Particularly, hexamethylene diisocyanate and diallyl maleate exhibited markedly high toxicity among the chain extenders, as revealed through a comparative analysis of multiple endpoints. These findings demonstrate the potential ecotoxicological risks of polymer chain extenders, and suggest the need for more rigorous environmental safety assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoyun Mo
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuqing Liang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xiaomu Cao
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yan Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xuelong Cao
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuping Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Defu He
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Technology Innovation Center for Land Spatial Eco-restoration in Metropolitan Area, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai 200062, China.
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7
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Nelson KA, Lenhart KF, Anllo L, DiNardo S. The Drosophila hematopoietic niche assembles through collective cell migration controlled by neighbor tissues and Slit-Robo signaling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.21.600069. [PMID: 38979182 PMCID: PMC11230208 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.21.600069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Niches are often found in specific positions in tissues relative to the stem cells they support. Consistency of niche position suggests that placement is important for niche function. However, the complexity of most niches has precluded a thorough understanding of how their proper placement is established. To address this, we investigated the formation of a genetically tractable niche, the Drosophila Posterior Signaling Center (PSC), the assembly of which had not been previously explored. This niche controls hematopoietic progenitors of the lymph gland (LG). PSC cells were previously shown to be specified laterally in the embryo, but ultimately reside dorsally, at the LG posterior. Here, using live-imaging, we show that PSC cells migrate as a tight collective and associate with multiple tissues during their trajectory to the LG posterior. We find that Slit emanating from two extrinsic sources, visceral mesoderm and cardioblasts, is required for the PSC to remain a collective, and for its attachment to cardioblasts during migration. Without proper Slit-Robo signaling, PSC cells disperse, form aberrant contacts, and ultimately fail to reach their stereotypical position near progenitors. Our work characterizes a novel example of niche formation and identifies an extrinsic signaling relay that controls precise niche positioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara A Nelson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Kari F Lenhart
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, 3245 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Lauren Anllo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Stephen DiNardo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
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8
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Agarwal P, Berger S, Shemesh T, Zaidel-Bar R. Active nuclear positioning and actomyosin contractility maintain leader cell integrity during gonadogenesis. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2373-2386.e5. [PMID: 38776903 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Proper distribution of organelles can play an important role in a moving cell's performance. During C. elegans gonad morphogenesis, the nucleus of the leading distal tip cell (DTC) is always found at the front, yet the significance of this localization is unknown. Here, we identified the molecular mechanism that keeps the nucleus at the front, despite a frictional force that pushes it backward. The Klarsicht/ANC-1/Syne homology (KASH) domain protein UNC-83 links the nucleus to the motor protein kinesin-1 that moves along a polarized acentrosomal microtubule network. Interestingly, disrupting nuclear positioning on its own did not affect gonad morphogenesis. However, reducing actomyosin contractility on top of nuclear mispositioning led to a dramatic phenotype: DTC splitting and gonad bifurcation. Long-term live imaging of the double knockdown revealed that, while the gonad attempted to perform a planned U-turn, the DTC was stretched due to the lagging nucleus until it fragmented into a nucleated cell and an enucleated cytoplast, each leading an independent gonadal arm. Remarkably, the enucleated cytoplast had polarity and invaded, but it could only temporarily support germ cell proliferation. Based on a qualitative biophysical model, we conclude that the leader cell employs two complementary mechanical approaches to preserve its integrity and ensure proper organ morphogenesis while navigating through a complex 3D environment: active nuclear positioning by microtubule motors and actomyosin-driven cortical contractility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priti Agarwal
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
| | - Simon Berger
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tom Shemesh
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Ronen Zaidel-Bar
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
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9
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Singh N, Zhang P, Li KJ, Gordon KL. The Rac pathway prevents cell fragmentation in a nonprotrusively migrating leader cell during C. elegans gonad organogenesis. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2387-2402.e5. [PMID: 38776905 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The C. elegans hermaphrodite distal tip cell (DTC) leads gonadogenesis. Loss-of-function mutations in a C. elegans ortholog of the Rac1 GTPase (ced-10) and its GEF complex (ced-5/DOCK180, ced-2/CrkII, ced-12/ELMO) cause gonad migration defects related to directional sensing; we discovered an additional defect class of gonad bifurcation in these mutants. Using genetic approaches, tissue-specific and whole-body RNAi, and in vivo imaging of endogenously tagged proteins and marked cells, we find that loss of Rac1 or its regulators causes the DTC to fragment as it migrates. Both products of fragmentation-the now-smaller DTC and the membranous patch of cellular material-localize important stem cell niche signaling (LAG-2 ligand) and migration (INA-1/integrin subunit alpha) factors to their membranes, but only one retains the DTC nucleus and therefore the ability to maintain gene expression over time. The enucleate patch can lead a bifurcating branch off the gonad arm that grows through germ cell proliferation. Germ cells in this branch differentiate as the patch loses LAG-2 expression. While the nucleus is surprisingly dispensable for aspects of leader cell function, it is required for stem cell niche activity long term. Prior work found that Rac1-/-;Rac2-/- mouse erythrocytes fragment; in this context, our new findings support the conclusion that maintaining a cohesive but deformable cell is a conserved function of this important cytoskeletal regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Singh
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Pu Zhang
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Karen Jian Li
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kacy Lynn Gordon
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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10
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Boutillon A, Banavar SP, Campàs O. Conserved physical mechanisms of cell and tissue elongation. Development 2024; 151:dev202687. [PMID: 38767601 PMCID: PMC11190436 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Living organisms have the ability to self-shape into complex structures appropriate for their function. The genetic and molecular mechanisms that enable cells to do this have been extensively studied in several model and non-model organisms. In contrast, the physical mechanisms that shape cells and tissues have only recently started to emerge, in part thanks to new quantitative in vivo measurements of the physical quantities guiding morphogenesis. These data, combined with indirect inferences of physical characteristics, are starting to reveal similarities in the physical mechanisms underlying morphogenesis across different organisms. Here, we review how physics contributes to shape cells and tissues in a simple, yet ubiquitous, morphogenetic transformation: elongation. Drawing from observed similarities across species, we propose the existence of conserved physical mechanisms of morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Boutillon
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Samhita P. Banavar
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Otger Campàs
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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11
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Yu P, Li Y, Fang W, Feng XQ, Li B. Mechanochemical dynamics of collective cells and hierarchical topological defects in multicellular lumens. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn0172. [PMID: 38691595 PMCID: PMC11062584 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn0172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Collective cell dynamics is essential for tissue morphogenesis and various biological functions. However, it remains incompletely understood how mechanical forces and chemical signaling are integrated to direct collective cell behaviors underlying tissue morphogenesis. Here, we propose a three-dimensional (3D) mechanochemical theory accounting for biochemical reaction-diffusion and cellular mechanotransduction to investigate the dynamics of multicellular lumens. We show that the interplay between biochemical signaling and mechanics can trigger either pitchfork or Hopf bifurcation to induce diverse static mechanochemical patterns or generate oscillations with multiple modes both involving marked mechanical deformations in lumens. We uncover the crucial role of mechanochemical feedback in emerging morphodynamics and identify the evolution and morphogenetic functions of hierarchical topological defects including cell-level hexatic defects and tissue-level orientational defects. Our theory captures the common mechanochemical traits of collective dynamics observed in experiments and could provide a mechanistic context for understanding morphological symmetry breaking in 3D lumen-like tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Yu
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yue Li
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wei Fang
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xi-Qiao Feng
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bo Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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12
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Crossley RM, Johnson S, Tsingos E, Bell Z, Berardi M, Botticelli M, Braat QJS, Metzcar J, Ruscone M, Yin Y, Shuttleworth R. Modeling the extracellular matrix in cell migration and morphogenesis: a guide for the curious biologist. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1354132. [PMID: 38495620 PMCID: PMC10940354 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1354132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a highly complex structure through which biochemical and mechanical signals are transmitted. In processes of cell migration, the ECM also acts as a scaffold, providing structural support to cells as well as points of potential attachment. Although the ECM is a well-studied structure, its role in many biological processes remains difficult to investigate comprehensively due to its complexity and structural variation within an organism. In tandem with experiments, mathematical models are helpful in refining and testing hypotheses, generating predictions, and exploring conditions outside the scope of experiments. Such models can be combined and calibrated with in vivo and in vitro data to identify critical cell-ECM interactions that drive developmental and homeostatic processes, or the progression of diseases. In this review, we focus on mathematical and computational models of the ECM in processes such as cell migration including cancer metastasis, and in tissue structure and morphogenesis. By highlighting the predictive power of these models, we aim to help bridge the gap between experimental and computational approaches to studying the ECM and to provide guidance on selecting an appropriate model framework to complement corresponding experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. Crossley
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Johnson
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Erika Tsingos
- Computational Developmental Biology Group, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Zoe Bell
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Massimiliano Berardi
- LaserLab, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Optics11 life, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Quirine J. S. Braat
- Department of Applied Physics and Science Education, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - John Metzcar
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Department of Informatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | | | - Yuan Yin
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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13
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Wang Z. Caenorhabditis elegans as an In Vivo Model Organism to Elucidate Teratogenic Effects. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2753:283-306. [PMID: 38285345 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3625-1_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Exogenous teratogens contribute to approximately 10% of the human abnormality with exposure occurrence during the prenatal and fetal period. However, the assessment methods and underlying mechanism remain unclear. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been recognized as one of the ideal model animals for toxicologic research as convenient culture, low cost, and complete phenotypes and genomic profiling. This chapter describes the protocols about the estimations on the teratogenic effects using nematodes as model organisms, including the growth, development, behavior, reproduction, energy balance, and transgenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenglu Wang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
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14
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Singh N, Jian Li K, Lynn Gordon K. Getting there in one piece: The Rac pathway prevents cell fragmentation in a nonprotrusively migrating leader cell during organogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.01.569642. [PMID: 38106045 PMCID: PMC10723291 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.01.569642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The C. elegans hermaphrodite distal tip cell (DTC) leads gonadogenesis. Loss-of-function mutations in a C. elegans ortholog of the Rac1 GTPase (ced-10) and its GEF complex (ced-5/DOCK180, ced-2/CrkII, ced-12/ELMO) cause gonad migration defects related to directional sensing; we discovered an additional defect class of gonad bifurcation in these mutants. Using genetic approaches, tissue-specific and whole-body RNAi, and in vivo imaging of endogenously tagged proteins and marked cells, we find that loss of Rac1 or its regulators causes the DTC to fragment as it migrates. Both products of fragmentation-the now-smaller DTC and the membranous patch of cellular material-localize important stem cell niche signaling (LAG-2/DSL ligand) and migration (INA-1/integrin subunit alpha) factors to their membranes, but only one retains the DTC nucleus and therefore the ability to maintain gene expression over time. The enucleate patch can lead a bifurcating branch off the gonad arm that grows through germ cell proliferation. Germ cells in this branch differentiate as the patch loses LAG-2 expression. While the nucleus is surprisingly dispensable for aspects of leader cell function, it is required for stem cell niche activity long-term. Prior work found that Rac1-/-;Rac2-/- mouse erythrocytes fragment; in this context, our new findings support the conclusion that maintaining a cohesive but deformable cell is a conserved function of this important cytoskeletal regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Singh
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Karen Jian Li
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Kacy Lynn Gordon
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
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Agarwal P, Cadart C, Fort L, Gahan J, Greenspan L, Juan T, Kameneva P, Miao Y. Pathway to Independence: the future of developmental biology. Development 2023; 150:dev202360. [PMID: 37812057 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
In 2022, Development launched its Pathway to Independence (PI) Programme, aimed at supporting postdocs as they transition to their first independent position. We selected eight talented researchers as the first cohort of PI Fellows. In this article, each of our Fellows provides their perspective on the future of their field. Together, they paint an exciting picture of the current state of and open questions in developmental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priti Agarwal
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Clotilde Cadart
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Loic Fort
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 465 21st Avenue South, U 3200 MRB III, Nashville, TN 37240-7935, USA
| | - James Gahan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Leah Greenspan
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Thomas Juan
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, D-61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Polina Kameneva
- The Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yuchuan Miao
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School and Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Pathway to Independence - an interview with Priti Agarwal. Development 2023; 150:dev202328. [PMID: 37746870 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Priti Agarwal is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Ronen Zaidel-Bar's lab (Tel Aviv University, Israel) interested in deciphering the mechanical regulation of organogenesis. Priti is one of the cohort of Development's first Pathway to Independence Programme Fellows, which aims to support postdocs in obtaining their first faculty position. We met with Priti over Teams to learn more about her career using the Caenorhabditis elegans gonad as a model system and the future of her research as she seeks an independent position.
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Abstract
The basement membrane (BM) is a thin, planar-organized extracellular matrix that underlies epithelia and surrounds most organs. During development, the BM is highly dynamic and simultaneously provides mechanical properties that stabilize tissue structure and shape organs. Moreover, it is important for cell polarity, cell migration, and cell signaling. Thereby BM diverges regarding molecular composition, structure, and modes of assembly. Different BM organization leads to various physical features. The mechanisms that regulate BM composition and structure and how this affects mechanical properties are not fully understood. Recent studies show that precise control of BM deposition or degradation can result in BMs with locally different protein densities, compositions, thicknesses, or polarization. Such heterogeneous matrices can induce temporospatial force anisotropy and enable tissue sculpting. In this Review, I address recent findings that provide new perspectives on the role of the BM in morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Töpfer
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, V6T 1Z3
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Tan CH, Cheng KW, Park H, Chou TF, Sternberg PW. LINKIN-associated proteins necessary for tissue integrity during collective cell migration. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.08.527750. [PMID: 36798316 PMCID: PMC9934607 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.08.527750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cell adhesion plays essential roles in almost every aspect of metazoan biology. LINKIN (Human: ITFG1, Caenorhabditis elegans: lnkn-1) is a conserved transmembrane protein that has been identified to be necessary for tissue integrity during migration. In C. elegans, loss of lnkn-1 results in the detachment of the lead migratory cell from the rest of the developing male gonad. Previously, three interactors of ITFG1/lnkn-1 - RUVBL1/ruvb-1, RUVBL2/ruvb-2, and alpha-tubulin - were identified by immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS) analysis using human HEK293T cells and then validated in the nematode male gonad. The ITFG1-RUVBL1 interaction has since been independently validated in a breast cancer cell line model that also implicates the involvement of the pair in metastasis. Here, we showed that epitope-tagged ITFG1 localized to the cell surface of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Using IP-MS analysis, we identified a new list of potential interactors of ITFG1. Loss-of-function analysis of their C. elegans orthologs found that three of the interactors - ATP9A/tat-5, NME1/ndk-1, and ANAPC2/apc-2 - displayed migratory detachment phenotypes similar to that of lnkn-1. Taken together with the other genes whose reduction-of-function phenotype is similar to that of lnkn-1 (notably cohesion and condensin), suggests the involvement of membrane remodeling and chromosome biology in LINKIN-dependent cell adhesion and supports the hypothesis for a structural role of chromosomes in post-mitotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-Hsiang Tan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology
| | - Kai-Wen Cheng
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology
| | - Heenam Park
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology
| | - Tsui-Fen Chou
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology
| | - Paul W. Sternberg
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology
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Cram EJ. Worm development: Push not pull in gonad morphogenesis. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R1007-R1009. [PMID: 36220086 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
How does tissue elongation occur? A recent paper identifies a new mechanism: elongation of the Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite gonad is driven by pressure from proliferating germ cells confined within a tube. The distal tip cell, which caps the tube, remodels the extracellular matrix and adjusts cell-matrix adhesion to guide the way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin J Cram
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
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