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Alvarez YD, van der Spuy M, Wang JX, Noordstra I, Tan SZ, Carroll M, Yap AS, Serralbo O, White MD. A Lifeact-EGFP quail for studying actin dynamics in vivo. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202404066. [PMID: 38913324 PMCID: PMC11194674 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202404066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Here, we report the generation of a transgenic Lifeact-EGFP quail line for the investigation of actin organization and dynamics during morphogenesis in vivo. This transgenic avian line allows for the high-resolution visualization of actin structures within the living embryo, from the subcellular filaments that guide cell shape to the supracellular assemblies that coordinate movements across tissues. The unique suitability of avian embryos to live imaging facilitates the investigation of previously intractable processes during embryogenesis. Using high-resolution live imaging approaches, we present the dynamic behaviors and morphologies of cellular protrusions in different tissue contexts. Furthermore, through the integration of live imaging with computational segmentation, we visualize cells undergoing apical constriction and large-scale actin structures such as multicellular rosettes within the neuroepithelium. These findings not only enhance our understanding of tissue morphogenesis but also demonstrate the utility of the Lifeact-EGFP transgenic quail as a new model system for live in vivo investigations of the actin cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanina D. Alvarez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Marise van der Spuy
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jian Xiong Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ivar Noordstra
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Siew Zhuan Tan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Murron Carroll
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Alpha S. Yap
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Olivier Serralbo
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO) Health and Biosecurity, Geelong, Australia
| | - Melanie D. White
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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2
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Li M, Sun H, Hou Z, Hao S, Jin L, Wang B. Engineering the Physical Microenvironment into Neural Organoids for Neurogenesis and Neurodevelopment. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2306451. [PMID: 37771182 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the signals from the physical microenvironment is critical for deciphering the processes of neurogenesis and neurodevelopment. The discovery of how surrounding physical signals shape human developing neurons is hindered by the bottleneck of conventional cell culture and animal models. Notwithstanding neural organoids provide a promising platform for recapitulating human neurogenesis and neurodevelopment, building neuronal physical microenvironment that accurately mimics the native neurophysical features is largely ignored in current organoid technologies. Here, it is discussed how the physical microenvironment modulates critical events during the periods of neurogenesis and neurodevelopment, such as neural stem cell fates, neural tube closure, neuronal migration, axonal guidance, optic cup formation, and cortical folding. Although animal models are widely used to investigate the impacts of physical factors on neurodevelopment and neuropathy, the important roles of human stem cell-derived neural organoids in this field are particularly highlighted. Considering the great promise of human organoids, building neural organoid microenvironments with mechanical forces, electrophysiological microsystems, and light manipulation will help to fully understand the physical cues in neurodevelopmental processes. Neural organoids combined with cutting-edge techniques, such as advanced atomic force microscopes, microrobots, and structural color biomaterials might promote the development of neural organoid-based research and neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Heng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Zongkun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Biology and Engineering/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Shilei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Liang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Bochu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
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Matsuda M, Rozman J, Ostvar S, Kasza KE, Sokol SY. Mechanical control of neural plate folding by apical domain alteration. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8475. [PMID: 38123550 PMCID: PMC10733383 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43973-x] [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] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate neural tube closure is associated with complex changes in cell shape and behavior, however, the relative contribution of these processes to tissue folding is not well understood. At the onset of Xenopus neural tube folding, we observed alternation of apically constricted and apically expanded cells. This apical domain heterogeneity was accompanied by biased cell orientation along the anteroposterior axis, especially at neural plate hinges, and required planar cell polarity signaling. Vertex models suggested that dispersed isotropically constricting cells can cause the elongation of adjacent cells. Consistently, in ectoderm, cell-autonomous apical constriction was accompanied by neighbor expansion. Thus, a subset of isotropically constricting cells may initiate neural plate bending, whereas a 'tug-of-war' contest between the force-generating and responding cells reduces its shrinking along the body axis. This mechanism is an alternative to anisotropic shrinking of cell junctions that are perpendicular to the body axis. We propose that apical domain changes reflect planar polarity-dependent mechanical forces operating during neural folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Matsuda
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jan Rozman
- Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sassan Ostvar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karen E Kasza
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sergei Y Sokol
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Marshall AR, Galea GL, Copp AJ, Greene NDE. The surface ectoderm exhibits spatially heterogenous tension that correlates with YAP localisation during spinal neural tube closure in mouse embryos. Cells Dev 2023; 174:203840. [PMID: 37068590 PMCID: PMC10618430 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2023.203840] [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] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
The single cell layer of surface ectoderm (SE) which overlies the closing neural tube (NT) plays a crucial biomechanical role during mammalian NT closure (NTC), challenging previous assumptions that it is only passive to the force-generating neuroepithelium (NE). Failure of NTC leads to congenital malformations known as NT defects (NTDs), including spina bifida (SB) and anencephaly in the spine and brain respectively. In several mouse NTD models, SB is caused by misexpression of SE-specific genes and is associated with disrupted SE mechanics, including loss of rostrocaudal cell elongation believed to be important for successful closure. In this study, we asked how SE mechanics affect NT morphology, and whether the characteristic rostrocaudal cell elongation at the progressing closure site is a response to tension anisotropy in the SE. We show that blocking SE-specific E-cadherin in ex utero mouse embryo culture influences NT morphology, as well as the F-actin cable. Cell border ablation shows that cell shape is not due to tension anisotropy, but that there are regional differences in SE tension. We also find that YAP nuclear translocation reflects regional tension heterogeneity, and that its expression is sensitive to pharmacological reduction of tension. In conclusion, our results confirm that the SE is a biomechanically important tissue for spinal NT morphogenesis and suggest a possible role of spatial regulation of cellular tension which could regulate downstream gene expression via mechanically-sensitive YAP activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail R Marshall
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
| | - Gabriel L Galea
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK
| | - Andrew J Copp
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK
| | - Nicholas D E Greene
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK
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The cellular dynamics of neural tube formation. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:343-352. [PMID: 36794768 PMCID: PMC9987952 DOI: 10.1042/bst20220871] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The vertebrate brain and spinal cord arise from a common precursor, the neural tube, which forms very early during embryonic development. To shape the forming neural tube, changes in cellular architecture must be tightly co-ordinated in space and time. Live imaging of different animal models has provided valuable insights into the cellular dynamics driving neural tube formation. The most well-characterised morphogenetic processes underlying this transformation are convergent extension and apical constriction, which elongate and bend the neural plate. Recent work has focused on understanding how these two processes are spatiotemporally integrated from the tissue- to the subcellular scale. Various mechanisms of neural tube closure have also been visualised, yielding a growing understanding of how cellular movements, junctional remodelling and interactions with the extracellular matrix promote fusion and zippering of the neural tube. Additionally, live imaging has also now revealed a mechanical role for apoptosis in neural plate bending, and how cell intercalation forms the lumen of the secondary neural tube. Here, we highlight the latest research on the cellular dynamics underlying neural tube formation and provide some perspectives for the future.
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Matsuda M, Rozman J, Ostvar S, Kasza KE, Sokol SY. Mechanical control of neural plate folding by apical domain alteration. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.10.528047. [PMID: 36798359 PMCID: PMC9934705 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.10.528047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Vertebrate neural tube closure is associated with complex changes in cell shape and behavior, however, the relative contribution of these processes to tissue folding is not well understood. In this study, we evaluated morphology of the superficial cell layer in the Xenopus neural plate. At the stages corresponding to the onset of tissue folding, we observed the alternation of cells with apically constricting and apically expanding apical domains. The cells had a biased orientation along the anteroposterior (AP) axis. This apical domain heterogeneity required planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling and was especially pronounced at neural plate hinges. Vertex model simulations suggested that spatially dispersed isotropically constricting cells cause the elongation of their non-constricting counterparts along the AP axis. Consistent with this hypothesis, cell-autonomous induction of apical constriction in Xenopus ectoderm cells was accompanied by the expansion of adjacent non-constricting cells. Our observations indicate that a subset of isotropically constricting cells can initiate neural plate bending, whereas a 'tug-of-war' contest between the force-generating and responding cells reduces its shrinking along the AP axis. This mechanism is an alternative to anisotropic shrinking of cell junctions that are perpendicular to the body axis. We propose that neural folding relies on PCP-dependent transduction of mechanical signals between neuroepithelial cells.
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Christodoulou N, Skourides PA. Somitic mesoderm morphogenesis is necessary for neural tube closure during Xenopus development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1091629. [PMID: 36699010 PMCID: PMC9868421 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1091629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tube closure is a fundamental process during vertebrate embryogenesis, which leads to the formation of the central nervous system. Defective neural tube closure leads to neural tube defects which are some of the most common human birth defects. While the intrinsic morphogenetic events shaping the neuroepithelium have been studied extensively, how tissues mechanically coupled with the neural plate influence neural tube closure remains poorly understood. Here, using Xenopus laevis embryos, live imaging in combination with loss of function experiments and morphometric analysis of fixed samples we explore the reciprocal mechanical communication between the neural plate and the somitic mesoderm and its impact on tissue morphogenesis. We show that although somitic mesoderm convergent extension occurs independently from neural plate morphogenesis neural tube closure depends on somitic mesoderm morphogenesis. Specifically, impaired somitic mesoderm remodelling results in defective apical constriction within the neuroepithelium and failure of neural tube closure. Last, our data reveal that mild abnormalities in somitic mesoderm and neural plate morphogenesis have a synergistic effect during neurulation, leading to severe neural tube closure defects. Overall, our data reveal that defective morphogenesis of tissues mechanically coupled with the neural plate can not only drastically exacerbate mild neural tube defects that may arise from abnormalities within the neural tissue but can also elicit neural tube defects even when the neural plate is itself free of inherent defects.
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