A single-cell atlas of pig gastrulation as a resource for comparative embryology.
Nat Commun
; 15(1): 5210, 2024 Jun 18.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38890321
ABSTRACT
Cell-fate decisions during mammalian gastrulation are poorly understood outside of rodent embryos. The embryonic disc of pig embryos mirrors humans, making them a useful proxy for studying gastrulation. Here we present a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of pig gastrulation, revealing cell-fate emergence dynamics, as well as conserved and divergent gene programs governing early porcine, primate, and murine development. We highlight heterochronicity in extraembryonic cell-types, despite the broad conservation of cell-type-specific transcriptional programs. We apply these findings in combination with functional investigations, to outline conserved spatial, molecular, and temporal events during definitive endoderm specification. We find early FOXA2 + /TBXT- embryonic disc cells directly form definitive endoderm, contrasting later-emerging FOXA2/TBXT+ node/notochord progenitors. Unlike mesoderm, none of these progenitors undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Endoderm/Node fate hinges on balanced WNT and hypoblast-derived NODAL, which is extinguished upon endodermal differentiation. These findings emphasise the interplay between temporal and topological signalling in fate determination during gastrulation.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
/
Embryo, Mammalian
/
Endoderm
/
Gastrulation
/
Single-Cell Analysis
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom