Stochastic gene expression and environmental stressors trigger variable somite segmentation phenotypes.
Nat Commun
; 14(1): 6497, 2023 10 14.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37838784
ABSTRACT
Mutations of several genes cause incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity of phenotypes, which are usually attributed to modifier genes or gene-environment interactions. Here, we show stochastic gene expression underlies the variability of somite segmentation defects in embryos mutant for segmentation clock genes her1 or her7. Phenotypic strength is further augmented by low temperature and hypoxia. By performing live imaging of the segmentation clock reporters, we further show that groups of cells with higher oscillation amplitudes successfully form somites while those with lower amplitudes fail to do so. In unfavorable environments, the number of cycles with high amplitude oscillations and the number of successful segmentations proportionally decrease. These results suggest that individual oscillation cycles stochastically fail to pass a threshold amplitude, resulting in segmentation defects in mutants. Our quantitative methodology is adaptable to investigate variable phenotypes of mutant genes in different tissues.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Pez Cebra
/
Factores de Transcripción con Motivo Hélice-Asa-Hélice Básico
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nat Commun
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos