11 Axis Formation
11 Axis Formation
11 Axis Formation
Formation
Body axes
anteroposterior axis
dorsoventral axis
left-right axis
proximodistal axis
apical-basal axis
Planes of
symmetry
sagittal
divides body into L
&R
transverse
ventral
superior
dorsal/
posterior
ventral/
anterior
inferior
How are axes
formed?
aboral
oral
Oral-aboral axis
respiratory
asymmetry (redox
gradient)
density and/or
activity of
mitochondria in egg
Coffman JA, McCarthy JJ, Dickey-Sims C, Robertson AJ. 2004. Oral-aboral axis
specification in the sea urchin embryo II. Mitochondrial distribution and redox
state contribute to establishing polarity in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.
Dev Biol. 273(1):160-71.
suppress nodal
expression
Antero-posterior
axis
morphogenetic
gradients (maternal
effect genes)
Bicoid, Hunchback,
from cytoplasm to
activation of snail
and twist
maternal effect
gene proteins make
certain that Dorsal
gets into nucleus of
oocyte nucleus
induces overlying
follicle cells ->
dorsalization
gurken gene
Antero-posterior
axis
position of sperm
pronucelus in the
oocyte
migration of P-
AB cell
cells slide -> AB &
a
ABp
AB lies on top of EMS
p
Me and the
others!
symmetry-breaking
process
establishes critical
embryonic signaling
center
Nieuwkoop center
created by cortical
rotation during
fertilization
opposite the site of
sperm entry
fish and amphibians
Glycogen synthase kinase
directs the
development of
surrounding tissues by
acting as source of
inductive signals
Roles of organizer
initiates cell
movements of
grastrulation
forms anterior
overlying ectoderm
into neural ectoderm
confers
anteroposterior
positional information
on mesoderm and
endoderm
controlling pattern
asymmetric signaling
and gene expression
in the organizer plays
important role in L-R
asymmetry
forms the
chodoneural hinge
(caudal eminence)
and lays down the
notochord and neural
tube of the tail
Xenopus Nodal-
related-3
Ventralizing
factor
BMP4 may elicit the
expression of different genes
in a concentration-dependent
fashion; in that way, the
mesoderm could be patterned.
BMP4 is expressed
throughout the marginal zone
(prospective mesoderm)
except in the dorsal domain.
Noggin and Chordin are
expressed in the dorsal
domain. These proteins bind
to BMP4 and prevent it from
reaching the mesodermal
cells. In the regions of noggin
and chordin expression,
BMP4 is totally prevented
from binding, and these
tissues become notochord
(organizer) tissue. Slightly
farther away from the
organizer, myf5, a marker for
the dorsolateral muscles, is
activated. As more and more
BMP4 molecules are allowed
to bind to the cells, Xvent2
(ventrolateral) and Xvent1
(ventral) genes become
expressed.
What is the
amphibians' major
organizer?
L-R axis
specification
Xnr-1 => left side
requires Vg 1 to be
expressed
affects pitx2
center
initiates the Hensen's
node
•Gastrulation
•chordamesoderm
•second embryonic axis
dorso-ventral axis is
specified by difference
in pH
subgerminal cavity =
6.5, + membrane
potential
L-R axis regulated by:
Nodal (paracrine
factor)
Pitx2 (transcription
factor)
begins with
Mammalian signalling
centers
anterior visceral
mesoderm
node = organizer
Hox code
hypothesis
A-P polarity is
specified by the
expression of Hox
genes
homologues of
homeotic genes in
dorso-ventral axis is
defined by the
embryonic -aembryonic
axis of the blastocyst
ICM w/ trophoblast =
dorsal (aembryonic)
Relationship between the animal-vegetal axis of the egg and the
embryonic-abembryonic axis of the blastocyst. The polar body marks the
animal pole of the embryo. The dorsal-ventral axis of the embryo appears
to form at right angles to the animal-vegetal axis of the egg.
L-R axis regulated by:
situs inversus
viscerum - iv (organ
level)
inversion of