Formation of the neural plate and neurulation Flashcards
Which organism was it first indicated how the neurogenic region arose?
Drosophila
What is cell differentiation?
Process in which cells become different to each other and acquire specialised fates
How does differentiation occur?
By CHANGES in the gene expression in a cell, which dictate the repertoire of protein synthesise - determines shape, function and behaviour
What is gene expression governed by?
Extrinsic factors (morphogens) and intrinsic factors (transcription factors) which determine if a particular TF is expressed in the cell - can bind to enhancers/promotors
What happens to cell fate and potency as a cell differentiates
Potency decreases - cell gets more committed to cell fate
What is the homologue of BMP7 in drosophila?
Screw
What is the homologue of BMP4 in drosophila?
dpp (decapentaplergic)
What is the homologue of chordin in drosophila?
sog (short gastrulation)
What is the function of chordin and what type of protein is it?
Secreted factor which prevents BMP signalling
What type of molecules are BMPs?
Secreted molecules
When does neurogenic fate occur?
When BMP/dpp signalling is in inhibited - by chordin/sog
Originally, all cells have BMP signalling
What happens when BMP/dpp binds to a receptor?
1) Phosphorylation of SMAD
2) Phosphorylated SMAD can enter the nucleus - as a key part of the transcription machinery
3) Dictates if a gene is transcribed
How does chordin/sog prevent BMP/dpp signalling?
- Mop up the BMP/dpp (act as ‘sponges’)
OR - By competitive inhibition
Where is chordin/sog expressed in invertebrates and vertebrate and why?
Vertebrates - Dorsal side
Invertebrates - Ventral side
Where chordin/sog is expressed, BMP/dpp signalling is inhibited and a neural fate is induced
Why does the nervous system of the vertebrates lie dorsally?
Vertebrates and invertebrates developed from the same common ancestor, but as vertebrates develop, their head twisted
What is the molecular pathway for the development of epidermal cells?
(in a blastoderm??)
1) Ectodermal cell - BMP signalling pathway, induced by BMP release from neighbouring cells.
Releases BMP also.
2) BMP signalling - Phosphorylate SMAD (High SMAD 1)
3) Switch on TFs which dictate epidermal fate - MSX1, GATA1 and vent
4) These TFs act in an autonomous manner, switching on higher level TF LEF1
5) LEF1 commits cells to skin epidermal fate by restricting potency over time
What is the molecular pathway for the development of neurogenic cells?
(in a blastoderm??)
1) BMP signalling is prevented in these cells by chordin
2) A different SMAD is phosphorylated (High SMAD 7)
3) Upregulates a set of TF (Sox TF)
4) Autonomously upregulate NEUROGENIN
5) Autonomously upregulate NeruoD which commits the cell to neural differentiation
What are the levels of SMAD 1 and 7 in cells that have BMP signalling?
High SMAD 1, low SMAD 7
What are the levels of SMAD 1 and 7 in cells that DON’T have BMP signalling?
Low SMAD 1, high SMAD 7
What is neurulation?
The folding up of the neural plate to form the neural tube
What is caused if the neural tube doesn’t close properly in development?
Spinal bifida
Where did the understanding of the neural plate and neurulation come from
Studies in Xenopus
How do we know that the 3 germ layers in the early stages of Xenopus development, are different to each other?
Using in situ hybridisation, can see that the 3 layers express different transcription factors and proteins
How is the neural plate established in the xenopus?
1) After fertilisation - 3 germ layers form
2) Subset of cells in the mesoderm start to become specialised - called the ‘organiser’
3) The organiser expresses specialised TF (siamois and goosegoid)
4) TF act in an autonomous manner - upregulate transcription of chordin, noggin, follistatin
6) These TFs diffuse into the immediate ectoderm (directly next to the organiser) and antagonise BMP signalling
7) This part of the ectoderm no longer has active BMP signalling and therefore becomes the future CNS (neural plate)
What is the ‘organiser’ called in humans and chicks?
The node