Constructing the pharyngula: connecting the primary axial tissues of the head with the posterior axial tissues of the tail

Cells Dev, 2023 · DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2023.203866 · Published: December 1, 2023

Simple Explanation

Vertebrate development involves distinct processes for head and tail formation, integrated seamlessly in the pharyngula stage. The pharyngula stage is preceded by two morphogenetic events: gastrulation and neurulation. The primary axis, forming the anterior body, is patterned during gastrulation, while the posterior axis, generating the caudal trunk and tail, arises from a progenitor cell population. A transition zone exists where primary and posterior mechanisms overlap, critical for understanding neural tube defects and stem cell origins in organoid models.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Anterior and posterior dorsal tissues in vertebrates are generated through at least two processes that differ in both patterning and morphogenesis.
2
The mesoderm and neural tissues of the posterior axis are generated from a progenitor cell population that gives rise to the caudal-most trunk and tail.
3
A transition zone in dorsal tissue formation, containing characteristics of both primary and posterior processes, leads to the stereotypic arrangement of axial structures.

Research Summary

The pharyngula stage in vertebrate development presents a seemingly uniform architecture, despite diverse cranial structures and epithelial appendages being generated. Primary axial tissues develop through Hox gene paralog groups 1–8, while posterior axial tissues develop through Hox gene paralog groups 9–13. Neural tube development highlights the divergence between primary and posterior mechanisms of dorsal tissue formation, with distinct molecular characteristics.

Practical Implications

Understanding Birth Defects

A working knowledge of the integration of primary and posterior processes during the transition stage is critical to understanding the origin of neural tube and structural birth defects.

Organoid Culture

Understanding the transition stage is important for the origin and axial identity of stem cell progenitors in human organoid model systems.

Regeneration Research

Insights from junctional transition could provide insight into a variety of areas, including tail bud regeneration and NMP research.

Study Limitations

1
Limited understanding of the morphogenetic movements of posterior neurulation.
2
Scarcity of single cell sequencing and transcriptomics data spanning the transitionary stages.
3
Challenges in separating the regulatory networks that influence the development of posterior axial tissues from those responsible for primary axial tissues.

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