Molecular and Mechanical Cues for Somite Periodicity
Somitogenesis refers to the segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm, a tissue located on the back of the embryo, into regularly spaced and sized pieces, i.e., the somites. This periodicity is important to assure, for example, the formation of a functional vertebral column. Prevailing models of somitog...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.753446/full |
| _version_ | 1818843765338537984 |
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| author | Marta Linde-Medina Theodoor H. Smit Theodoor H. Smit |
| author_facet | Marta Linde-Medina Theodoor H. Smit Theodoor H. Smit |
| author_sort | Marta Linde-Medina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Somitogenesis refers to the segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm, a tissue located on the back of the embryo, into regularly spaced and sized pieces, i.e., the somites. This periodicity is important to assure, for example, the formation of a functional vertebral column. Prevailing models of somitogenesis are based on the existence of a gene regulatory network capable of generating a striped pattern of gene expression, which is subsequently translated into periodic tissue boundaries. An alternative view is that the pre-pattern that guides somitogenesis is not chemical, but of a mechanical origin. A striped pattern of mechanical strain can be formed in physically connected tissues expanding at different rates, as it occurs in the embryo. Here we argue that both molecular and mechanical cues could drive somite periodicity and suggest how they could be integrated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:03:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9bce30adbe48427696e0476aa886ce0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-634X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:03:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9bce30adbe48427696e0476aa886ce0c2022-12-21T20:35:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2021-11-01910.3389/fcell.2021.753446753446Molecular and Mechanical Cues for Somite PeriodicityMarta Linde-Medina0Theodoor H. Smit1Theodoor H. Smit2Independent Researcher, Palma, SpainDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, NetherlandsSomitogenesis refers to the segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm, a tissue located on the back of the embryo, into regularly spaced and sized pieces, i.e., the somites. This periodicity is important to assure, for example, the formation of a functional vertebral column. Prevailing models of somitogenesis are based on the existence of a gene regulatory network capable of generating a striped pattern of gene expression, which is subsequently translated into periodic tissue boundaries. An alternative view is that the pre-pattern that guides somitogenesis is not chemical, but of a mechanical origin. A striped pattern of mechanical strain can be formed in physically connected tissues expanding at different rates, as it occurs in the embryo. Here we argue that both molecular and mechanical cues could drive somite periodicity and suggest how they could be integrated.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.753446/fullclock and wavefrontdifferential strainscalingsomitogenesisvertebral column |
| spellingShingle | Marta Linde-Medina Theodoor H. Smit Theodoor H. Smit Molecular and Mechanical Cues for Somite Periodicity Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology clock and wavefront differential strain scaling somitogenesis vertebral column |
| title | Molecular and Mechanical Cues for Somite Periodicity |
| title_full | Molecular and Mechanical Cues for Somite Periodicity |
| title_fullStr | Molecular and Mechanical Cues for Somite Periodicity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular and Mechanical Cues for Somite Periodicity |
| title_short | Molecular and Mechanical Cues for Somite Periodicity |
| title_sort | molecular and mechanical cues for somite periodicity |
| topic | clock and wavefront differential strain scaling somitogenesis vertebral column |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.753446/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT martalindemedina molecularandmechanicalcuesforsomiteperiodicity AT theodoorhsmit molecularandmechanicalcuesforsomiteperiodicity AT theodoorhsmit molecularandmechanicalcuesforsomiteperiodicity |