Cell competition corrects noisy Wnt morphogen gradients to achieve robust patterning in the zebrafish embryo

Yuki Akieda, Shohei Ogamino, Hironobu Furuie, Shizuka Ishitani, Ryutaro Akiyoshi, Jumpei Nogami, Takamasa Masuda, Nobuyuki Shimizu, Yasuyuki Ohkawa and Tohru Ishitani ()
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Yuki Akieda: Gunma University
Shohei Ogamino: Gunma University
Hironobu Furuie: Kyushu University
Shizuka Ishitani: Gunma University
Ryutaro Akiyoshi: Research and Development, Olympus Corp.
Jumpei Nogami: Kyushu University
Takamasa Masuda: Kyushu University
Nobuyuki Shimizu: Kyushu University
Yasuyuki Ohkawa: Kyushu University
Tohru Ishitani: Gunma University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract Morphogen signalling forms an activity gradient and instructs cell identities in a signalling strength-dependent manner to pattern developing tissues. However, developing tissues also undergo dynamic morphogenesis, which may produce cells with unfit morphogen signalling and consequent noisy morphogen gradients. Here we show that a cell competition-related system corrects such noisy morphogen gradients. Zebrafish imaging analyses of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling gradient, which acts as a morphogen to establish embryonic anterior-posterior patterning, identify that unfit cells with abnormal Wnt/β-catenin activity spontaneously appear and produce noise in the gradient. Communication between unfit and neighbouring fit cells via cadherin proteins stimulates apoptosis of the unfit cells by activating Smad signalling and reactive oxygen species production. This unfit cell elimination is required for proper Wnt/β-catenin gradient formation and consequent anterior-posterior patterning. Because this gradient controls patterning not only in the embryo but also in adult tissues, this system may support tissue robustness and disease prevention.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12609-4

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