β-catenin-driven endomesoderm specification is a Bilateria-specific novelty

Tatiana Lebedeva, Johan Boström, Stanislav Kremnyov, David Mörsdorf, Isabell Niedermoser, Evgeny Genikhovich, Andreas Hejnol, Igor Adameyko and Grigory Genikhovich ()
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Tatiana Lebedeva: University of Vienna
Johan Boström: Medical University of Vienna
Stanislav Kremnyov: Friedrich Schiller University Jena
David Mörsdorf: University of Vienna
Isabell Niedermoser: University of Vienna
Evgeny Genikhovich: Engelsa pr. 40-6
Andreas Hejnol: Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Igor Adameyko: Medical University of Vienna
Grigory Genikhovich: University of Vienna

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Endomesoderm specification by a maternal β-catenin signal and body axis patterning by interpreting a gradient of zygotic Wnt/β-catenin signalling was suggested to predate the split between Bilateria and their sister clade Cnidaria. However, in Cnidaria, the roles of β-catenin signalling in these processes have not been demonstrated directly. Here, by tagging the endogenous β-catenin in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis, we confirm that its oral-aboral axis is indeed patterned by a gradient of β-catenin signalling. Strikingly, we show that, in contrast to bilaterians, Nematostella endomesoderm specification is repressed by β-catenin and takes place in the maternal nuclear β-catenin-negative part of the embryo. This completely changes the accepted paradigm and suggests that β-catenin-dependent endomesoderm specification was a bilaterian innovation linking endomesoderm specification to the subsequent posterior-anterior patterning.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57109-w

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