Cytoneme-mediated transport of active Wnt5b–Ror2 complexes in zebrafish

Chengting Zhang, Lucy Brunt, Yosuke Ono, Sally Rogers and Steffen Scholpp ()
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Chengting Zhang: University of Exeter
Lucy Brunt: University of Exeter
Yosuke Ono: University of Exeter
Sally Rogers: University of Exeter
Steffen Scholpp: University of Exeter

Nature, 2024, vol. 625, issue 7993, 126-133

Abstract: Abstract Chemical signalling is the primary means by which cells communicate in the embryo. The underlying principle refers to a group of ligand-producing cells and a group of cells that respond to this signal because they express the appropriate receptors1,2. In the zebrafish embryo, Wnt5b binds to the receptor Ror2 to trigger the Wnt–planar cell polarity (PCP) signalling pathway to regulate tissue polarity and cell migration3,4. However, it remains unclear how this lipophilic ligand is transported from the source cells through the aqueous extracellular space to the target tissue. In this study, we provide evidence that Wnt5b, together with Ror2, is loaded on long protrusions called cytonemes. Our data further suggest that the active Wnt5b–Ror2 complexes form in the producing cell and are handed over from these cytonemes to the receiving cell. Then, the receiving cell has the capacity to initiate Wnt–PCP signalling, irrespective of its functional Ror2 receptor status. On the tissue level, we further show that cytoneme-dependent spreading of active Wnt5b–Ror2 affects convergence and extension in the zebrafish gastrula. We suggest that cytoneme-mediated transfer of ligand–receptor complexes is a vital mechanism for paracrine signalling. This may prompt a reevaluation of the conventional concept of characterizing responsive and non-responsive tissues solely on the basis of the expression of receptors.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06850-7

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