A developmental pathway for epithelial-to-motoneuron transformation in C. elegans

Rashid, Alina; Tevlin, Maya; Lu, Yun; Shaham, Shai

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111414

Cited by 5 publications

References 119 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Mechanisms of lineage specification in Caenorhabditis elegans

Liu,

Murray

2023

Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The studies of cell fate and lineage specification are fundamental to our understanding of the development of multicellular organisms. Caenorhabditis elegans has been one of the premiere systems for studying cell fate specification mechanisms at single cell resolution, due to its transparent nature, the invariant cell lineage, and fixed number of somatic cells. We discuss the general themes and regulatory mechanisms that have emerged from these studies, with a focus on somatic lineages and cell fates. We next review the key factors and pathways that regulate the specification of discrete cells and lineages during embryogenesis and postembryonic development; we focus on transcription factors and include numerous lineage diagrams that depict the expression of key factors that specify embryonic founder cells and postembryonic blast cells, and the diverse somatic cell fates they generate. We end by discussing some future perspectives in cell and lineage specification.

show abstract

Mechanisms of lineage specification in Caenorhabditis elegans

Liu,

Murray

2023

Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Neurogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Poole,

Flames,

Cochella

2024

Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Animals rely on their nervous systems to process sensory inputs, integrate these with internal signals, and produce behavioral outputs. This is enabled by the highly specialized morphologies and functions of neurons. Neuronal cells share multiple structural and physiological features, but they also come in a large diversity of types or classes that give the nervous system its broad range of functions and plasticity. This diversity, first recognized over a century ago, spurred classification efforts based on morphology, function, and molecular criteria. Caenorhabditis elegans, with its precisely mapped nervous system at the anatomical level, an extensive molecular description of most of its neurons, and its genetic amenability, has been a prime model for understanding how neurons develop and diversify at a mechanistic level. Here, we review the gene regulatory mechanisms driving neurogenesis and the diversification of neuron classes and subclasses in C. elegans. We discuss our current understanding of the specification of neuronal progenitors and their differentiation in terms of the transcription factors involved and ensuing changes in gene expression and chromatin landscape. The central theme that has emerged is that the identity of a neuron is defined by modules of gene batteries that are under control of parallel yet interconnected regulatory mechanisms. We focus on how, to achieve these terminal identities, cells integrate information along their developmental lineages. Moreover, we discuss how neurons are diversified postembryonically in a time-, genetic sex-, and activity-dependent manner. Finally, we discuss how the understanding of neuronal development can provide insights into the evolution of neuronal diversity.

show abstract

Essential and dual effects of Notch activity on a natural transdifferentiation event

Daniele,

Cury,

Morin

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cell identity can be reprogrammed, naturally or experimentally, albeit with low frequency. Why given cells, but not their neighbours, undergo a cell identity conversion remains unclear. We find that Notch signalling plays a key role to promote natural transdifferentiation in C. elegans. Endogenous Notch signal endows a cell with the competence to transdifferentiate by promoting plasticity factors expression (hlh-16/Olig and sem-4/Sall). Strikingly, exogenous Notch can trigger ectopic transdifferentiation in vivo. However, Notch signalling can both promote and block transdifferentiation depending on its activation timing. Notch only promotes transdifferentiation during a precise window of opportunity and signal duration must be tightly controlled in time. Our findings emphasise the importance of temporality and dynamics of the underlying molecular events preceding the initiation of natural cell reprogramming. Finally, our results support a model where both an extrinsic signal and the intrinsic cellular context combine to empower a cell with the competence to transdifferentiate.

show abstract

A developmental pathway for epithelial-to-motoneuron transformation in C. elegans

Cited by 5 publications

References 119 publications

Mechanisms of lineage specification in Caenorhabditis elegans

Mechanisms of lineage specification in Caenorhabditis elegans

Neurogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Essential and dual effects of Notch activity on a natural transdifferentiation event

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About