The Power of Simplicity: Sea Urchin Embryos as in Vivo Developmental Models for Studying Complex Cell-to-cell Signaling Network Interactions

Summary

This video article details a straightforward in vivo methodology that can be used to systematically and efficiently characterize components of complex signaling pathways and regulatory networks in many invertebrate embryos.

Abstract

Remarkably few cell-to-cell signal transduction pathways are necessary during embryonic development to generate the large variety of cell types and tissues in the adult body form. Yet, each year more components of individual signaling pathways are discovered, and studies indicate that depending on the context there is significant cross-talk among most of these pathways. This complexity makes studying cell-to-cell signaling in any in vivo developmental model system a difficult task. In addition, efficient functional analyses are required to characterize molecules associated with signaling pathways identified from the large data sets generated by next generation differential screens. Here, we illustrate a straightforward method to efficiently identify components of signal transduction pathways governing cell fate and axis specification in sea urchin embryos. The genomic and morphological simplicity of embryos similar to those of the sea urchin make them powerful in vivo developmental models for understanding complex signaling interactions. The methodology described here can be used as a template for identifying novel signal transduction molecules in individual pathways as well as the interactions among the molecules in the various pathways in many other organisms.

Introduction

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) and signal transduction pathways establish the spatial and temporal expression of genes during embryonic development that are used to build the adult animal body plan. Cell-to-cell signal transduction pathways are essential components of these regulatory networks, providing the means by which cells communicate. These cellular interactions establish and refine the expression of regulatory and differentiation genes in and among the various territories during embryogenesis^1,2. Interactions among secreted extracellular modulators (ligands, antagonists), receptors, and co-receptors c....

Protocol

1. High Throughput Morpholino Design Strategy

1. Identify a gene(s) of interest (e.g. candidate gene approach, cis-regulatory analysis, RNAseq and/or proteomic differential screens).
2. Use genomic, transcriptomic, and gene expression data available on frequently updated websites (e.g. SpBase http://www.echinobase.org^​20 and S. purpuratus Genome Search http:///urchin.nidcr.nih.gov/blast/index.html) to determine that the spatiotemporal expression profile overlaps with the developmental mechanism in question. If no expression data is available, then generate qPCR primers a....

Results

In the sea urchin embryo we have shown that 3 different Wnt signaling branches (Wnt/β-catenin, Wnt/JNK, and Wnt/PKC)^4,25 interact to form a Wnt signaling network that governs anterior-posterior (AP) patterning. One of the most important consequences of these signaling events is that the initial broadly expressed anterior neuroectoderm (ANE) GRN becomes restricted to a small territory around the anterior pole by the beginning of ga.......

Discussion

The methodology presented here is an example that illustrates the power of using embryos with less genomic and morphological complexity than vertebrates to understand the signaling transduction pathways and GRNs governing fundamental developmental mechanisms.. Many labs are using similar assays during early sea urchin development to dissect the signaling pathways involved in other cell fate specification events (e.g. Notch, Hedgehog, TGF- β, and FGF signaling)^27,

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Translational-blocking morpholino and/or splice-blocking morpholino	Gene Tools LLC	Customized	More information at www.gene-tools.com
Glycerol	Invitrogen	15514-011
FITC (dextran fluorescein isothiocyanate)	Invitrogen, Life Technologies	D1821	Make 25 mg/mL stock solution
Paraformaldehyde 16% solution EM Grade	Electron Microscopy Sciences	15710
MOPS	Sigma Aldrich	M1254-250G
Tween-20	Sigma Aldrich	23336-0010
Formamide	Sigma Aldrich	47671-1L-F
Yeast tRNA	Invitrogen	15401-029
Normal Goat Serum	Sigma Aldrich	G9023-10mL
Alkaline Phosphatase-conjugated anti-digoxigenin antibody	Roche	11 093 274 910
Tetramisole hydrochloride (levamisole)	Sigma Aldrich	L9756-5G
Tris Base UltraPure	Research Products Internationall Corp	56-40-6
Sodium Chloride	Fisher Scientific	BP358-10
Magnesium chloride	Sigma Aldrich	7786-30-3
BCIP (5-Bromo-4-Chloro-3-indolyl-phosphate	Roche	11 383 221 001
4 Nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT)	Roche	11 383 213 001
Dimethyl Formamide	Sigma Aldrich	D4551-500mL
Potassium Chloride	Sigma Aldrich	P9541-5KG
Sodium Bicarbonate	Sigma Aldrich	S5761-500G
Magnesium Sulfate	Sigma Aldrich	M7506-2KG
Calcium Chloride	Sigma Aldrich	C1016-500G