Wilkinson group ::
Segmentation of the vertebrate nervous system
A central problem in developmental biology is to understand how multiple cell
types are generated and maintained in highly organised spatial patterns. In
many tissues, there is a progressive refinement of pattern, in which they
are initially subdivided into regions, each with a distinct identity that
underlies the generation of a specific set of cell types. We are studying
a specific part of the developing central nervous system of vertebrates -
the hindbrain - as an amenable model to analyse the molecular mechanisms of
tissue subdivision and cell differentiation. Early during development, the
hindbrain is subdivided into a series of segments, known as rhombomeres, each
comprised of a group of cells with distinct identity that do not intermingle
with their neighbours. This segmentation has a central role in patterning
of the head in which it underlies the specification of nerves, and of neural
crest cells that migrate from the hindbrain to form components of the peripheral
nervous system and the skeleton. To understand the molecular mechanisms that
underlie patterning, we use the distinct advantages of a variety of vertebrate
model systems. In particular, we study zebrafish and chick embryos as they
are amenable for the rapid functional analysis of genes and for in vivo
imaging techniques to reveal how specific genes control cell movement and
identity.
Segments, neurogenesis and expression of exogenous genes in the zebrafish hindbrain ::
View high quality image
The expression of a molecular marker of segments 3 and 5 is revealed by the blue signal, and differentiating neurons in red. At this stage of development, clusters of neurons are present in the central region of segments. Ectopic expression of exogenous genes can be achieved by microinjection of RNA, illustrated here by mosaic expression of green fluorescent protein (green signal) following injection of RNA into 1 cell at the 16 cell stage.
Research areas ::
- Control of cell movement at boundaries
- Roles and regulation of boundary formation
- Identification and analysis of novel genes
Selected publications ::
- Amoyel, M; Cheng, Y-C; Jiang, Y-J and Wilkinson, DG (2005)
Wnt1 regulates neurogenesis and mediates lateral inhibition of boundary cell specification in the zebrafish hindbrain.
Development 132, 775-785 PubMed abstract - Poliakov, A; Cotrina, M and Wilkinson, DG (2004)
Diverse roles of Eph receptors and Ephrins in the regulation of cell migration and tissue assembly.
Developmental Cell 7, 465-480 PubMed abstract - Coles, E; Christiansen, J; Economou, A; Bronner-Fraser, M and Wilkinson,
DG (2004)
A vertebrate crossveinless 2 homologue modulates BMP activity and neural crest cell migration.
Development 131, 5309-17 PubMed abstract - Cheng, YC; Amoyel, M; Qiu, X; Jiang, YJ; Xu, Q and Wilkinson, DG (2004)
Notch activation regulates the segregation and differentiation of rhombomere boundary cells in the zebrafish hindbrain.
Developmental Cell 6, 539-50 PubMed abstract - Pasini, A and Wilkinson, DG (2002)
Stabilizing the regionalisation of the developing vertebrate central nervous system.
BioEssays 24, 427-438 PubMed abstract - Mellitzer, G; Xu, Q and Wilkinson, DG. (1999)
Eph receptors and ephrins restrict cell intermingling and communication.
Nature 400:77-81 PubMed abstract - Xu, Q; Mellitzer, G; Robinson, V and Wilkinson, DG (1999)
In vivo cell sorting in complementary segmental domains mediated by Eph receptors and ephrins.
Nature 399, 267-71 PubMed abstract
[Page last updated 23 May 2005]