Number of vertebrae is fine-tuned by Notch signaling via control of period of the somite segmentation clock.

ABSTRACT: The number of vertebrae is strictly defined for any given species1, and depends on the number of somites, which are periodically formed as perfectly matched cell masses during mid-embryogenesis, where the somite segmentation clock prescribes the timing2. The tempo of the clock is affected by surrounding condition, despite which the same number of somites is formed3, suggesting that the clock may be tunable to adapt to the environmental condition. Here, we demonstrate a tunability of the segmentation clock in the period depending on the level of Notch signaling that senses the surrounding information to adjust the number of somites and vertebrae precisely, in which we propose a mechanism of the clock with a feedback loop of Notch signaling by Notch-regulated ankyrin repeat protein (Nrarp).

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

SUBMITTER: Woong Kim 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-18419 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress