Local activation of Cxcl12a signaling controls olfactory placode morphogenesis in zebrafish embryos.

ABSTRACT: Morphogenesis and cell-type differentiation are highly coordinated in sensory organs to ensure their function. Morphogenesis of the olfactory placode in zebrafish provides a unique model to study this process as undifferentiated cells aligned around the anterior neural plate mature into clusters of early olfactory neurons across a short timescale. Although the Cxcl12a/Cxcr4b signaling pathway drives this process, what constraints on pathway activation apply during morphogenesis are unclear. We developed a mathematical model recapitulating Cxcl12a-mediated olfactory placode morphogenesis. Restoring Cxcl12a expression in mutants for the ligand rescues correct morphogenesis both in silico and in vivo. However, where expression of the ligand is restored is crucial for rescue, a p

SUBMITTER: Zilliox M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12450742 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature