Cooperation of polarized cell intercalations drives convergence and extension of presomitic mesoderm during zebrafish gastrulation.

ABSTRACT: During vertebrate gastrulation, convergence and extension (C&E) movements narrow and lengthen the embryonic tissues, respectively. In zebrafish, regional differences of C&E movements have been observed; however, the underlying cell behaviors are poorly understood. Using time-lapse analyses and computational modeling, we demonstrate that C&E of the medial presomitic mesoderm is achieved by cooperation of planar and radial cell intercalations. Radial intercalations preferentially separate anterior and posterior neighbors to promote extension. In knypek;trilobite noncanonical Wnt mutants, the frequencies of cell intercalations are altered and the anteroposterior bias of radial intercalations is lost. This provides evidence for noncanonical Wnt signaling polarizing cell movements between diffe

SUBMITTER: Yin C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2213609 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature