Notochordal Signals Establish Phylogenetic Identity of the Teleost Spine.

ABSTRACT: The spine is a defining feature of the vertebrate body plan. However, broad differences in vertebral structures and morphogenetic strategies occur across vertebrate groups, clouding the homology between their developmental programs. Analysis of a zebrafish mutant, spondo, whose spine is dysmorphic, prompted us to reconstruct paleontological evidence, highlighting specific transitions during teleost spine evolution. Interestingly, the spondo mutant recapitulates characteristics present in basal fishes, not found in extant teleosts. Further analysis of the mutation implicated the teleost-specific notochord protein, Calymmin, as a key regulator of spine patterning in zebrafish. The mutation in cmn results in loss of notochord sheath segmentation, altering osteoblast migration to the developin

SUBMITTER: Peskin B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8159021 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature