Spatial transcriptomics reveals a conserved segment polarity program that governs muscle patterning in Nematostella vectensis.

ABSTRACT: During early animal evolution, the emergence of axially-polarized segments was central to the diversification of complex bilaterian body plans. Nevertheless, precisely how and when segment polarity pathways arose remains obscure. Here we demonstrate the molecular basis for segment polarization in developing larvae of the pre-bilaterian sea anemone Nematostella vectensis . Utilizing spatial transcriptomics, we first constructed a 3-D gene expression atlas of developing larval segments. Capitalizing on accurate in silico predictions, we identified Lbx and Uncx, conserved homeodomain-containing genes that occupy opposing subsegmental domains under the control of both BMP signaling and the Hox-Gbx cascade. Functionally, Lbx mutagenesis eliminated all molecular evidence of

SUBMITTER: He S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9882047 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature