Endogenous FGF gradients are required for cell fate patterning in 2D human gastruloids
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: The role of FGF is the least understood of the morphogens driving mammalian gastrulation. Here we investigated the function of FGF in a stem cell model for human gastrulation known as a 2D gastruloid. We found a ring of FGF-dependent ERK activity closely follows the emergence of primitive streak (PS)-like cells but expands further inward. We showed that this ERK activity pattern is required for PS-like differentiation and depends on localized activation of basally polarized FGF receptors (FGFR) by endogenous FGF gradients. By single cell RNA-sequencing, we identified the main receptor to be FGFR1 and the key ligands FGF2/4/17 and showed that this is similar to the human and monkey embryo but different from the mouse.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE271604 | GEO | 2025/06/13
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA