Project description:Humans and other tetrapods are considered to require apical-ectodermal-ridge, AER, cells for limb development, and AER-like cells are suggested to be re-formed to initiate limb regeneration. Paradoxically, the presence of AER in the axolotl, the primary regeneration model organism, remains controversial. Here, by leveraging a single-cell transcriptomics-based multi-species atlas, composed of axolotl, human, mouse, chicken, and frog cells, we first established that axolotls contain cells with AER characteristics. Surprisingly, further analyses and spatial transcriptomics revealed that axolotl limbs do not fully re-form AER cells during regeneration. Moreover, the axolotl mesoderm displays part of the AER machinery, revealing a novel program for limb (re)growth. These results clarify the debate about the axolotl AER and the extent to which the limb developmental program is recapitulated during regeneration.
Project description:In order to understand the genomic and transcriptomic variability of the axolotl pallium, as well as reconstruct their intrinsic gene regulatory networks, we performed single-nucleus multiome sequencing (RNA and open chromatin) of whole axolotl pallium.
Project description:Previous studies of appendage regeneration in the axolotl have shown that multiple genetic programs are modulated through regulatory factors. MicroRNAs are short highly conserved non-coding genes that suppress expression of target genes and thereby control multiple genetic programs. Given their important regulatory roles and evolutionary conservation, we hypothesize that microRNAs define a conserved genetic regulatory circuit important for appendage regeneration. We characterized microRNA expression during Axolotl forelimb regeneration using small RNA sequencing. The same samples were assayed for mRNA expression using mRNA sequencing.
Project description:To investigate spatial heterogeneities in the axolotl forebrain, a coronal section of it was obtained for spatial transcriptomics using Visium V1.
Project description:We adopted a combinatorial hybridization based single-cell RNA-seq method to generate tissue based transcriptome atlas of adult axolotl and whole organism transcriptome atlas of larva axolotl. Gene expression profiling of over 1million single cells across 19 organs constructed the first adult axolotl cell atlas. Comparison between neoteny and metamorphosis organs revealed transcriptome heterogeneity of structural cells in different tissues and a sophisticated regulatory network. Furthermore, we described dynamic gene expression pattern during neotenic larva axolotl limb development. These data serve as a rich resource to explore molecular identity of axolotl as well as its metamorphosis.
Project description:The Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is one member of a select group of vertebrate animals that has retained the amazing ability to regenerate multiple body parts. In addition to being an important model system for regeneration, the axolotl is also a leading model system for developmental biologists. Many genes used in development have been identified to be reused again during regeneration, however how this molecular circuitry is controlled during regeneration is unknown. In recent years microRNAs have been identified as key regulators of gene expression during development, in many diseases and also in regeneration. Here we have used deep sequencing combined with qRT-PCR to identify microRNAs that are involved in regulating regeneration in axolotl. This approach has enabled us to identify well known families of microRNAs and in addition to identify putative novel microRNAs that differentially regulated in the regenerating tissue. These findings suggest that microRNAs may play key roles in managing the spatial and temporal expression of genes important for ensuring that the correct tissues are regenerated.
Project description:Salamanders have the remarkable ability to functionally regenerate after spinal cord transection. In response to injury, GFAP+ glial cells in the axolotl spinal cord proliferate and migrate to replace the missing neural tube and create a permissive environment for axon regeneration. Molecular pathways that regulate the pro-regenerative axolotl glial cell response are poorly understood. Here we show axolotl glial cells up-regulate AP-1cFos/JunB after injury, which promotes a pro-regenerative glial cell response. Axolotl glial cells directly repress c-Jun expression via up-regulation of miR-200a. Inhibition of miR-200a during regeneration causes defects in axonal regrowth and transcriptomic analysis revealed that miR-200a inhibition leads to differential regulation of genes involved with reactive gliosis, the glial scar, ECM remodeling and axon guidance. This work identifies a novel role for miR-200a in inhibiting reactive gliosis in glial cell in axolotl during spinal cord regeneration
Project description:Previous studies of appendage regeneration in the axolotl have shown that multiple genetic programs are modulated through regulatory factors. MicroRNAs are short highly conserved non-coding genes that suppress expression of target genes and thereby control multiple genetic programs. Given their important regulatory roles and evolutionary conservation, we hypothesize that microRNAs define a conserved genetic regulatory circuit important for appendage regeneration. We characterized microRNA expression during Axolotl forelimb regeneration using small RNA sequencing. The same samples were assayed for mRNA expression using mRNA sequencing. Small RNA and mRNA gene expression profiling during 0, 3, 6 and 14 days post amputation.
Project description:In order to understand the relationship between cellular diversity and pallium regions, single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) was performed in 3 microdissected regions from the axolotl pallium: medial, dorsal, and lateral.