Time-aligned hourglass gastrulation models in rabbit and mouse

Yoav Mayshar, Ofir Raz, Saifeng Cheng, Raz Ben-Yair, Ron Hadas, Netta Reines, Markus Mittnenzweig, Oren Ben-Kiki, Aviezer Lifshitz, Amos Tanay, Yonatan Stelzer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The hourglass model describes the convergence of species within the same phylum to a similar body plan during development; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon in mammals remain poorly described. Here, we compare rabbit and mouse time-resolved differentiation trajectories to revisit this model at single-cell resolution. We modeled gastrulation dynamics using hundreds of embryos sampled between gestation days 6.0 and 8.5 and compared the species using a framework for time-resolved single-cell differentiation-flows analysis. We find convergence toward similar cell-state compositions at E7.5, supported by the quantitatively conserved expression of 76 transcription factors, despite divergence in surrounding trophoblast and hypoblast signaling. However, we observed noticeable changes in specification timing of some lineages and divergence of primordial germ cell programs, which in the rabbit do not activate mesoderm genes. Comparative analysis of temporal differentiation models provides a basis for studying the evolution of gastrulation dynamics across mammals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2610-2627.e18
Number of pages37
JournalCell
Volume186
Issue number12
Early online date19 May 2023
DOIs
StatePublished - 8 Jun 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology

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