Imaging and manipulating the segmentation clock

• Published in: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS Vol. 78; no. 4; pp. 1221 - 1231
• Main Authors: Yoshioka-Kobayashi, Kumiko, Kageyama, Ryoichiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.02.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biological Clocks - genetics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Body Patterning - genetics; Boundaries; Cell Biology; Cell cycle; Cell differentiation; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Circuit design; Clock systems; Embryogenesis; Embryonic Development - genetics; Embryonic growth stage; Embryos; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - genetics; Genetic engineering; Humans; Image segmentation; Life Sciences; Mathematical models; Mesoderm; Mesoderm - growth & development; Models, Theoretical; Molecular oscillators; Muscles; Organs; Oscillators; Review; Signal Transduction - genetics; Skeletal muscle; Somites - growth & development; Somitogenesis; Vertebrates; Somite; Luminescent reporter; Notch signaling; Fluorescent reporter; Oscillation; Synchronicity
• ISSN: 1420-682X; 1420-9071
• DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03655-z

During embryogenesis, the processes that control how cells differentiate and interact to form particular tissues and organs with precise timing and shape are of fundamental importance. One prominent example of such processes is vertebrate somitogenesis, which is governed by a molecular oscillator called the segmentation clock. The segmentation clock system is initiated in the presomitic mesoderm in which a set of genes and signaling pathways exhibit coordinated spatiotemporal dynamics to establish regularly spaced boundaries along the body axis; these boundaries provide a blueprint for the development of segment-like structures such as spines and skeletal muscles. The highly complex and dynamic nature of this in vivo event and the design principles and their regulation in both normal and abnormal embryogenesis are not fully understood. Recently, live-imaging has been used to quantitatively analyze the dynamics of selected components of the circuit, particularly in combination with well-designed experiments to perturb the system. Here, we review recent progress from studies using live imaging and manipulation, including attempts to recapitulate the segmentation clock in vitro. In combination with mathematical modeling, these techniques have become essential for disclosing novel aspects of the clock.