The Wnt code: Deciphering early Wnt interactions in Hydra
Funding period: 2017-2025
Project Leaders
Abstract
Wnt genes are deeply embedded in metazoan genomes. It was shown that the complete repertoire of Wnt gene families known from vertebrates is present in cnidarians. Most Wnt genes are activated in a cascade-like manner (Wnt code) during pattern and axis formation. Now, the specific functions of different Wnt ligands will be dissected and their interplay with physical cues during regeneration will be analyzed in this collaborative project. It will provide a mechanistic understanding of how biophysical (mechanical) and biochemical (Wnt signaling) cues interact and how specific functions of various Wnt ligands were established in one of the most ancient signaling centers (Hydra head organizer) in animal evolution.
Project-related Publications
Wnt/β-catenin signaling induces axial elasticity patterns of Hydra extracellular matrix
From injury to patterning-MAPKs and Wnt signaling in Hydra
Injury-induced MAPK activation triggers body axis formation in Hydra by default Wnt signaling
The role of cnidarian developmental biology in unraveling axis formation and Wnt signaling.
Dev Biol. 2022 Apr 22;487:74-98. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.04.005. Online ahead of print. PMID: 35461834
Learn moreTwo plus one is almost three: a fast approximation for multi-view deconvolution
Biomed Opt Express. 2021 Dec 7;13(1):147-158. doi: 10.1364/BOE.443660. eCollection 2022 Jan 1. PMID: 35154860
Learn moreThe Wnt-specific astacin proteinase HAS-7 restricts head organizer formation in Hydra
Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Controls Spatio-Temporal Elasticity Patterns in Extracellular Matrix during Hydra Morphogenesis
Veschgini, M., H.O. Petersen, F. Rossetti, W. Abuillan, S. Kaufmann, R. Suzuki, M. Burghammer, S. Özbek, T.W. Holstein, and M. Tanaka. 2020. bioRxiv, preprint.
Learn moreMAPK signaling links the injury response to Wnt-regulated patterning in Hydra regeneration
Tursch, A., M. Lommel, N. Bartsch, and T.W. Holstein. 2020. bioRxiv, preprint.
Learn moreExpansion of a single transposable element family is associated with genome-size increase and radiation in the genus Hydra
Wong WY, Simakov O, Bridge DM, Cartwright P, Bellantuono AJ, Kuhn A, Holstein TW, David CN, Steele RE, Martínez DE. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Nov 12;116(46):22915-22917. PMID: 31659034
Learn moreWhat makes flatworms go to pieces
Holstein TW. Nature. 2019 Aug;572(7771):593-594. PMID: 31444489
Learn moreHydra Mesoglea Proteome Identifies Thrombospondin as a Conserved Component Active in Head Organizer Restriction
Lommel M, Strompen J, Hellewell AL, Balasubramanian GP, Christofidou ED, Thomson AR, Boyle AL, Woolfson DN, Puglisi K, Hartl M, Holstein TW, Adams JC, Özbek S. Sci Rep. 2018 Aug 6;8(1):11753. PMID:30082916
Learn moreMaking head or tail of cnidarian hox gene function
Rentzsch F, Holstein TW. Nat Commun. 2018 Jun 5;9(1):2187. PMID:29872045
Learn moreTracking mechanical and morphological dynamics of regenerating Hydra tissue fragments using a two fingered micro-robotic hand
Veschgini, M., Gebert, F., Khangai, N., Ito, H., Suzuki, R., Holstein, T. W., Mae, Y., Arai, T. and Tanaka, M. 2016. Appl. Phys. Lett. 108, 103702
Learn moreA Comprehensive Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis of Hydra Head Regeneration.
Petersen, H.O., S.K. Hoger, M. Looso, T. Lengfeld, A. Kuhn, U. Warnken, C. Nishimiya-Fujisawa, M. Schnolzer, M. Kruger, S. Ozbek, O. Simakov, and T.W. Holstein. Mol Biol Evol. 2015 Aug;32(8):1928-47. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msv079. Epub 2015 Apr 3. PMID: 25841488
Learn moreNodal signalling determines biradial asymmetry in Hydra
Autoregulatory and repressive inputs localize Hydra Wnt3 to the head organizer
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 May 31;108(22):9137-42. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1018109108. Epub 2011 May 16. PMID: 21576458
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