Plasticity of epithelial cell shape in response to upstream signals: A whole-organism study using transgenic Hydra.

Anton-Erxleben, F., Thomas, A., Wittlieb, J., Fraune, Sebastian and Bosch, Thomas (2009) Plasticity of epithelial cell shape in response to upstream signals: A whole-organism study using transgenic Hydra. Zoology, 112 (3). pp. 185-194. DOI 10.1016/j.zool.2008.09.002.

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Abstract

Multicellular organisms consist of a variety of cells of distinctive morphology, with the cell shapes often reproduced with astonishing accuracy between individuals and across species. The morphology of cells varies with tissues, and cell shape changes are of profound importance in many occasions of morphogenesis. To elucidate the mechanisms of cell shape determination and regulation is therefore an important issue. One of the simplest multicellular organisms is the freshwater polyp Hydra. Although much is known about patterning in this early branching metazoan, there is currently little understanding of how cells in Hydra regulate their shape in response to upstream signals. We previously reported generation of transgenic Hydra to trace cells and to study cell behavior in vivo in an animal at the basis of animal evolution. Here, we use a novel transgenic line which expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) specifically in the ectodermal epithelial cells to analyze the structure and shape of epithelia] cells as they are recruited into specific regions along the body column and respond to upstream signals such as components of the canonical Writ signaling pathway. As a general theme, in contrast to epithelial cells in more complex animals, ectodermal epithelial cells in Hydra are capable of drastic changes in structure, shape, and cell contact along the body column. The remarkable phenotypic plasticity of epithelial cells in response to positional signals allows Hydra to build its body with only a limited number of different cell types. (c) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Document Type: Article
Research affiliation: Kiel University > Kiel Marine Science
OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence
Kiel University
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Elsevier
Projects: Future Ocean
Date Deposited: 15 Oct 2010 09:20
Last Modified: 30 Jul 2019 05:26
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8944

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