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The physical roles of different posterior tissues in zebrafish axis elongation

Author

Listed:
  • Georgina A. Stooke-Vaughan

    (University of California)

  • Sangwoo Kim

    (University of California
    École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Shuo-Ting Yen

    (TU Dresden)

  • Kevin Son

    (University of California)

  • Samhita P. Banavar

    (University of California
    Princeton University)

  • James Giammona

    (University of California)

  • David Kimelman

    (University of Washington)

  • Otger Campàs

    (University of California
    TU Dresden
    Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
    Center for Systems Biology Dresden)

Abstract

Shaping embryonic tissues requires spatiotemporal changes in genetic and signaling activity as well as in tissue mechanics. Studies linking specific molecular perturbations to changes in the tissue physical state remain sparse. Here we study how specific genetic perturbations affecting different posterior tissues during zebrafish body axis elongation change their physical state, the resulting large-scale tissue flows, and posterior elongation. Using a custom analysis software to reveal spatiotemporal variations in tissue fluidity, we show that dorsal tissues are most fluid at the posterior end, rigidify anterior of this region, and become more fluid again yet further anteriorly. In the absence of notochord (noto mutants) or when the presomitic mesoderm is substantially reduced (tbx16 mutants), dorsal tissues elongate normally. Perturbations of posterior-directed morphogenetic flows in dorsal tissues (vangl2 mutants) strongly affect the speed of elongation, highlighting the essential role of dorsal cell flows in delivering the necessary material to elongate the axis.

Suggested Citation

  • Georgina A. Stooke-Vaughan & Sangwoo Kim & Shuo-Ting Yen & Kevin Son & Samhita P. Banavar & James Giammona & David Kimelman & Otger Campàs, 2025. "The physical roles of different posterior tissues in zebrafish axis elongation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56334-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56334-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alessandro Mongera & Payam Rowghanian & Hannah J. Gustafson & Elijah Shelton & David A. Kealhofer & Emmet K. Carn & Friedhelm Serwane & Adam A. Lucio & James Giammona & Otger Campàs, 2018. "A fluid-to-solid jamming transition underlies vertebrate body axis elongation," Nature, Nature, vol. 561(7723), pages 401-405, September.
    2. Claire Bertet & Lawrence Sulak & Thomas Lecuit, 2004. "Myosin-dependent junction remodelling controls planar cell intercalation and axis elongation," Nature, Nature, vol. 429(6992), pages 667-671, June.
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