Emergence and patterning dynamics of mouse-definitive endoderm

Maayan Pour, Abhishek Sampath Kumar, Naama Farag, Adriano Bolondi, Helene Kretzmer, Maria Walther, Lars Wittler, Alexander Meissner, Iftach Nachman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The segregation of definitive endoderm (DE) from bipotent mesendoderm progenitors leads to the formation of two distinct germ layers. Dissecting DE commitment and onset has been challenging as it occurs within a narrow spatiotemporal window in the embryo. Here, we employ a dual Bra/Sox17 reporter cell line to study DE onset dynamics. We find Sox17 expression initiates in vivo in isolated cells within a temporally restricted window. In 2D and 3D in vitro models, DE cells emerge from mesendoderm progenitors at a temporally regular, but spatially stochastic pattern, which is subsequently arranged by self-sorting of Sox17 + cells. A subpopulation of Bra-high cells commits to a Sox17+ fate independent of external Wnt signal. Self-sorting coincides with upregulation of E-cadherin but is not necessary for DE differentiation or proliferation. Our in vivo and in vitro results highlight basic rules governing DE onset and patterning through the commonalities and differences between these systems.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103556
JournaliScience
Volume25
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Jan 2022

Funding

FundersFunder number
Good Food Institut e research program
Good Food Institute
National Institutes of HealthP01 GM099117, P50 HG006193
New York Stem Cell Foundation
Israel Science Foundation1665/16
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

    Keywords

    • Developmental genetics
    • Embryology

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