Lessons from a transcription factor: Alx1 provides insights into gene regulatory networks, cellular reprogramming, and cell type evolution

The skeleton-forming cells of sea urchins and other echinoderms have been studied by developmental biologists as models of cell specification and morphogenesis for many decades. The gene regulatory network (GRN) deployed in the embryonic skeletogenic cells of euechinoid sea urchins is one of the bes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current topics in developmental biology Vol. 146; p. 113
Main Authors: Ettensohn, Charles A, Guerrero-Santoro, Jennifer, Khor, Jian Ming
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 2022
Subjects:
Animals
Cellular Reprogramming - genetics
Echinodermata
Embryo, Nonmammalian
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Gene Regulatory Networks
Morphogenesis - genetics
Sea Urchins - genetics
Skeletogenesis
Sea urchins
Biomineralization
Gene regulatory network
Alx1
Echinoderms
Transcription factor
Homeodomain
ISSN:1557-8933, 1557-8933
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:The skeleton-forming cells of sea urchins and other echinoderms have been studied by developmental biologists as models of cell specification and morphogenesis for many decades. The gene regulatory network (GRN) deployed in the embryonic skeletogenic cells of euechinoid sea urchins is one of the best understood in any developing animal. Recent comparative studies have leveraged the information contained in this GRN, bringing renewed attention to the diverse patterns of skeletogenesis within the phylum and the evolutionary basis for this diversity. The homeodomain-containing transcription factor, Alx1, was originally shown to be a core component of the skeletogenic GRN of the sea urchin embryo. Alx1 has since been found to be key regulator of skeletal cell identity throughout the phylum. As such, Alx1 is currently serving as a lens through which multiple developmental processes are being investigated. These include not only GRN organization and evolution, but also cell reprogramming, cell type evolution, and the gene regulatory control of morphogenesis. This review summarizes our current state of knowledge concerning Alx1 and highlights the insights it is yielding into these important developmental and evolutionary processes.
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ISSN:1557-8933
1557-8933
DOI:10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.10.005