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β-catenin-dependent endomesoderm specification appears to be a Bilateria-specific co-option

Lebedeva, T.; Bostroem, J.; Moersdorf, D.; Niedermoser, I.; Genikhovich, E.; Adameyko, I.; Genikhovich, G.

2022-10-16 developmental biology
10.1101/2022.10.15.512282 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Endomesoderm specification based on a maternal {beta}-catenin signal and axial patterning by interpreting a gradient of zygotic Wnt/{beta}-catenin signalling was suggested to predate the split between Bilateria and their evolutionary sister Cnidaria. However, in Cnidaria, the roles of {beta}-catenin signalling in both these processes have not been proven directly. Here, by tagging the endogenous {beta}-catenin protein in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, we show that the oral-aboral axis in a cnidarian is indeed patterned by a gradient of {beta}-catenin signalling. Unexpectedly, in a striking contrast to Bilateria, Nematostella endoderm specification takes place opposite to the part of the embryo, where {beta}-catenin is translocated into the nuclei. This suggests that {beta}-catenin-dependent endomesoderm specification is a Bilateria-specific co-option, which may have linked endomesoderm specification with the subsequent posterior-anterior patterning.

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