A single-cell analysis of the molecular lineage of chordate embryogenesis

Citations Over TimeTop 12% of 2020 papers

Abstract

Progressive unfolding of gene expression cascades underlies diverse embryonic lineage development. Here, we report a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of the complete and invariant embryonic cell lineage of the tunicate Ciona savignyi from fertilization to the onset of gastrulation. We reconstructed a developmental landscape of 47 cell types over eight cell cycles in the wild-type embryo and identified eight fate transformations upon fibroblast growth factor (FGF) inhibition. For most FGF-dependent asymmetric cell divisions, the bipotent mother cell displays the gene signature of the default daughter fate. In convergent differentiation of the two notochord lineages, we identified additional gene pathways parallel to the master regulator T/Brachyury Last, we showed that the defined Ciona cell types can be matched to E6.5-E8.5 stage mouse cell types and display conserved expression of limited number of transcription factors. This study provides a high-resolution single-cell dataset to understand chordate early embryogenesis and cell lineage differentiation.

Related Papers

• → Nuclear hormone receptors in chordates(2010)45 cited
• → Neuropeptides and receptors in the cephalochordate: A crucial model for understanding the origin and evolution of vertebrate neuropeptide systems(2024)3 cited
• → Clonal analysis of the vertebrate CNS(1985)13 cited
• → Three amphioxus reference genomes reveal gene and chromosome evolution of chordates(2022)13 cited
• → Cell Lineage and Cell States in the Drosophila Embryo(2007)5 cited