Open AccessOptic cup morphogenesis requires neural crest-mediated basement membrane assembly
Author(s) -
Chase D. Bryan,
Macaulie A. Casey,
Rebecca L. Pfeiffer,
Bryan W. Jones,
Kristen M. Kwan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.15
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1477-9129
pISSN - 0950-1991
DOI - 10.1242/dev.181420
Subject(s) - neural crest , biology , mesenchyme , extracellular matrix , microbiology and biotechnology , morphogenesis , basement membrane , organogenesis , zebrafish , anatomy , eye development , optic cup (embryology) , mesenchymal stem cell , phenotype , genetics , embryo , gene
Organogenesis requires precise interactions between a developing tissue and its environment. In vertebrates, the developing eye is surrounded by a complex extracellular matrix as well as multiple mesenchymal cell populations. Disruptions to either the matrix or periocular mesenchyme can cause defects in early eye development, yet in many cases the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, using multidimensional imaging and computational analyses in zebrafish, we establish that cell movements in the developing optic cup require neural crest. Ultrastructural analysis reveals that basement membrane formation around the developing eye is also dependent on neural crest, but only specifically around the retinal pigment epithelium. Neural crest cells produce the extracellular matrix protein nidogen: impairing nidogen function disrupts eye development, and, strikingly, expression of nidogen in the absence of neural crest partially restores optic cup morphogenesis. These results demonstrate that eye formation is regulated in part by extrinsic control of extracellular matrix assembly.This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.