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Anatomy of a blastocyst: Cell behaviors driving cell fate choice and morphogenesis in the early mouse embryo
Author(s) -
Schrode Nadine,
Xenopoulos Panagiotis,
Piliszek Anna,
Frankenberg Stephen,
Plusa Berenika,
Hadjantonakis AnnaKaterina
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.22368
Subject(s) - epiblast , biology , cell fate determination , fate mapping , microbiology and biotechnology , inner cell mass , blastocyst , embryo , endoderm , embryonic stem cell , morphogenesis , lineage (genetic) , gastrulation , induced pluripotent stem cell , embryogenesis , genetics , transcription factor , gene
Summary The preimplantation period of mouse early embryonic development is devoted to the specification of two extraembryonic tissues and their spatial segregation from the pluripotent epiblast. During this period two cell fate decisions are made while cells gradually lose their totipotency. The first fate decision involves the segregation of the extraembryonic trophectoderm (TE) lineage from the inner cell mass (ICM); the second occurs within the ICM and involves the segregation of the extraembryonic primitive endoderm (PrE) lineage from the pluripotent epiblast (EPI) lineage, which eventually gives rise to the embryo proper. Multiple determinants, such as differential cellular properties, signaling cues and the activity of transcriptional regulators, influence lineage choice in the early embryo. Here, we provide an overview of our current understanding of the mechanisms governing these cell fate decisions ensuring proper lineage allocation and segregation, while at the same time providing the embryo with an inherent flexibility to adjust when perturbed. genesis 51:219–233. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.