Open AccessECM-integrin signalling instructs cellular position sensing to pattern the early mouse embryo
Author(s) -
Esther Jeong Yoon Kim,
Lydia Sorokin,
Takashi Hiiragi
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.754
H-Index - 325
eISSN - 1477-9129
pISSN - 0950-1991
DOI - 10.1242/dev.200140
Subject(s) - biology , epiblast , microbiology and biotechnology , integrin , extracellular matrix , embryonic stem cell , embryo , cell adhesion , morphogenesis , cell polarity , inner cell mass , embryogenesis , gastrulation , cell , genetics , blastocyst , gene
Development entails patterned emergence of diverse cell types within the embryo. In mammals, cells positioned inside the embryo give rise to the inner cell mass (ICM), which eventually forms the embryo itself. Yet, the molecular basis of how these cells recognise their ‘inside’ position to instruct their fate is unknown. Here, we show that provision of extracellular matrix (ECM) to isolated embryonic cells induces ICM specification and alters the subsequent spatial arrangement between epiblast (EPI) and primitive endoderm (PrE) cells that emerge within the ICM. Notably, this effect is dependent on integrin β1 activity and involves apical-to-basal conversion of cell polarity. We demonstrate that ECM-integrin activity is sufficient for ‘inside’ positional signalling and is required for correct EPI/PrE patterning. Thus, our findings highlight the significance of ECM-integrin adhesion in enabling position sensing by cells to achieve tissue patterning.