RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 <em>β</em>-Catenin and canonical Wnts control two separate pattern formation systems in <em>Hydra</em>: Insights from mathematical modelling
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.02.05.429954
DO 10.1101/2021.02.05.429954
A1 Moritz Mercker
A1 Tobias Lengfeld
A1 Stefanie Höger
A1 Anja Tursch
A1 Mark Lommel
A1 Thomas W Holstein
A1 Anna Marciniak-Czochra
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/02/07/2021.02.05.429954.abstract
AB Formation of the body axes and the subsequent formation of the apical termini are two fundamental steps during animal development. In Hydra, nuclear β-Catenin and canonical HyWnt3 were identified as major players active in both processes. Based on molecular knowledge of canonical Wnt signaling directly linking nuclear β-Catenin and HyWnt3 activity, it was frequently assumed that de novo axis formation and the head formation were part of the same pattern formation system. In this work, combining new model simulations with available experimental results, we demonstrate that nuclear β-Catenin and HyWnt3 most likely contribute to two separate de novo pattern formation systems in Hydra, organizing development and differentiation on two different spatial scales. In particular, our results suggest that the nuclear β-Catenin acts on the scale of the whole body, controlling axis formation, whereas canonical HyWnt3 signaling is involved in a downstream pathway responsible for small-scale patterning of the head. Consequently, also in other animals where axis formation was ascribed to canonical Wnt signaling, the underlying mechanisms may be more complex than previously assumed.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.