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.
Pubmed ID: 31988185 RIS Download
Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.
Software package as distribution of ImageJ and ImageJ2 together with Java, Java3D and plugins organized into coherent menu structure. Used to assist research in life sciences.
View all literature mentionsA commercial antibody supplier which supplies primary and secondary antibodies, biochemicals, proteins, peptides, lysates, immunoassays and other kits.
View all literature mentionsInteractive rendering tool for confocal microscopy data visualization. Combines rendering of multi-channel volume data and polygon mesh data, where properties of each dataset can be adjusted independently and quickly. Designed for neurobiologists, allowing them to better visualize confocal data from fluorescently-stained brains, but it is also useful for other biological samples. Features include feature tracking, 3D measurement tools, multiple render modes for multi-channel confocal data, and volume paint selection and segmentation.
View all literature mentionsOpen source software package for statistical programming language R to create plots based on grammar of graphics. Used for data visualization to break up graphs into semantic components such as scales and layers.
View all literature mentionsSoftware application with data analysis tools and spreadsheet templates to track and visualize data. It is used to manage and process data.
View all literature mentions