Evolution and Development of Hatching Gland in Teleost Fish

Descripción del proyecto

La migración celular configura el primer paso de la vida

La eclosión es una etapa crucial del desarrollo animal, pero aún se desconocen los mecanismos que la regulan. Comprender estos mecanismos podría ayudar a esclarecer principios fundamentales del desarrollo y la evolución. En el proyecto Move2Hatch, respaldado por las acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, se investigará la influencia del entorno celular local en la migración de las células de la glándula de eclosión en el pez cebra y el medaka, dos especies modelo en las que estas células han adquirido durante la evolución la capacidad singular de desplazarse durante el desarrollo. Los investigadores emplearán técnicas de obtención de imágenes en vivo, análisis moleculares y mediciones biofísicas. Su objetivo es identificar los factores genéticos, celulares y mecánicos que influyen en la formación de la glándula de eclosión. La investigación permitirá comprender cómo los cambios en el comportamiento celular favorecen innovaciones evolutivas y del desarrollo.

Objetivo

Hatching is a universal milestone in animal development, present in both oviparous and viviparous species. Biochemical hatching has been described for several species and most of the research has been focused on the enzymes secreted by unicellular glands. These hatching gland cells (HGCs) are typically non-migratory, but in teleost fishes, they acquired migratory capacity. This evolutionary novelty has enabled remarkable morphological diversification with ecological and behavioral consequences. Thus, the HG provides a unique opportunity to investigate how changes in cell migration drive developmental and evolutionary innovation. To address it, I will test in Move2Hatch the hypothesis that the local microenvironment plays a decisive role in HGCs' migratory behavior, shaping the gland morphogenesis. Three objectives are proposed using zebrafish and medaka as complementary teleost models. O1—Define cell-intrinsic migratory properties of HGCs: assess the HGC behaviors through distinct migratory microenvironments and quantify the variance attributable to intrinsic programs. O2—Identify molecular players regulating HG migration, combining a candidate-based approach with unbiased transcriptomic profiling to reveal molecules potentially mediating environment-specific migration. O3—Determine the biophysical properties of the HG and its migratory environment: quantify properties like adhesiveness and mechanical stress during in vivo migration, and perform experimental alterations of the stiffness of the migratory substrate. By linking cellular autonomy (O1), molecular regulation (O2), and biophysical context (O3) within a unified comparative framework, Move2Hatch will deliver achievable results as 4D imaging, cell tracking, and RNA profiles, as well as atomic force microscopy and microdroplet-based measurements. Move2Hatch will generate novel insights into HG biology while providing the host with a new model system and me with expertise in mechanobiology and cell biology.