Poziv na predavanje dr. sc. Maríe Almuedo Castilllo pod naslovom ‘’A Yap-dependent mechano-regulatory loop directs cell migration for embryo axis assembly’’

Objavljeno 15.09.2023.

Hrvatsko društvo za biokemiju i molekularnu biologiju i Institut Ruđer Bošković organiziraju zajednički znanstveni kolokvij na kojem će dr. sc. María Almuedo Castilllo (Centro Andaluz Biología del Desarrollo (CABD) – CSIC, Sevilla) održat predavanje pod naslovom ‘’A Yap-dependent mechano-regulatory loop directs cell migration for embryo axis assembly’’. 

Predavanje će se održati u u utorak 19. rujna 2023. u 14.00 sati u dvorani 3. krila (Institut Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička cesta 54).

Sažetak predavanja:

The assembly of the embryo’s primary axis is a fundamental landmark for the establishment of the vertebrate body plan. Although the morphogenetic movements directing cell convergence towards the midline have been described extensively, little is known on how gastrulating cells interpret mechanical cues. Yap proteins are well-known transcriptional mechanotransducers, yet their role in gastrulation remains elusive. Here we show that the double knockout of yap and its paralog yap1b in medaka results in an axis assembly failure, due to reduced displacement and migratory persistence in mutant cells. Accordingly, we identified genes involved in cytoskeletal organization and cell-ECM adhesion as potentially direct Yap targets. Dynamic analysis of live sensors and downstream targets reveal that Yap is
active specifically in migratory cells, promoting cortical actin and focal adhesions recruitment. We know that the activation of Yap requires a precise cell geometry with a notably flat nuclei and shuts down in
cells with rounded nuclei. We are currently investigating the epigenetic mechanisms behind this mechanically-induced silencing of Yap. Our results indicate that Yap coordinates a mechano-regulatory loop to sustain intracellular tension and maintain the directed cell migration for embryo axis development.