Wnt/planar cell polarity signaling controls morphogenetic movements of gastrulation and neural tube closure

Abstract

Gastrulation and neurulation are successive morphogenetic processes that play key roles in shaping the basic embryonic body plan. Importantly, they operate through common cellular and molecular mechanisms to set up the three spatially organized germ layers and to close the neural tube. During gastrulation and neurulation, convergent extension movements driven by cell intercalation and oriented cell division generate major forces to narrow the germ layers along the mediolateral axis and elongate the embryo in the anteroposterior direction. Apical constriction also makes an important contribution to promote the formation of the blastopore and the bending of the neural plate. Planar cell polarity proteins are major regulators of asymmetric cell behaviors and critically involved in a wide variety of developmental processes, from gastrulation and neurulation to organogenesis. Mutations of planar cell polarity genes can lead to general defects in the morphogenesis of different organs and the co-existence of distinct congenital diseases, such as spina bifida, hearing deficits, kidney diseases, and limb elongation defects. This review outlines our current understanding of non-canonical Wnt signaling, commonly known as Wnt/planar cell polarity signaling, in regulating morphogenetic movements of gastrulation and neural tube closure during development and disease. It also attempts to identify unanswered questions that deserve further investigations.

MAP3K1 regulates female reproductive tract development

“…Global gene expression data in MAP3K1-competent and -deficient epithelial cells has shown that MAP3K1 deficiency prevents the optimal activation of not only the canonical, but also the non-canonical WNT pathways. Non-canonical WNT signaling is a key regulator for the establishment of cell polarity in positional cell movement, morphogenesis and ductal organ formation ( Karner et al, 2006 ; Shi, 2022 ; Sugimura and Li, 2010 ). In line with the pathway analyses data, we found that MAP3K1 deficiency reduces acetylated α-tubulin, a fundamental marker for cell polarization, in the apical surface of the MD epithelium ( Andrew and Ewald, 2010 ; Xu et al, 2019 ).…”

Therapeutic Potential of Natural Compounds from Herbs and Nutraceuticals in Alleviating Neurological Disorders: Targeting the Wnt Signaling Pathway

“…These noncanonical Wnt signaling pathways are independent of β-catenin in their conduction process. 33 2.1. Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway.…”

“…Noncanonical Wnt signaling pathways include Wnt/Ca 2+ , which regulates calcium in cells, Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP), and Wnt/ROR2. These noncanonical Wnt signaling pathways are independent of β-catenin in their conduction process …”

wnt11f2 Zebrafish, an Animal Model for Development and New Insights in Bone Formation

“…This process is in part regulated by Wnt/PCP pathway, and disruptions in the regulation of this pathway caused by a mutation in wnt11f2 in zebrafish cause defects in the mediolateral cell intercalation, the migration of hypoblast cells, the cell division orientation, and in cell adhesion. 15–17 , 21 , 22 …”