TY - JOUR
T1 - Cell lineage-resolved embryonic morphological map reveals signaling associated with cell fate and size asymmetry
AU - Guan, Guoye
AU - Li, Zelin
AU - Ma, Yiming
AU - Ye, Pohao
AU - Cao, Jianfeng
AU - Wong, Ming Kin
AU - Ho, Vincy Wing Sze
AU - Chan, Lu Yan
AU - Yan, Hong
AU - Tang, Chao
AU - Zhao, Zhongying
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12090053, 32088101) to C.T.; by the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) (InnoHK Project CIMDA), Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) (11204821), and the Institute of Digital Medicine of City University of Hong Kong (9229503) to H.Y.; and by the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) (GHP/176/21SZ) and Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) (HKBU12101520, HKBU12101522, and HKBU12101323) to Z.Z.
PY - 2025/4/18
Y1 - 2025/4/18
N2 - How cells change shape is crucial for the development of tissues, organs and embryos. However, studying these shape changes in detail is challenging. Here we present a comprehensive real-time cellular map that covers over 95% of the cells formed during Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis, featuring nearly 400,000 3D cell regions. This map includes information on each cell’s identity, lineage, fate, shape, volume, surface area, contact area, and gene expression profiles, all accessible through our user-friendly software and website. Our map allows for detailed analysis of key developmental processes, including dorsal intercalation, intestinal formation, and muscle assembly. We show how Notch and Wnt signaling pathways, along with mechanical forces from cell interactions, regulate cell fate decisions and size asymmetries. Our findings suggest that repeated Notch signaling drives size disparities in the large excretory cell, which functions like a kidney. This work sets the stage for in-depth studies of the mechanisms controlling cell fate differentiation and morphogenesis.
AB - How cells change shape is crucial for the development of tissues, organs and embryos. However, studying these shape changes in detail is challenging. Here we present a comprehensive real-time cellular map that covers over 95% of the cells formed during Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis, featuring nearly 400,000 3D cell regions. This map includes information on each cell’s identity, lineage, fate, shape, volume, surface area, contact area, and gene expression profiles, all accessible through our user-friendly software and website. Our map allows for detailed analysis of key developmental processes, including dorsal intercalation, intestinal formation, and muscle assembly. We show how Notch and Wnt signaling pathways, along with mechanical forces from cell interactions, regulate cell fate decisions and size asymmetries. Our findings suggest that repeated Notch signaling drives size disparities in the large excretory cell, which functions like a kidney. This work sets the stage for in-depth studies of the mechanisms controlling cell fate differentiation and morphogenesis.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003113651&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58878-0
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-025-58878-0
DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-58878-0
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:105003113651
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 16
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
IS - 1
M1 - 3700
ER -
