Researchers have established that a specific gene is crucial for the proper development of vertebrate embryos, particularly in relation to the notochord’s growth. If this gene is not properly regulated, the notochord may not grow as it should, leading to a shorter formation.
Can a single protein-encoding gene influence the proper development of a vertebrate embryo? Yes, say researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University, who discovered that the inhibition of Pcdh8 is vital for the normal elongation of the notochord in zebrafish.
Dr. Masatake Kai and Professor Makoto Kondo of the Graduate School of Medicine studied a specific protein called paraxial protocadherin (PAPC), which needs to be excluded when dividing cells migrate to create the notochord in the developing embryo.
In their experiments with zebrafish embryos, they found that if PAPC is not properly excluded, the cells fail to reach their designated positions, hindering the notochord’s elongation. The researchers propose that understanding how this gene regulates cell proliferation could lead to new cancer treatments for humans.
“Though we derived these results from zebrafish, it is likely that a similar process occurs in mammals,” Professor Kondo remarked. “Our aim is to advance our comprehension of the intricate mechanisms that shape living organisms.”
The results of this study have been published in Scientific Reports.
