Wnt/β-catenin signaling induces axial elasticity patterns of Hydra extracellular matrix

2023/03/16 by Mariam Veschgini, Ryo Suzuki, Svenja Kling +11 · 1 voice · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Cellular Mechanics and Interactions #Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ #Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology

paper · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.106416

openalex publication_date 2023/03/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

revealed distinctive elasticity patterns along the body axis. A proteomic analysis of the ECM showed that these elasticity patterns correlate with a gradient-like distribution of metalloproteases along the body axis. Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in wild-type and transgenic animals alters these patterns toward low ECM elasticity patterns. This suggests a mechanism whereby high protease activity under control of Wnt/β-catenin signaling causes remodeling and softening of the ECM. This Wnt-dependent spatiotemporal coordination of biochemical and biomechanical cues in ECM formation was likely a central evolutionary innovation for animal tissue morphogenesis.

Citations

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Cited by

• Mechanical induction in metazoan development and evolution: from earliest multi-cellular organisms to modern animal embryos
• The Dual Nature of Body-Axis Formation in Hydra Regeneration: Polarity-Morphology Concurrency

Discussions

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