The dynamics of gene expression in vertebrate embryogenesis at single-cell resolution

Science. 2018 Jun 1;360(6392):eaar5780. doi: 10.1126/science.aar5780. Epub 2018 Apr 26.

Abstract

Time series of single-cell transcriptome measurements can reveal dynamic features of cell differentiation pathways. From measurements of whole frog embryos spanning zygotic genome activation through early organogenesis, we derived a detailed catalog of cell states in vertebrate development and a map of differentiation across all lineages over time. The inferred map recapitulates most if not all developmental relationships and associates new regulators and marker genes with each cell state. We find that many embryonic cell states appear earlier than previously appreciated. We also assess conflicting models of neural crest development. Incorporating a matched time series of zebrafish development from a companion paper, we reveal conserved and divergent features of vertebrate early developmental gene expression programs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Embryonic Development / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Genetic Variation
  • Neural Crest / cytology
  • Neural Crest / embryology
  • Neurogenesis / genetics
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcriptome
  • Xenopus / embryology*
  • Xenopus / genetics*
  • Zebrafish / embryology
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zygote

Substances

  • Transcription Factors