PUBLICATION

Pluripotency in the light of the developmental hourglass

Authors
Kuijk, E., Geijsen, N., Cuppen, E.
ID
ZDB-PUB-140528-6
Date
2015
Source
Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society   90(2): 428-43 (Review)
Registered Authors
Cuppen, Edwin
Keywords
development, divergence, embryonic stem cells, hourglass, mammals, phylotypic period, phylotypic stage, pluripotency, stem cells
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Embryo, Mammalian/physiology*
  • Embryonic Development/genetics
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells/physiology*
PubMed
24860945 Full text @ Biol. Rev. Camb. Philos. Soc.
Abstract
The hourglass model of development postulates divergence in early and late embryo development bridged by a period of developmental constraint at mid-embryogenesis. Recently, molecular support for the hourglass model of development has accumulated, with the emphasis on studies using zebrafish and Drosophila species. Across mammals, the hourglass model and specifically divergence in early development has thus far received little attention. Divergence in mammalian pre-implantation development is particularly interesting because of its potential impact on derivation of pluripotent embryonic stem cells. Here, we review recent findings that support the hourglass model of development. We provide striking examples of variation in key events in mammalian peri-implantation development and their potential consequences for pluripotency of embryonic stem cell lines, including mechanisms of cell signalling and differentiation, gene regulatory networks, X-chromosome inactivation, and epigenetic regulation. The variation in these processes indicates divergence in early mammalian development as was postulated by the hourglass model of development. We discuss the naive and primed states of pluripotency in light of this developmental divergence and their implications for human pluripotent stem cell states.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping