Publications by authors named "Simona Machacova"
Article Synopsis
- - Our study investigates the origins of the vertebrate head using amphioxus, which shares traits with early chordates, by employing techniques like single-cell transcriptomics and signaling pathway analysis.
- - We identified different types of cells in amphioxus embryos that are similar to those involved in vertebrate head development, particularly focusing on prechordal plate-like and neural crest-like cells.
- - The research shows that key signaling pathways (Nodal, Hedgehog, and Wnt) are conserved in both vertebrates and amphioxus, suggesting that the mechanisms of head development can be traced back to a common ancestor of all chordates.
The core molecular mechanisms of dorsal organizer formation during gastrulation are highly conserved within the chordate lineage. One of the key characteristics is that Nodal signaling is required for the organizer-specific gene expression. This feature appears to be ancestral, as evidenced by the presence in the most basally divergent chordate amphioxus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCephalochordates (amphioxi or lancelets) are representatives of the most basally divergent group of the chordate phylum. Studies of amphioxus development and anatomy hence provide a key insight into vertebrate evolution. More widespread use of amphioxus in the evo-devo field would be greatly facilitated by expanding the methodological toolbox available in this model system.
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