Korean Biological research group in Michigan
KBM은 미시간에서 의학, 약학, 생물학 관련 연구를 수행하는 연구자들간의 시너지를 도모하는 모임 입니다.
매달 학술 세미나 및 네트워킹 세션을 진행 하고 있으며, 미시간에 계시는 모든 연구자들의 참여를 환영합니다.
KBM is first organized by a group of researchers from the University of Michigan working in various bio-related fields. Since 2020, we have been having regular seminars and network sessions through an online platform. We believe now is the right timing for expanding our group beyond the Michigan area. So if you are interested in joining the seminars and meetings, please contact us!
Contact: kbm.president@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The complex architecture of the murine fetus originates from a simple ball of pluripotent epiblast cells, which initiate morphogenesis upon implantation. In turn, this establishes an intermediate state of tissue-scale organization of the embryonic lineage in the form of an epithelial monolayer, where patterning signals delineate the body plan. However, how this major morphogenetic process is orchestrated on a cellular level and synchronized with the developmental progression of the epiblast is still obscure. Here, we identified that the small GTPase Rap1 plays a critical role in reshaping the pluripotent lineage. We found that Rap1 activity is controlled via Oct4/Esrrb input and is required for the transmission of polarization cues, which enables the de novo epithelialization and formation of tricellular junctions in the epiblast. Thus, Rap1 acts as a molecular switch that coordinates the morphogenetic program in the embryonic lineage, in sync with the cellular states of pluripotency.