Is Embryonic Evolution’s pace associated with differences in protein stability?

-Ayooshi Mitra, Amity University, Kolkata

While many developmental processes have evolutionarily preserved the molecular and cellular mechanisms, the pace at which they operate varies considerably between species. The pace of embryonic development determines the rate of individual processes of differentiation and the overall development duration. Comparing conserved and well-characterized processes of development in different species allows the exploration of mechanisms that explain pace differences.

Spinal cord development involves a well-defined gene regulatory system consisting of a series of stereotypic gene expression changes, regulated by extrinsic signaling as cells differentiate from neural progenitors to post-mitotic neurons. The regulatory program and the resulting neuronal cell types in different vertebrate species are highly similar despite the difference in species tempo.

A study was conducted to illustrate the rate of differentiation of motor neurons in human and mouse and to recognize molecular differences that explain differences in pace. The results suggested that variations in protein turnover play a role in differences in motor neuron differentiation pace among species. Identifying a molecular mechanism that can explain differences between species in the pace of embryonic development focuses attention on the role of protein stability in tempo control. 

Source: Rayon, T, et al., Species-specific pace of development is associated with differences in protein stability (2020). Science, Vol. 369, Issue 6510, eaba7667, DOI:http://10.1126/science.aba7667

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