Differential regulatory mechanisms of canonical Wnt pathway activity in the epiblast and trophoblast lineages

• Applicant: Dr. Ivan Bedzhov
• Subject Area: Developmental Biology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 530277456

The developmental progression relies on tightly regulated signalling crosstalk between the embryonic and the extraembryonic lineages coordinating the differentiation and morphogenesis of the embryo. Signalling centres established in the conceptus provide patterning cues in an auto- and paracrine manner directing cell fate transitions that set up the body axes. Multiple factors orchestrating embryo patterning have been identified over the last decades and many of them have been implemented in differentiation protocols directing the fate of pluripotent cells in vitro. At the same time, less is known about the cellular mechanisms that “shield” the early lineages from signalling cues in order to counteract premature differentiation. In this project proposal, we focus on the canonical Wnt signalling, which is one of the key signalling pathways that pattern the embryo during the early post-implantation stages. Our preliminary data show that the epiblast robustly responds to Wnt stimulation, in contrast to the neighbouring trophoblast cells. Here we seek to decipher the cellular mechanisms of the differential Wnt activity and understand its role in trophoblast development.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants