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Two-step cell polarization in algal zygotes

Nature Plants volume 3, Article number: 16221 (2017) Cite this article

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A Corrigendum to this article was published on 13 February 2017

Abstract

In most complex eukaryotes, development starts with the establishment of cell polarity determining the first axis of the body plan. This polarity axis is established by the asymmetrical distribution of intrinsic factors1–3, which breaks the symmetry in a single step. Zygotes of the brown alga Fucus, which unlike land plant and animal zygotes4,5 do not possess a maternally predetermined polarity axis, serve as models to study polarity establishment6,7. Here, we studied this process in Dictyota, and concluded that sense and direction of the cell polarization vector are established in two mechanistically and temporally distinct phases that are under control of different life cycle stages. On egg activation, the zygote elongates rapidly according to a maternally predetermined direction expressing the first phase of cell polarization. Which of the two poles of the resulting prolate spheroidal zygote will acquire the basal cell fate is subsequently environmentally determined. The second phase is accompanied by and dependent on zygotic transcription instead of relying uniquely on maternal factors8. Cell polarization, whereby determination of direction and sense of the polarization vector are temporally and mechanistically uncoupled, is unique and represents a favourable system to gain insight into the processes underlying cell polarity establishment in general.

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Figure 1: Elongation and polarization in the Dictyota dichotoma embryo.
Figure 2: Determination of direction of the polarization vector: elongation and chloroplast distribution.
Figure 3: Determination of sense of the polarization vector: timing, environmental cue and zygotic control.
Figure 4: One-step versus two-step zygote polarization.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) (PhD fellowship to K.A.B.) and ASSEMBLE (grant agreement no. 227799). We would like to thank S.M. Coelho, M. Claeys, K. Pauly, T. Motomura, J.H. Bothwell, C. Nagasato, A. Lipinska, F. Steen, G. Zuccarello and C. Katsaros for stimulating conversations and M. Claeys and S. D'hondt for practical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

    Kenny A. Bogaert & Olivier De Clerck

  2. VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium

    Tom Beeckman

  3. Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium

    Tom Beeckman

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  1. Kenny A. Bogaert
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K.A.B. conducted all experiments. K.A.B., T.B. and O.D.C. wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kenny A. Bogaert.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Bogaert, K., Beeckman, T. & De Clerck, O. Two-step cell polarization in algal zygotes. Nature Plants 3, 16221 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2016.221

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