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Tet proteins enhance the developmental hourglass

Nature Genetics volume 48, pages 345–347 (2016)Cite this article

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A new study compares DNA methylation profiles in developing zebrafish, Xenopus tropicalis and mice and suggests roles for Tet proteins in demethylating conserved gene enhancers during the phylotypic period of early development. These findings provide an epigenetic underpinning for the 'hourglass' model.

A clear initial question is why the morphologies of early vertebrate embryos vary so greatly. This variation may be attributable to major differences in the timing of embryonic gene activation (EGA; varying from the first to the tenth postzygotic cell cycle), the timing of the first lineage decision and, especially, the need for or lack of embryo implantation (in mice and fish, respectively) and therefore the elaboration of extraembryonic tissues. Despite this variation, vertebrates must execute a similar body plan, which involves the coordinated expression of ancient and well-conserved gene sets (Wnt, Notch, homeobox (Hox) and others). In 2010, Kalinka et al. provided the first evidence for a phylotypic transcriptomic signature, which showed that the normal interspecies temporal variation in orthologous gene expression during development becomes constrained during mid-embryogenesis3. Interestingly, the genes best conforming to the hourglass model are those involved in key developmental and morphological processes and pathways4,5, prompting the question addressed here: how are these genes dynamically regulated during the phylotypic period?

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Figure 1: Depiction of the hourglass model of early development and its molecular underpinning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peter G. Hendrickson and Bradley R. Cairns are in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.,

    Peter G Hendrickson & Bradley R Cairns

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  1. Peter G Hendrickson
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  2. Bradley R Cairns
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Correspondence to Bradley R Cairns.

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Hendrickson, P., Cairns, B. Tet proteins enhance the developmental hourglass. Nat Genet 48, 345–347 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.3533

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