Fig. 8. Perpendicular divisions generate molecularly distinct daughter cells. (A-C) Perpendicular divisions in isolated blastomeres generate one daughter cell with localised aPKC and one daughter cell without. Blastomeres were stained with aPKC (red) and ß1 integrin (green). A transmitted light image is shown below the fluorescent image. (A) An isolated blastomere. (B) An isolated blastomere during a perpendicular division. (C) Superficial (top) and deep (bottom) daughters generated after an isolated blastomere completes a perpendicular division. (D,E) The divisions generate differences that lead to later differences in gene expression. (D) An isolated 64-cell stage blastomere was left to divide, separated into a deep and a superficial cell, and cultured until control embryos reach stage 10. (E) Gene expression of the cultured blastomeres was analysed by quantitative real time RT-PCR. The y-axis shows expression in arbitrary units, with 100 being the same level as a stage 10 animal cap. Odc and XSox3 are equally expressed, while ESR6e is preferentially expressed in outer cell derived clones. The mean of three independent experiments is presented.

Return to article