BDR Seminar Synthetic Organizer Cells Guide Development via Spatial and Biochemical Instructions Jul. 14, 2025 16:00 - 17:00
Category
Seminar
Place
Kobe & Virtual
Speaker
Toshimichi Yamada
Affiliation
University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
Poster
Non BDR Members: Please register from the above link.
Summary
In vitro models of development typically rely on uniformly applied, media-borne morphogens and therefore lack the spatial organization found in embryos. To address this, we engineered synthetic organizer cells that self-assemble around mouse embryonic stem cells via programmed cell adhesion and locally secrete morphogens. In this seminar, I will present how synthetic organizer cells expressing WNT3A and its antagonist DKK1 generate tunable morphogen gradients that direct anterior-posterior (A-P) axis patterning. I will highlight how gradient range correlates with A-P lineage specification and how shallower gradients, while producing truncated lineages, yield more refined tissue morphologies, including a beating, chambered cardiac-like structure with an endothelial network. These findings showcase synthetic organizer cells as a versatile tool for directing stem cell development through spatially controlled signaling.