ELECTROGENDEV · Bioelectricity and gene regulation interplay in embryonic development

Turning a single cell into a complex organism is a key biological process usually studied through molecular signals that guide cell specialization and tissue development. Although chemical gradients and transcription factors have been extensively studied, recent research highlights the critical role that bioelectric signals play in embryonic patterning and gene regulation. These bioelectric signals are produced when charged ions flow through certain proteins, such ion channels and pumps, and pass through the cell membrane. Unfortunately, because these two disciplines are frequently investigated independently, the precise interaction between bioelectric signals and gene control throughout embryonic development remains substantially unknown. The objective of the ELECTROGENDEV project is to unite these two fields and present an exhaustive explanation of how gene regulation and bioelectricity work together to govern embryonic development in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Due to its quick growth and simple body plan, this marine invertebrate has become an invaluable model organism for researching the molecular underpinnings of early embryonic development.In this project, I will map the bioelectric landscape during ascidian embryogenesis using genetically encoded voltage indicators and ion sensors. Parallelly, I will study a variety of ion channels, which are responsible for establishing that bioelectric landscape, and determine which ones are co-expressed with important developmental genes. Integrating these findings will pinpoint important regulatory nodes in the development of embryos, which I will then modify pharmacologically or genetically to create a full model of how bioelectric signals interact with the genetic program during embryo development. The findings have the potential to lead to new uses of bioelectric signaling, allowing us to address crucial issues in developmental diseases, regenerative medicine, and cancer reprogramming.