美国杜克大学医学院Di Talia Stefano小组在最新研究中，报道了拓扑相互作用驱动果蝇胚胎的第一个命运决定。该研究于2025年2月25日发表于国际一流学术期刊《自然—物理学》杂志上。

据介绍，在胚胎发生过程中，第一个细胞的命运——细胞是否参与胚胎发育——通常与核仁的位置有关。细胞周期振荡器和相关的细胞骨架动力学有助于控制核定位。然而，确保正确数量的原子核移动到适当位置的机制仍然知之甚少。

课题组人员展示了有丝分裂纺锤体的方向控制着第一个命运决定，胚胎或卵黄细胞的命运，在果蝇胚胎主题光片显微镜实验。

结合积分几何启发的计算方法，细胞周期基因的操作，以及几何和拓扑之间关系的研究，研究组表明纺锤体取向是由与邻近核的拓扑相互作用控制的，而不是由核间距离控制的。

利用空间填充系统的物理学，研究组发展了微管结构的拓扑依赖理论。他们的工作显示了微管力学的拓扑相互作用，如何确保核密度的自动控制并决定细胞的命运。

附：英文原文

Title: Topological interactions drive the first fate decision in the Drosophila embryo

Author: Hur, Woonyung, Mukherjee, Arghyadip, Hayden, Luke, Lu, Ziqi, Chao, Anna, Mitchell, Noah P., Streichan, Sebastian J., Vergassola, Massimo, Di Talia, Stefano

Issue&Volume: 2025-02-25

Abstract: During embryogenesis, the first cell fate decision—whether the cell participates in development of the embryo or not—is often linked to the positioning of the nucleus. The cell cycle oscillator and associated cytoskeletal dynamics contribute to the control of nuclear positioning. However, the mechanisms that ensure that the correct number of nuclei move to their appropriate place remain poorly understood. Here we show that the orientation of the mitotic spindle controls the first fate decision, embryonic or yolk cell fate, in Drosophila embryos using light sheet microscopy experiments. Combining computational methods inspired by integral geometry, manipulation of cell cycle genes, and investigation of the relationship between geometry and topology, we show that spindle orientation is controlled by topological interactions with neighbouring nuclei and not by internuclear distance. Leveraging the physics of space-filling systems, we develop a theory for topological dependency in microtubule structures. Our work shows how the topological interplay of microtubule mechanics can ensure robust control of nuclear density and determine cell fate.

DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02796-x

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-025-02796-x