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The notochord: structure and functions

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Abstract

The notochord is an embryonic midline structure common to all members of the phylum Chordata, providing both mechanical and signaling cues to the developing embryo. In vertebrates, the notochord arises from the dorsal organizer and it is critical for proper vertebrate development. This evolutionary conserved structure located at the developing midline defines the primitive axis of embryos and represents the structural element essential for locomotion. Besides its primary structural function, the notochord is also a source of developmental signals that patterns surrounding tissues. Among the signals secreted by the notochord, Hedgehog proteins play key roles during embryogenesis. The Hedgehog signaling pathway is a central regulator of embryonic development, controlling the patterning and proliferation of a wide variety of organs. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on notochord structure and functions, with a particular emphasis on the key developmental events that take place in vertebrates. Moreover, we discuss some genetic studies highlighting the phenotypic consequences of impaired notochord development, which enabled to understand the molecular basis of different human congenital defects and diseases.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are supported by grants from the University of Padova and the Italian Ministry of University and Research. We wish to thank Enrico Moro for the helpful comments and critical reading and Giacomo Cavaliere for the expert image assistance.

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  1. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131, Padua, Italy

    Diana Corallo, Valeria Trapani & Paolo Bonaldo

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  1. Diana Corallo
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Corallo, D., Trapani, V. & Bonaldo, P. The notochord: structure and functions. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 72, 2989–3008 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-015-1897-z

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