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Research Focus

Keywords

  • Developmental Biology
  • Neurogenic Placodes
  • Neural Crest
  • Equipment & Techniques

  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Microscopy
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    Professor Clare Baker

    (she/her/hers)
    University Position
    Professor

    Interests

    My group has studied a broad range of questions relating to the development of neurogenic placodes and the neural crest, two embryonic cell populations in vertebrates that together build the entire peripheral nervous system. Neurogenic placodes - paired patches of thickened surface ectoderm in the embryonic head - give rise to the paired peripheral sense organs and most of the neurons in cranial sensory ganglia. Current work in the lab focuses on the formation of lateral line electroreceptors, as a model for sensory cell-type diversification in development and evolution. Mechanosensory hair cells in the inner ear, arising from the otic placode, detect fluid movement for hearing and balance. In fishes and aquatic-stage amphibians, almost identical hair cells are also found in lateral line placode-derived neuromasts, distributed in lines over the head and trunk, which detect local water movement. In electroreceptive species (e.g. skates, sturgeons, salamanders), some or all of the cranial neuromast lines are flanked by fields of electrosensory ampullary organs that detect weak, low-frequency electric fields around other animals in water (primarily used for detecting prey/predators). We and others have shown that lateral line placodes form ampullary organs as well as neuromasts, and that electroreceptors are closely related to mechanosensory hair cells. Electroreception was lost in the lineages leading to teleost fishes and to frogs, so electroreceptor development cannot be studied in the standard lab models, i.e., the teleost zebrafish and the frog Xenopus. However, electroreception evolved at least twice independently within teleost fishes, most likely from neuromast hair cells - a superb example of convergent evolution. We are investigating the embryological origins of electroreceptors and the genes underlying their formation, in a wide range of vertebrate groups including lamprey (jawless fish), skate (cartilaginous fish), axolotl (amphibian), sturgeon and paddlefish (non-teleost ray-finned bony fishes), and catfish (a teleost with independently evolved electroreceptors).

    Paddlefish larval lateral line organs

    Lateral line organs on the head in a larval paddlefish (skinmount stained with Sytox green). Rosette-like electrosensory organs flank lines of mechanosensory neuromasts.

    Key Publications

    Identification of multiple transcription factor genes potentially involved in the development of electrosensory versus mechanosensory lateral line organs

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.14.536701
    Journal:
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2023
    Authors: M Minařík, M Modrell, A Gillis, A Campbell, I Fuller, R Lyne, G Micklem, D Gela, M Pšenička, C Baker

    Atoh1 is required for the formation of lateral line electroreceptors and hair cells, whereas Foxg1 represses an electrosensory fate

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.15.537030
    Journal:
    E-pub date: 16 Apr 2023
    Authors: M Minařík, AS Campbell, R Franěk, M Vazačová, M Havelka, D Gela, M Pšenička, CVH Baker

    Insights into olfactory ensheathing cell development from a laser-microdissection and transcriptome-profiling approach.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/glia.23870
    Journal: Glia
    E-pub date: 1 Dec 2020
    Authors: SN Perera, RM Williams, R Lyne, O Stubbs, DP Buehler, T Sauka-Spengler, M Noda, G Micklem, EM Southard-Smith, CVH Baker

    Evolution of the hypoxia-sensitive cells involved in amniote respiratory reflexes.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.21231
    Journal: Elife
    E-pub date: 7 Apr 2017
    Authors: D Hockman, AJ Burns, G Schlosser, KP Gates, B Jevans, A Mongera, S Fisher, G Unlu, EW Knapik, CK Kaufman, C Mosimann, LI Zon, JJ Lancman, PDS Dong, H Lickert, AS Tucker, CV Baker

    Insights into electrosensory organ development, physiology and evolution from a lateral line-enriched transcriptome.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24197
    Journal: Elife
    E-pub date: 27 Mar 2017
    Authors: MS Modrell, M Lyne, AR Carr, HH Zakon, D Buckley, AS Campbell, MC Davis, G Micklem, CV Baker

    The amniote paratympanic organ develops from a previously undiscovered sensory placode.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2036
    Journal: Nat Commun
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2012
    Authors: P O'Neill, S-S Mak, B Fritzsch, RK Ladher, CVH Baker

    Electrosensory ampullary organs are derived from lateral line placodes in cartilaginous fishes

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1242/dev.084046
    Journal: Development
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2012
    Authors: JA Gillis, MS Modrell, RG Northcutt, K Catania, CA Luer, CVH Baker

    Electrosensory ampullary organs are derived from lateral line placodes in bony fishes.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1502
    Journal: Nat Commun
    E-pub date: 11 Oct 2011
    Authors: MS Modrell, WE Bemis, RG Northcutt, MC Davis, CVH Baker

    Neural crest origin of olfactory ensheathing glia.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1012248107
    Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
    E-pub date: 7 Dec 2010
    Authors: P Barraud, AA Seferiadis, LD Tyson, MF Zwart, HL Szabo-Rogers, C Ruhrberg, KJ Liu, CVH Baker

    Publications

    Olfactory ensheathing cells abutting the embryonic olfactory bulb express Frzb, whose deletion disrupts olfactory axon targeting.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/glia.23515
    Journal: Glia
    E-pub date: 1 Dec 2018
    Authors: CA Rich, SN Perera, J Andratschke, CC Stolt, DP Buehler, EM Southard-Smith, M Wegner, S Britsch, CVH Baker

    Striking parallels between carotid body glomus cell and adrenal chromaffin cell development.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.05.016
    Journal: Dev Biol
    E-pub date: 1 Dec 2018
    Authors: D Hockman, I Adameyko, M Kaucka, P Barraud, T Otani, A Hunt, AC Hartwig, E Sock, D Waithe, MCM Franck, P Ernfors, S Ehinger, MJ Howard, N Brown, J Reese, CVH Baker

    Insights into Electroreceptor Development and Evolution from Molecular Comparisons with Hair Cells.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icy037
    Journal: Integr Comp Biol
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2018
    Authors: CVH Baker, MS Modrell

    Neural crest Notch/Rbpj signaling regulates olfactory gliogenesis and neuronal migration.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/dvg.23215
    Journal: Genesis
    E-pub date: 1 Jun 2018
    Authors: SR Miller, C Benito, R Mirsky, KR Jessen, CVH Baker

    The origin and evolution of cell types.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/nrg.2016.127
    Journal: Nat Rev Genet
    E-pub date: 1 Dec 2016
    Authors: D Arendt, JM Musser, CVH Baker, A Bergman, C Cepko, DH Erwin, M Pavlicev, G Schlosser, S Widder, MD Laubichler, GP Wagner

    Evidence for a Notch1-mediated transition during olfactory ensheathing cell development.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12494
    Journal: J Anat
    E-pub date: 1 Sep 2016
    Authors: SR Miller, SN Perera, C Benito, SRW Stott, CVH Baker

    The development of lateral line placodes: taking a broader view.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.02.016
    Journal: Dev Biol
    E-pub date: 1 May 2014
    Authors: T Piotrowski, CVH Baker

    A fate-map for cranial sensory ganglia in the sea lamprey.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.10.021
    Journal: Developmental Biology
    E-pub date: 15 Jan 2014
    Authors: MS Modrell, D Hockman, B Uy, D Buckley, T Sauka-Spengler, ME Bronner, CVH Baker

    Developmental evidence for serial homology of the vertebrate jaw and gill arch skeleton.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2429
    Journal: Nat Commun
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2013
    Authors: JA Gillis, MS Modrell, CVH Baker

    The evolution and development of vertebrate lateral line electroreceptors.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.082362
    Journal: J Exp Biol
    E-pub date: 1 Jul 2013
    Authors: CVH Baker, MS Modrell, JA Gillis

    Specification of GnRH-1 neurons by antagonistic FGF and retinoic acid signaling.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.12.016
    Journal: Dev Biol
    E-pub date: 15 Feb 2012
    Authors: V Sabado, P Barraud, CVH Baker, A Streit

    Molecular analysis of neurogenic placode development in a basal ray-finned fish.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/dvg.20707
    Journal: Genesis
    E-pub date: 1 Apr 2011
    Authors: MS Modrell, D Buckley, CVH Baker

    Holocephalan embryos provide evidence for gill arch appendage reduction and opercular evolution in cartilaginous fishes.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1012968108
    Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
    E-pub date: 25 Jan 2011
    Authors: JA Gillis, KA Rawlinson, J Bell, WS Lyon, CVH Baker, NH Shubin

    Activation of Pax3 target genes is necessary but not sufficient for neurogenesis in the ophthalmic trigeminal placode.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.11.032
    Journal: Dev Biol
    E-pub date: 15 Feb 2009
    Authors: CM Dude, C-YK Kuan, JR Bradshaw, NDE Greene, F Relaix, MR Stark, CVH Baker

    The evolution and elaboration of vertebrate neural crest cells.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.gde.2008.11.006
    Journal: Curr Opin Genet Dev
    E-pub date: 1 Dec 2008
    Authors: CVH Baker

    The evolutionary origin of neural crest and placodes.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.21060
    Journal: J Exp Zool B Mol Dev Evol
    E-pub date: 15 Jul 2005
    Authors: CVH Baker, G Schlosser

    Vertebrate cranial placodes I. Embryonic induction.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1006/dbio.2001.0156
    Journal: Dev Biol
    E-pub date: 1 Apr 2001
    Authors: CV Baker, M Bronner-Fraser

    Establishing neuronal identity in vertebrate neurogenic placodes.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1242/dev.127.14.3045
    Journal: Development
    E-pub date: 1 Jul 2000
    Authors: CV Baker, M Bronner-Fraser

    Competence, specification and induction of Pax-3 in the trigeminal placode.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1242/dev.126.1.147
    Journal: Development
    E-pub date: 1 Jan 1999
    Authors: CV Baker, MR Stark, C Marcelle, M Bronner-Fraser

    Early- and late-migrating cranial neural crest cell populations have equivalent developmental potential in vivo.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1242/dev.124.16.3077
    Journal: Development
    E-pub date: 31 Aug 1997
    Authors: CV Baker, M Bronner-Fraser, NM Le Douarin, MA Teillet

    A Xenopus c-kit-related receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in migrating stem cells of the lateral line system.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/0925-4773(94)00338-n
    Journal: Mech Dev
    E-pub date: 1 Apr 1995
    Authors: CV Baker, CR Sharpe, NP Torpey, J Heasman, CC Wylie