Tal Gordon
Research
Regeneration, Stem Cells and Developmental Biology
One of the key unanswered questions in regenerative biology is why some animals are able to regenerate lost or damaged organs while others cannot. Regenerating animals must rebuild complex structures composed of many different cell types, using progenitor cells that are already present in adult tissues. What is the nature of these progenitors, and what enables their remarkable plasticity? How do cells sense injury, and what signals trigger regeneration? How has regeneration evolved across animals, and do different species rely on shared or distinct mechanisms to restore lost tissues?
Our team has established the solitary ascidian Polycarpa mytiligera as an experimental model to address these fundamental questions. Ascidian are invertebrate chordates with diverse life histories and regenerative capacities, making them uniquely suited for studying the cellular and molecular basis of regeneration in a comparative and evolutionary context.
Comparative Regeneration Across Species
Understanding regeneration requires studying both highly regenerative species and those with limited regenerative capacity. Ascidian provide a powerful comparative system due to their phylogenetic position as chordates and their wide diversity in developmental strategies, including solitary and colonial lifestyles, as well as partial and whole-body regeneration. By comparing regenerative responses across different ascidian species, we aim to uncover conserved and divergent mechanisms that underlie tissue regeneration and to better understand how regenerative capacity has evolved.
Tissue-Specific Regeneration of the Central Nervous System
Ascidian exhibit rapid and robust regeneration of the central nervous system following complete removal, with functional recovery occurring within days. This process involves the formation of new neural progenitors and the activation of conserved neurodevelopmental pathways. Our research focuses on identifying the cellular sources of regenerating neural cells and elucidating the molecular programs that control neuronal differentiation, axonal regrowth, and circuit reassembly. The high regenerative capacity of this system also allows us to investigate how injury and aging affect neural regeneration.
Environmental Regulation of Wound Response and Regeneration
Environmental conditions can profoundly influence developmental and regenerative processes. Our work examines how external stressors, particularly thermal stress, affect wound responses and regenerative outcomes. By studying stress-induced changes in cellular behavior and gene expression, we aim to uncover mechanisms that link environmental conditions to tissue repair and regeneration.
Methods and Emerging Tools
We use genetic markers, live imaging, and cell tracking approaches to study cell behavior and lineage dynamics during regeneration. To expand the experimental toolkit available for this emerging model system, our lab is developing new genomic and transcriptomic resources for Polycarpa mytiligera. We are also establishing advanced live imaging and cell tracking methods, as well as approaches for genetic manipulation.
By combining comparative biology with functional and molecular analyses, our overarching goal is to identify and experimentally validate the specific cell populations and genetic pathways that enable tissue renewal.
