Molecular anatomy of placode development in Xenopus laevis

Aberrant expression of homeobox gene SIX1 in Hodgkin lymphoma

In Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) we recently identified deregulated expression of homeobox genes MSX1 and OTX2 which are physiologically involved in development of the embryonal neural plate border region. Here, we examined in HL homeobox gene SIX1 an additional regulator of this embryonal region mediating differentiation of placodal precursors. SIX1 was aberrantly activated in 12 % of HL patient samples in silico, indicating a pathological role in a subset of this B-cell malignancy. In addition, SIX1 expression was detected in HL cell lines which were used as models to reveal upstream factors and target genes of this basic developmental regulator. We detected increased copy numbers of the SIX1 locus at chromosome 14q23 correlating with enhanced expression while chromosomal translocations were absent. Moreover, comparative expression profiling data and pertinent gene modulation experiments indicated that the WNT-signalling pathway and transcription factor MEF2C regulate SIX1 expression. Genes encoding the transcription factors GATA2, GATA3, MSX1 and SPIB – all basic lymphoid regulators - were identified as targets of SIX1 in HL. In addition, cofactors EYA1 and TLE4, respectively, contrastingly mediated activation and suppression of SIX1 target gene expression. Thus, the protein domain interfaces may represent therapeutic targets in SIX1-positive HL subsets. Collectively, our data reveal a gene regulatory network with SIX1 centrally deregulating lymphoid differentiation and support concordance of lymphopoiesis/lymphomagenesis and developmental processes in the neural plate border region.

Dissecting the pre-placodal transcriptome to reveal presumptive direct targets of Six1 and Eya1 in cranial placodes

The pre-placodal ectoderm, marked by the expression of the transcription factor Six1 and its co-activator Eya1, develops into placodes and ultimately into many cranial sensory organs and ganglia. Using RNA-Seq in Xenopus laevis we screened for presumptive direct placodal target genes of Six1 and Eya1 by overexpressing hormone-inducible constructs of Six1 and Eya1 in pre-placodal explants, and blocking protein synthesis before hormone-inducing nuclear translocation of Six1 or Eya1. Comparing the transcriptome of explants with non-induced controls, we identified hundreds of novel Six1/Eya1 target genes with potentially important roles for placode development. Loss-of-function studies confirmed that target genes encoding known transcriptional regulators of progenitor fates (e.g. Sox2, Hes8) and neuronal/sensory differentiation (e.g. Ngn1, Atoh1, Pou4f1, Gfi1) require Six1 and Eya1 for their placodal expression. Our findings provide insights into the gene regulatory network regulating placodal neurogenesis downstream of Six1 and Eya1 suggesting new avenues of research into placode development and disease.

The positive transcriptional elongation factor (P-TEFb) is required for neural crest specification

Regulation of gene expression at the level of transcriptional elongation has been shown to be important in stem cells and tumour cells, but its role in the whole animal is only now being fully explored. Neural crest cells (NCCs) are a multipotent population of cells that migrate during early development from the dorsal neural tube throughout the embryo where they differentiate into a variety of cell types including pigment cells, cranio-facial skeleton and sensory neurons. Specification of NCCs is both spatially and temporally regulated during embryonic development. Here we show that components of the transcriptional elongation regulatory machinery, CDK9 and CYCLINT1 of the P-TEFb complex, are required to regulate neural crest specification. In particular, we show that expression of the proto-oncogene c-Myc and c-Myc responsive genes are affected. Our data suggest that P-TEFb is crucial to drive expression of c-Myc, which acts as a 'gate-keeper' for the correct temporal and spatial development of the neural crest.

A cellular and molecular mosaic establishes growth and differentiation states for cranial sensory neurons

We compared apparent origins, cellular diversity and regulation of initial axon growth for differentiating cranial sensory neurons. We assessed the molecular and cellular composition of the developing olfactory and otic placodes, and cranial sensory ganglia to evaluate contributions of ectodermal placode versus neural crest at each site. Special sensory neuron populations-the olfactory and otic placodes, as well as those in vestibulo-acoustic ganglion- are entirely populated with cells expressing cranial placode-associated, rather than neural crest-associated markers. The remaining cranial sensory ganglia are a mosaic of cells that express placode-associated as well as neural crest-associated markers. We found two distinct populations of neural crest in the cranial ganglia: the first, as expected, is labeled by Wnt1:Cre mediated recombination. The second is not labeled by Wnt1:Cre recombination, and expresses both Sox10 and FoxD3. These populations-Wnt1:Cre recombined, and Sox10/Foxd3-expressing- are proliferatively distinct from one another. Together, the two neural crest-associated populations are substantially more proliferative than their placode-associated counterparts. Nevertheless, the apparently placode- and neural crest-associated populations are similarly sensitive to altered signaling that compromises cranial morphogenesis and differentiation. Acute disruption of either Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) or Retinoic acid (RA) signaling alters axon growth and cell death, but does not preferentially target any of the three distinct populations. Apparently, mosaic derivation and diversity of precursors and early differentiating neurons, modulated uniformly by local signals, supports early cranial sensory neuron differentiation and growth.

The molecular basis of craniofacial placode development

The sensory organs of the vertebrate head originate from simple ectodermal structures known as cranial placodes. All cranial placodes derive from a common domain adjacent to the neural plate, the preplacodal region, which is induced at the border of neural and non-neural ectoderm during gastrulation. Induction and specification of the preplacodal region is regulated by the fibroblast growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein, WNT, and retinoic acid signaling pathways, and characterized by expression of the EYA and SIX family of transcriptional regulators. Once the preplacodal region is specified, different combinations of local signaling molecules and placode-specific transcription factors, including competence factors, promote the induction of individual cranial placodes along the neural axis of the head region. In this review, we summarize the steps of cranial placode development and discuss the roles of the main signaling molecules and transcription factors that regulate these steps during placode induction, specification, and development. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.

The involvement of PCP proteins in radial cell intercalations during Xenopus embryonic development

The planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway orients cells in diverse epithelial tissues in Drosophila and vertebrate embryos and has been implicated in many human congenital defects and diseases, such as ciliopathies, polycystic kidney disease and malignant cancers. During vertebrate gastrulation and neurulation, PCP signaling is required for convergent extension movements, which are primarily driven by mediolateral cell intercalations, whereas the role for PCP signaling in radial cell intercalations has been unclear. In this study, we examine the function of the core PCP proteins Vangl2, Prickle3 (Pk3) and Disheveled in the ectodermal cells, which undergo radial intercalations during Xenopus gastrulation and neurulation. In the epidermis, multiciliated cell (MCC) progenitors originate in the inner layer, but subsequently migrate to the embryo surface during neurulation. We find that the Vangl2/Pk protein complexes are enriched at the apical domain of intercalating MCCs and are essential for the MCC intercalatory behavior. Addressing the underlying mechanism, we identified KIF13B, as a motor protein that binds Disheveled. KIF13B is required for MCC intercalation and acts synergistically with Vangl2 and Disheveled, indicating that it may mediate microtubule-dependent trafficking of PCP proteins necessary for cell shape regulation. In the neural plate, the Vangl2/Pk complexes were also concentrated near the outermost surface of deep layer cells, suggesting a general role for PCP in radial intercalation. Consistent with this hypothesis, the ectodermal tissues deficient in Vangl2 or Disheveled functions contained more cell layers than normal tissues. We propose that PCP signaling is essential for both mediolateral and radial cell intercalations during vertebrate morphogenesis. These expanded roles underscore the significance of vertebrate PCP proteins as factors contributing to a number of diseases, including neural tube defects, tumor metastases, and various genetic syndromes characterized by abnormal migratory cell behaviors.

Using Xenopus to discover new genes involved in branchiootorenal spectrum disorders

Congenital hearing loss is an important clinical problem because, without early intervention, affected children do not properly acquire language and consequently have difficulties developing social skills. Although most newborns in the US are screened for hearing deficits, even earlier diagnosis can be made with prenatal genetic screening. Genetic screening that identifies the relevant mutated gene can also warn about potential congenital defects in organs not related to hearing. We will discuss efforts to identify new candidate genes that underlie the Branchiootorenal spectrum disorders in which affected children have hearing deficits and are also at risk for kidney defects. Mutations in two genes, SIX1 and EYA1, have been identified in about half of the patients tested. To uncover new candidate genes, we have used the aquatic animal model, Xenopus laevis, to identify genes that are part of the developmental genetic pathway of Six1 during otic and kidney development. We have already identified a large number of potential Six1 transcriptional targets and candidate co-factor proteins that are expressed at the right time and in the correct tissues to interact with Six1 during development. We discuss the advantages of using this system for gene discovery in a human congenital hearing loss syndrome.

Aberrantly Expressed OTX Homeobox Genes Deregulate B-Cell Differentiation in Hodgkin Lymphoma

In Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) we recently reported that deregulated homeobox gene MSX1 mediates repression of the B-cell specific transcription factor ZHX2. In this study we investigated regulation of MSX1 in this B-cell malignancy. Accordingly, we analyzed expression and function of OTX homeobox genes which activate MSX1 transcription during embryonal development in the neural plate border region. Our data demonstrate that OTX1 and OTX2 are aberrantly expressed in both HL patients and cell lines. Moreover, both OTX loci are targeted by genomic gains in overexpressing cell lines. Comparative expression profiling and subsequent pathway modulations in HL cell lines indicated that aberrantly enhanced FGF2-signalling activates the expression of OTX2. Downstream analyses of OTX2 demonstrated transcriptional activation of genes encoding transcription factors MSX1, FOXC1 and ZHX1. Interestingly, examination of the physiological expression profile of ZHX1 in normal hematopoietic cells revealed elevated levels in T-cells and reduced expression in B-cells, indicating a discriminatory role in lymphopoiesis. Furthermore, two OTX-negative HL cell lines overexpressed ZHX1 in correlation with genomic amplification of its locus at chromosomal band 8q24, supporting the oncogenic potential of this gene in HL. Taken together, our data demonstrate that deregulated homeobox genes MSX1 and OTX2 respectively impact transcriptional inhibition of (B-cell specific) ZHX2 and activation of (T-cell specific) ZHX1. Thus, we show how reactivation of a specific embryonal gene regulatory network promotes disturbed B-cell differentiation in HL.

Activation of Six1 Expression in Vertebrate Sensory Neurons

SIX1 homeodomain protein is one of the essential key regulators of sensory organ development. Six1-deficient mice lack the olfactory epithelium, vomeronasal organs, cochlea, vestibule and vestibuloacoustic ganglion, and also show poor neural differentiation in the distal part of the cranial ganglia. Simultaneous loss of both Six1 and Six4 leads to additional abnormalities such as small trigeminal ganglion and abnormal dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The aim of this study was to understand the molecular mechanism that controls Six1 expression in sensory organs, particularly in the trigeminal ganglion and DRG. To this end, we focused on the sensory ganglia-specific Six1 enhancer (Six1-8) conserved between chick and mouse. In vivo reporter assays using both animals identified an important core region comprising binding consensus sequences for several transcription factors including nuclear hormone receptors, TCF/LEF, SMAD, POU homeodomain and basic-helix-loop-helix proteins. The results provided information on upstream factors and signals potentially relevant to Six1 regulation in sensory neurons. We also report the establishment of a new transgenic mouse line (mSix1-8-NLSCre) that expresses Cre recombinase under the control of mouse Six1-8. Cre-mediated recombination was detected specifically in ISL1/2-positive sensory neurons of Six1-positive cranial sensory ganglia and DRG. The unique features of the mSix1-8-NLSCre line are the absence of Cre-mediated recombination in SOX10-positive glial cells and central nervous system and ability to induce recombination in a subset of neurons derived from the olfactory placode/epithelium. This mouse model can be potentially used to advance research on sensory development.

Kruppel-like factor family genes are expressed during Xenopus embryogenesis and involved in germ layer formation and body axis patterning

BACKGROUND

Kruppel-like factors (Klfs) are a family of transcription factors consisting of 17 members in mammals, Klf1-Klf17, which are involved in fundamental cellular physiological procedures, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. However, their functions in embryonic development have been poorly understood. Our previous study has demonstrated that the pluripotency factor Klf4 participates in germ layer formation and axis patterning of Xenopus embryos by means of the regulation of key developmental signals. In the present study, we further investigated comprehensively the expression and functions of the klf family genes, klf2, klf5, klf6, klf7, klf8, klf11, klf15, and klf17, during the embryogenesis of Xenopus laevis.

RESULTS

Spatio-temporal expression analyses demonstrate that these genes are transcribed both maternally and zygotically in Xenopus embryos, and during organogenesis and tissue differentiation, they are localized to a variety of placodes and tissues. Gain and loss of function studies manifest that Klf factors play different roles in germ layer formation and body axis patterning. Moreover, each Klf factor exhibits distinct regulatory effects on the expression of genes that are essential for germ layer formation and body axis patterning.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that Klf factors are involved in the fine-tuning of these genes during early embryogenesis.

The loss of scents: do defects in olfactory sensory neuron development underlie human disease?

The olfactory system is a fascinating and beguiling sensory system: olfactory sensory neurons detect odors underlying behaviors essential for mate choice, food selection, and escape from predators, among others. These sensory neurons are unique in that they have dendrites contacting the outside world, yet their first synapse lies in the central nervous system. The information entering the central nervous system is used to create odor memories that play a profound role in recognition of individuals, places, and appropriate foods. Here, the structure of the olfactory epithelium is given as an overview to discuss the origin of the olfactory placode, the plasticity of the olfactory sensory neurons, and finally the origins of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuroendocrine cells. For the purposes of this review, the development of the peripheral sensory system will be analyzed, incorporating recently published studies highlighting the potential novelties in development mechanisms. Specifically, an emerging model where the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb develop simultaneously from a continuous neurectoderm patterned at the end of gastrulation, and the multiple origins of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuroendocrine cells associated with the olfactory sensory system development will be presented. Advances in the understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying olfactory sensory system development allows for a more thorough understanding of the potential causes of human disease.

Zic1 controls placode progenitor formation non-cell autonomously by regulating retinoic acid production and transport

All cranial placode progenitors arise from a common precursor field anterior to the neural plate, the pre-placodal region (PPR). We showed that transcription factor Zic1, expressed at the anterior neural plate, is necessary and sufficient to promote placode fate. Here we reveal the non-cell autonomous activity of Zic1 and implicate retinoic acid (RA) signalling as a key player in cranial placode progenitor specification. In a screen for genes activated by Zic1, we identify several factors involved in RA metabolism and function. Among them we show that retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (RALDH2) and lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase (LPGDS), which, respectively, regulate the synthesis and transport of RA, directly participate in the establishment of the PPR. We propose that RALDH2 and LPGDS induction by Zic1 at the anterior neural plate allows for the localized production and transport of RA, which in turn activates a cranial placode developmental programme in neighbouring cells.

Transcriptional regulation of cranial sensory placode development

Cranial sensory placodes derive from discrete patches of the head ectoderm and give rise to numerous sensory structures. During gastrulation, a specialized "neural border zone" forms around the neural plate in response to interactions between the neural and nonneural ectoderm and signals from adjacent mesodermal and/or endodermal tissues. This zone subsequently gives rise to two distinct precursor populations of the peripheral nervous system: the neural crest and the preplacodal ectoderm (PPE). The PPE is a common field from which all cranial sensory placodes arise (adenohypophyseal, olfactory, lens, trigeminal, epibranchial, otic). Members of the Six family of transcription factors are major regulators of PPE specification, in partnership with cofactor proteins such as Eya. Six gene activity also maintains tissue boundaries between the PPE, neural crest, and epidermis by repressing genes that specify the fates of those adjacent ectodermally derived domains. As the embryo acquires anterior-posterior identity, the PPE becomes transcriptionally regionalized, and it subsequently becomes subdivided into specific placodes with distinct developmental fates in response to signaling from adjacent tissues. Each placode is characterized by a unique transcriptional program that leads to the differentiation of highly specialized cells, such as neurosecretory cells, sensory receptor cells, chemosensory neurons, peripheral glia, and supporting cells. In this review, we summarize the transcriptional and signaling factors that regulate key steps of placode development, influence subsequent sensory neuron specification, and discuss what is known about mutations in some of the essential PPE genes that underlie human congenital syndromes.

Olfactory sensory system develops from coordinated movements within the neural plate

BACKGROUND

The peripheral olfactory sensory system arises from morphologically identifiable structures called placodes. Placodes are relatively late developing structures, evident only well after the initiation of somitogenesis. Placodes are generally described as being induced from the ectoderm suggesting that their development is separate from the coordinated cell movements generating the central nervous system.

RESULTS

With the advent of modern techniques it is possible to follow the development of the neurectoderm giving rise to the anterior neural tube, including the olfactory placodes. The cell movements giving rise to the optic cup are coordinated with those generating the olfactory placodes and adjacent telencephalon. The formation of the basal lamina separating the placode from the neural tube is coincident with the anterior migration of cranial neural crest.

CONCLUSIONS

Olfactory placodes are transient morphological structures arising from a continuous sheet of neurectoderm that gives rise to the peripheral and central nervous system. This field of cells is specified at the end of gastrulation and not secondarily induced from ectoderm. The separation of olfactory placodes and telencephalon occurs through complex cell movements within the developing neural plate similar to that observed for the developing optic cup.

Early stages of induction of anterior head ectodermal properties in Xenopus embryos are mediated by transcriptional cofactor ldb1

BACKGROUND

Specific molecules involved in early inductive signaling from anterior neural tissue to the placodal ectoderm to establish a lens-forming bias, as well as their regulatory factors, remain largely unknown. In this study, we sought to identify and characterize these molecules.

RESULTS

Using an expression cloning strategy to isolate genes with lens-inducing activity, we identified the transcriptional cofactor ldb1. This, together with evidence for its nuclear dependence, suggests its role as a regulatory factor, not a direct signaling molecule. We propose that ldb1 mediates induction of early lens genes in our functional assay by transcriptional activation of lens-inducing signals. Gain-of-function assays demonstrate that the inductive activity of the anterior neural plate on head ectodermal structures can be augmented by ldb1. Loss-of-function assays show that knockdown of ldb1 leads to decreased expression of early lens and retinal markers and subsequently to defects in eye development.

CONCLUSIONS

The functional cloning, expression pattern, overexpression, and knockdown data show that an ldb1-regulated mechanism acts as an early signal for Xenopus lens induction.

Early embryonic specification of vertebrate cranial placodes

Cranial placodes contribute to many sensory organs and ganglia of the vertebrate head. The olfactory, otic, and lateral line placodes form the sensory receptor cells and neurons of the nose, ear, and lateral line system; the lens placode develops into the lens of the eye; epibranchial, profundal, and trigeminal placodes contribute sensory neurons to cranial nerve ganglia; and the adenohypophyseal placode gives rise to the anterior pituitary, a major endocrine control organ. Despite these differences in fate, all placodes are now known to originate from a common precursor, the preplacodal ectoderm (PPE). The latter is a horseshoe-shaped domain of ectoderm surrounding the anterior neural plate and neural crest and is defined by expression of transcription factor Six1, its cofactor Eya1, and other members of the Six and Eya families. Studies in zebrafish, Xenopus, and chick reveal that the PPE is specified together with other ectodermal territories (epidermis, neural crest, and neural plate) during early embryogenesis. During gastrulation, domains of ventrally (e.g., Dlx3/Dlx5, GATA2/GATA3, AP2, Msx1, FoxI1, and Vent1/Vent2) and dorsally (e.g., Zic1, Sox3, and Geminin) restricted transcription factors are established in response to a gradient of BMP and help to define non-neural and neural competence territories, respectively. At neural plate stages, the PPE is then induced in the non-neural competence territory by signals from the adjacent neural plate and mesoderm including FGF, BMP inhibitors, and Wnt inhibitors. Subsequently, signals from more localized signaling centers induce restricted expression domains of various transcription factors within the PPE, which specify multiplacodal areas and ultimately individual placodes. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The author has declared no conflicts of interest for this article.

Neural crest and placode interaction during the development of the cranial sensory system

In the vertebrate head, the peripheral components of the sensory nervous system are derived from two embryonic cell populations, the neural crest and cranial sensory placodes. Both arise in close proximity to each other at the border of the neural plate: neural crest precursors abut the future central nervous system, while placodes originate in a common preplacodal region slightly more lateral. During head morphogenesis, complex events organise these precursors into functional sensory structures, raising the question of how their development is coordinated. Here we review the evidence that neural crest and placode cells remain in close proximity throughout their development and interact repeatedly in a reciprocal manner. We also review recent controversies about the relative contribution of the neural crest and placodes to the otic and olfactory systems. We propose that a sequence of mutual interactions between the neural crest and placodes drives the coordinated morphogenesis that generates functional sensory systems within the head.

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

Cranial neurogenic placodes and the neural crest make essential contributions to key adult characteristics of all vertebrates, including the paired peripheral sense organs and craniofacial skeleton. Neurogenic placode development has been extensively characterized in representative jawed vertebrates (gnathostomes) but not in jawless fishes (agnathans). Here, we use in vivo lineage tracing with DiI, together with neuronal differentiation markers, to establish the first detailed fate-map for placode-derived sensory neurons in a jawless fish, the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, and to confirm that neural crest cells in the lamprey contribute to the cranial sensory ganglia. We also show that a pan-Pax3/7 antibody labels ophthalmic trigeminal (opV, profundal) placode-derived but not maxillomandibular trigeminal (mmV) placode-derived neurons, mirroring the expression of gnathostome Pax3 and suggesting that Pax3 (and its single Pax3/7 lamprey ortholog) is a pan-vertebrate marker for opV placode-derived neurons. Unexpectedly, however, our data reveal that mmV neuron precursors are located in two separate domains at neurula stages, with opV neuron precursors sandwiched between them. The different branches of the mmV nerve are not comparable between lampreys and gnatho-stomes, and spatial segregation of mmV neuron precursor territories may be a derived feature of lampreys. Nevertheless, maxillary and mandibular neurons are spatially segregated within gnathostome mmV ganglia, suggesting that a more detailed investigation of gnathostome mmV placode development would be worthwhile. Overall, however, our results highlight the conservation of cranial peripheral sensory nervous system development across vertebrates, yielding insight into ancestral vertebrate traits.

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The first detailed fate-map for placode-derived sensory neurons in a jawless fish.

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Pax3 is a pan-vertebrate marker for ophthalmic trigeminal placode-derived neurons.

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Maxillomandibular trigeminal neuron precursors are located in two separate domains.

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Confirmation that lamprey neural crest cells contribute to cranial sensory ganglia.

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Results overall highlight conservation of cranial sensory nervous system development.

The development of lateral line placodes: taking a broader view

The lateral line system of anamniote vertebrates enables the detection of local water movement and weak bioelectric fields. Ancestrally, it comprises neuromasts - small sense organs containing mechanosensory hair cells - distributed in characteristic lines over the head and trunk, flanked on the head by fields of electroreceptive ampullary organs, innervated by afferent neurons projecting respectively to the medial and dorsal octavolateral nuclei in the hindbrain. Given the independent loss of the electrosensory system in multiple lineages, the development and evolution of the mechanosensory and electrosensory components of the lateral line must be dissociable. Nevertheless, the entire system arises from a series of cranial lateral line placodes, which exhibit two modes of sensory organ formation: elongation to form sensory ridges that fragment (with neuromasts differentiating in the center of the ridge, and ampullary organs on the flanks), or migration as collectives of cells, depositing sense organs in their wake. Intensive study of the migrating posterior lateral line placode in zebrafish has yielded a wealth of information concerning the molecular control of migration and neuromast formation in this migrating placode, in this cypriniform teleost species. However, our mechanistic understanding of neuromast and ampullary organ formation by elongating lateral line placodes, and even of other zebrafish lateral line placodes, is sparse or non-existent. Here, we attempt to highlight the diversity of lateral line development and the limits of the current research focus on the zebrafish posterior lateral line placode. We hope this will stimulate a broader approach to this fascinating sensory system.

Establishing the pre-placodal region and breaking it into placodes with distinct identities

Specialized sensory organs in the vertebrate head originate from thickenings in the embryonic ectoderm called cranial sensory placodes. These placodes, as well as the neural crest, arise from a zone of ectoderm that borders the neural plate. This zone separates into a precursor field for the neural crest that lies adjacent to the neural plate, and a precursor field for the placodes, called the pre-placodal region (PPR), that lies lateral to the neural crest. The neural crest domain and the PPR are established in response to signaling events mediated by BMPs, FGFs and Wnts, which differentially activate transcription factors in these territories. In the PPR, members of the Six and Eya families, act in part to repress neural crest specific transcription factors, thus solidifying a placode developmental program. Subsequently, in response to environmental cues the PPR is further subdivided into placodal territories with distinct characteristics, each expressing a specific repertoire of transcription factors that provide the necessary information for their progression to mature sensory organs. In this review we summarize recent advances in the characterization of the signaling molecules and transcriptional effectors that regulate PPR specification and its subdivision into placodal domains with distinct identities.

The evolution and development of vertebrate lateral line electroreceptors

Electroreception is an ancient vertebrate sense with a fascinating evolutionary history involving multiple losses as well as independent evolution at least twice within teleosts. We review the phylogenetic distribution of electroreception and the morphology and innervation of electroreceptors in different vertebrate groups. We summarise recent work from our laboratory that has confirmed the homology of ampullary electroreceptors in non-teleost jawed vertebrates by showing, in conjunction with previously published work, that these are derived embryonically from lateral line placodes. Finally, we review hypotheses to explain the distribution of electroreception within teleosts, including the hypothesis that teleost ampullary and tuberous electroreceptors evolved via the modification of mechanosensory hair cells in lateral line neuromasts. We conclude that further experimental work on teleost electroreceptor development is needed to test such hypotheses.

Notch signaling represses p63 expression in the developing surface ectoderm

The development of the mature epidermis requires a coordinated sequence of signaling events and transcriptional changes to specify surface ectodermal progenitor cells to the keratinocyte lineage. The initial events that specify epidermal keratinocytes from ectodermal progenitor cells are not well understood. Here, we use both developing mouse embryos and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to explore the mechanisms that direct keratinocyte fate from ectodermal progenitor cells. We show that both hESCs and murine embryos express p63 before keratin 14. Furthermore, we find that Notch signaling is activated before p63 expression in ectodermal progenitor cells. Inhibition of Notch signaling pharmacologically or genetically reveals a negative regulatory role for Notch signaling in p63 expression during ectodermal specification in hESCs or mouse embryos, respectively. Taken together, these data reveal a role for Notch signaling in the molecular control of ectodermal progenitor cell specification to the epidermal keratinocyte lineage.

A maternally established SoxB1/SoxF axis is a conserved feature of chordate germ layer patterning

Despite deep evolutionary roots in the metazoa, the gene regulatory network driving germ layer specification is surprisingly labile both between and within phyla. In Xenopus laevis, SoxB1- and SoxF-type transcription factors are intimately involved in germ-layer specification, in part through their regulation of Nodal signaling. However, it is unclear if X. laevis is representative of the ancestral vertebrate condition, as the precise roles of SoxF and SoxB1 in germ-layer specification vary among vertebrates, and there is no evidence that SoxF mediates germ-layer specification in any invertebrate. To better understand the evolution of germ-layer specification in the vertebrate lineage, we analyzed the expression of soxB1 and soxF genes in embryos and larvae of the basal vertebrate lamprey, and the basal chordate amphioxus. We find that both species maternally deposit soxB1 mRNA in the animal pole, soxF mRNA in the vegetal hemisphere, and zygotically express soxB1 and soxF throughout nascent ectoderm and mesendoderm, respectively. We also find that soxF is excluded from the vegetalmost blastomeres in lamprey and that, in contrast to vertebrates, amphioxus does not express soxF in the oral epithelium. In the context of recent work, our results suggest that a maternally established animal/vegetal Sox axis is a deeply conserved feature of chordate development that predates the role of Nodal in vertebrate germ-layer specification. Furthermore, exclusion of this axis from the vegetal pole in lamprey is consistent with the presence of an extraembryonic yolk mass, as has been previously proposed. Finally, conserved expression of SoxF in the forming mouth across the vertebrates, but not in amphioxus, lends support to the idea that the larval amphioxus mouth is nonhomologous to the vertebrate mouth.

Evolution of electrosensory ampullary organs: conservation of Eya4 expression during lateral line development in jawed vertebrates

The lateral line system of fishes and amphibians comprises two ancient sensory systems: mechanoreception and electroreception. Electroreception is found in all major vertebrate groups (i.e. jawless fishes, cartilaginous fishes, and bony fishes); however, it was lost in several groups including anuran amphibians (frogs) and amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals), as well as in the lineage leading to the neopterygian clade of bony fishes (bowfins, gars, and teleosts). Electroreception is mediated by modified "hair cells," which are collected in ampullary organs that flank lines of mechanosensory hair cell containing neuromasts. In the axolotl (a urodele amphibian), grafting and ablation studies have shown a lateral line placode origin for both mechanosensory neuromasts and electrosensory ampullary organs (and the neurons that innervate them). However, little is known at the molecular level about the development of the amphibian lateral line system in general and electrosensory ampullary organs in particular. Previously, we identified Eya4 as a marker for lateral line (and otic) placodes, neuromasts, and ampullary organs in a shark (a cartilaginous fish) and a paddlefish (a basal ray-finned fish). Here, we show that Eya4 is similarly expressed during otic and lateral line placode development in the axolotl (a representative of the lobe-finned fish clade). Furthermore, Eya4 expression is specifically restricted to hair cells in both neuromasts and ampullary organs, as identified by coexpression with the calcium-buffering protein Parvalbumin3. As well as identifying new molecular markers for amphibian mechanosensory and electrosensory hair cells, these data demonstrate that Eya4 is a conserved marker for lateral line placodes and their derivatives in all jawed vertebrates.

The amniote paratympanic organ develops from a previously undiscovered sensory placode

The paratympanic organ (PTO), a mechanosensory hair cell-containing pouch in the amniote middle ear, was first described 100 years ago yet its origins remain unresolved. Homology with the anamniote spiracular organ is supported by association with homologous skeletal elements and similar central targets of afferent neurons, suggesting it might be a remnant of the water-dependent lateral line system, otherwise lost during the amniote transition to terrestrial life. However, this is incompatible with studies suggesting it arises from the first epibranchial (geniculate) placode. Here we show that a previously undiscovered Sox2-positive placode, immediately dorsal to the geniculate placode, forms the PTO and its afferent neurons, which are molecularly and morphologically distinct from geniculate neurons. These data remove the only obstacle to accepting the homology of the PTO and spiracular organ. We hypothesise that the PTO/spiracular organ represents an ancient head ectoderm module, developmentally and evolutionarily independent of both lateral line and epibranchial placodes.

Analysis of FGF-dependent and FGF-independent pathways in otic placode induction

The inner ear develops from a patch of thickened cranial ectoderm adjacent to the hindbrain called the otic placode. Studies in a number of vertebrate species suggest that the initial steps in induction of the otic placode are regulated by members of the Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) family, and that inhibition of FGF signaling can prevent otic placode formation. To better understand the genetic pathways activated by FGF signaling during otic placode induction, we performed microarray experiments to estimate the proportion of chicken otic placode genes that can be up-regulated by the FGF pathway in a simple culture model of otic placode induction. Surprisingly, we find that FGF is only sufficient to induce about 15% of chick otic placode-specific genes in our experimental system. However, pharmacological blockade of the FGF pathway in cultured chick embryos showed that although FGF signaling was not sufficient to induce the majority of otic placode-specific genes, it was still necessary for their expression in vivo. These inhibitor experiments further suggest that the early steps in otic placode induction regulated by FGF signaling occur through the MAP kinase pathway. Although our work suggests that FGF signaling is necessary for otic placode induction, it demonstrates that other unidentified signaling pathways are required to co-operate with FGF signaling to induce the full otic placode program.

Evolution of new characters after whole genome duplications: insights from amphioxus

Additional copies of genes resulting from two whole genome duplications at the base of the vertebrates have been suggested as enabling the evolution of vertebrate-specific structures such as neural crest, a midbrain/hindbrain organizer and neurogenic placodes. These structures, however, did not evolve entirely de novo, but arose from tissues already present in an ancestral chordate. This review discusses the evolutionary history of co-option of old genes for new roles in vertebrate development as well as the relative contributions of changes in cis-regulation and in protein structure. Particular examples are the FoxD, FGF8/17/18 and Pax2/5/8 genes. Comparisons with invertebrate chordates (amphioxus and tunicates) paint a complex picture with co-option of genes into new structures occurring both after and before the whole genome duplications. In addition, while cis-regulatory changes are likely of primary importance in evolution of vertebrate-specific structures, changes in protein structure including alternative splicing are non-trivial.

Development and evolution of the vertebrate primary mouth

The vertebrate oral region represents a key interface between outer and inner environments, and its structural and functional design is among the limiting factors for survival of its owners. Both formation of the respective oral opening (primary mouth) and establishment of the food-processing apparatus (secondary mouth) require interplay between several embryonic tissues and complex embryonic rearrangements. Although many aspects of the secondary mouth formation, including development of the jaws, teeth or taste buds, are known in considerable detail, general knowledge about primary mouth formation is regrettably low. In this paper, primary mouth formation is reviewed from a comparative point of view in order to reveal its underestimated morphogenetic diversity among, and also within, particular vertebrate clades. In general, three main developmental modes were identified. The most common is characterized by primary mouth formation via a deeply invaginated ectodermal stomodeum and subsequent rupture of the bilaminar oral membrane. However, in salamander, lungfish and also in some frog species, the mouth develops alternatively via stomodeal collar formation contributed both by the ecto- and endoderm. In ray-finned fishes, on the other hand, the mouth forms via an ectoderm wedge and later horizontal detachment of the initially compressed oral epithelia with probably a mixed germ-layer derivation. A very intriguing situation can be seen in agnathan fishes: whereas lampreys develop their primary mouth in a manner similar to the most common gnathostome pattern, hagfishes seem to undergo a unique oropharyngeal morphogenesis when compared with other vertebrates. In discussing the early formative embryonic correlates of primary mouth formation likely to be responsible for evolutionary-developmental modifications of this area, we stress an essential role of four factors: first, positioning and amount of yolk tissue; closely related to, second, endoderm formation during gastrulation, which initiates the process and constrains possible evolutionary changes within this area; third, incipient structure of the stomodeal primordium at the anterior neural plate border, where the ectoderm component of the prospective primary mouth is formed; and fourth, the prime role of Pitx genes for establishment and later morphogenesis of oral region both in vertebrates and non-vertebrate chordates.

Induction of the inner ear: stepwise specification of otic fate from multipotent progenitors

Despite its complexity in the adult, during development the inner ear arises from a simple epithelium, the otic placode. Placode specification is a multistep process that involves the integration of various signalling pathways and downstream transcription factors in time and space. Here we review the molecular events that successively commit multipotent ectodermal precursors to the otic lineage. The first step in this hierarchy is the specification of sensory progenitor cells, which can contribute to all sensory placodes, followed by the induction of a common otic-epibranchial field and finally the establishment the otic territory. In recent years, some of the molecular components that control this process have been identified, and begin to reveal complex interactions. Future studies will need to unravel how this information is integrated and encoded in the genome. This will form the blueprint for stem cell differentiation towards otic fates and generate a predictive gene regulatory network that models the earliest steps of otic specification.

A Systematic Survey and Characterization of Enhancers that Regulate Sox3 in Neuro-Sensory Development in Comparison with Sox2 Enhancers

Development of neural and sensory primordia at the early stages of embryogenesis depends on the activity of two B1 Sox transcription factors, Sox2 and Sox3. The embryonic expression patterns of the Sox2 and Sox3 genes are similar, yet they show gene-unique features. We screened for enhancers of the 231-kb genomic region encompassing Sox3 of chicken, and identified 13 new enhancers that showed activity in different domains of the neuro-sensory primordia. Combined with the three Sox3-proximal enhancers determined previously, at least 16 enhancers were involved in Sox3 regulation. Starting from the NP1 enhancer, more enhancers with different specificities are activated in sequence, resulting in complex overlapping patterns of enhancer activities. NP1 was activated in the caudal lateral epiblast adjacent to the posterior growing end of neural plate, and by the combined action of Wnt and Fgf signaling, similar to the Sox2 N1 enhancer involved in neural/mesodermal dichotomous cell lineage segregation. The Sox3 D5 enhancer and Sox2 N3 enhancer were also activated similarly in the diencephalon, optic vesicle and lens placode, suggesting analogies in their regulation. In general, however, the specificities of the enhancers were not identical between Sox3 and Sox2, including the cases of the NP1 and D5 enhancers.

The Eyes Absent proteins in development and disease

The Eyes Absent (EYA) proteins, first described in the context of fly eye development, are now implicated in processes as disparate as organ development, innate immunity, DNA damage repair, photoperiodism, angiogenesis, and cancer metastasis. These functions are associated with an unusual combination of biochemical activities: tyrosine phosphatase and threonine phosphatase activities in separate domains, and transactivation potential when associated with a DNA-binding partner. EYA mutations are linked to multiorgan developmental disorders, as well as to adult diseases ranging from dilated cardiomyopathy to late-onset sensorineural hearing loss. With the growing understanding of EYA biochemical and cellular activity, biological function, and association with disease, comes the possibility that the EYA proteins are amenable to the design of targeted therapeutics. The availability of structural information, direct links to disease states, available animal models, and the fact that they utilize unconventional reaction mechanisms that could allow specificity, suggest that EYAs are well-positioned for drug discovery efforts. This review provides a summary of EYA structure, activity, and function, as they relate to development and disease, with particular emphasis on recent findings.

Graded levels of Pax2a and Pax8 regulate cell differentiation during sensory placode formation

Pax gene haploinsufficiency causes a variety of congenital defects. Renal-coloboma syndrome, resulting from mutations in Pax2, is characterized by kidney hypoplasia, optic nerve malformation, and hearing loss. Although this underscores the importance of Pax gene dosage in normal development, how differential levels of these transcriptional regulators affect cell differentiation and tissue morphogenesis is still poorly understood. We show that differential levels of zebrafish Pax2a and Pax8 modulate commitment and behavior in cells that eventually contribute to the otic vesicle and epibranchial placodes. Initially, a subset of epibranchial placode precursors lie lateral to otic precursors within a single Pax2a/8-positive domain; these cells subsequently move to segregate into distinct placodes. Using lineage-tracing and ablation analyses, we show that cells in the Pax2a/8+ domain become biased towards certain fates at the beginning of somitogenesis. Experiments involving either Pax2a overexpression or partial, combinatorial Pax2a and Pax8 loss of function reveal that high levels of Pax favor otic differentiation whereas low levels increase cell numbers in epibranchial ganglia. In addition, the Fgf and Wnt signaling pathways control Pax2a expression: Fgf is necessary to induce Pax2a, whereas Wnt instructs the high levels of Pax2a that favor otic differentiation. Our studies reveal the importance of Pax levels during sensory placode formation and provide a mechanism by which these levels are controlled.

The peripheral sensory nervous system in the vertebrate head: a gene regulatory perspective

In the vertebrate head, crucial parts of the sense organs and sensory ganglia develop from special regions, the cranial placodes. Despite their cellular and functional diversity, they arise from a common field of multipotent progenitors and acquire distinct identity later under the influence of local signalling. Here we present the gene regulatory network that summarises our current understanding of how sensory cells are specified, how they become different from other ectodermal derivatives and how they begin to diversify to generate placodes with different identities. This analysis reveals how sequential activation of sets of transcription factors subdivides the ectoderm over time into smaller domains of progenitors for the central nervous system, neural crest, epidermis and sensory placodes. Within this hierarchy the timing of signalling and developmental history of each cell population is of critical importance to determine the ultimate outcome. A reoccurring theme is that local signals set up broad gene expression domains, which are further refined by mutual repression between different transcription factors. The Six and Eya network lies at the heart of sensory progenitor specification. In a positive feedback loop these factors perpetuate their own expression thus stabilising pre-placodal fate, while simultaneously repressing neural and neural crest specific factors. Downstream of the Six and Eya cassette, Pax genes in combination with other factors begin to impart regional identity to placode progenitors. While our review highlights the wealth of information available, it also points to the lack information on the cis-regulatory mechanisms that control placode specification and of how the repeated use of signalling input is integrated.

Regulation of Six1 expression by evolutionarily conserved enhancers in tetrapods

The Six1 homeobox gene plays critical roles in vertebrate organogenesis. Mice deficient for Six1 show severe defects in organs such as skeletal muscle, kidney, thymus, sensory organs and ganglia derived from cranial placodes, and mutations in human SIX1 cause branchio-oto-renal syndrome, an autosomal dominant developmental disorder characterized by hearing loss and branchial defects. The present study was designed to identify enhancers responsible for the dynamic expression pattern of Six1 during mouse embryogenesis. The results showed distinct enhancer activities of seven conserved non-coding sequences (CNSs) retained in tetrapod Six1 loci. The activities were detected in all cranial placodes (excluding the lens placode), dorsal root ganglia, somites, nephrogenic cord, notochord and cranial mesoderm. The major Six1-expression domains during development were covered by the sum of activities of these enhancers, together with the previously identified enhancer for the pre-placodal region and foregut endoderm. Thus, the eight CNSs identified in a series of our study represent major evolutionarily conserved enhancers responsible for the expression of Six1 in tetrapods. The results also confirmed that chick electroporation is a robust means to decipher regulatory information stored in vertebrate genomes. Mutational analysis of the most conserved placode-specific enhancer, Six1-21, indicated that the enhancer integrates a variety of inputs from Sox, Pax, Fox, Six, Wnt/Lef1 and basic helix-loop-helix proteins. Positive autoregulation of Six1 is achieved through the regulation of Six protein-binding sites. The identified Six1 enhancers provide valuable tools to understand the mechanism of Six1 regulation and to manipulate gene expression in the developing embryo, particularly in the sensory organs.

Apoptosis contributes to placode morphogenesis in the posterior placodal area of mice

In the embryonic head of vertebrates, neurogenic and non-neurogenic ectodermal placodes arise from the panplacodal primordium. Whether and how growth processes of the ectodermal layer, changes in the transcriptional precursor cell profile, or positional changes among precursor cells contribute to interplacodal boundary formation is subject to intense investigation. We demonstrate that large scale apoptosis in the multiplacodal posterior placodal area (PPA) of C57BL/6 mice assists in the segregation of otic and epibranchial placodes. Complex patterns of interplacodal apoptosis precede and parallel the structural individualization of high-grade thickened placodes, with the fundamental separation between otic and epibranchial precursor cells being seemingly prevalent. Interplacodal apoptosis between the emerging epibranchial placodes, which express Neurogenin2 prior to their complete structural individualization, comes out most strongly between the epibranchial placodes 1 and 2. Apoptosis then moves from interplacodal to intraplacodal positions in dorsal and, with a delay, ventral parts of the epibranchial placodes. Intraplacodal apoptosis appears to exert corrective actions among premigratory neuroblasts, and helps to eliminate the epibranchial placodes. The present findings confirm and extend earlier observations in Tupaia belangeri (Washausen et al. in Dev Biol 278:86-102, 2005), regarded as an intermediate between primates and other eutherian orders. Having now available maps of apoptosis in the PPA of embryonic mice, further investigations into the functions of inter- and intraplacodal apoptosis can be carried out in an experimentally and genetically more accessible mammalian model organism.

RIPPLY3 is a retinoic acid-inducible repressor required for setting the borders of the pre-placodal ectoderm

Retinoic acid signaling is a major component of the neural posteriorizing process in vertebrate development. Here, we identify a new role for the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) in the anterior of the embryo, where RAR regulates Fgf8 expression and formation of the pre-placodal ectoderm (PPE). RARα2 signaling induces key pre-placodal genes and establishes the posterolateral borders of the PPE. RAR signaling upregulates two important genes, Tbx1 and Ripply3, during early PPE development. In the absence of RIPPLY3, TBX1 is required for the expression of Fgf8 and hence, PPE formation. In the presence of RIPPLY3, TBX1 acts as a transcriptional repressor, and functions to restrict the positional expression of Fgf8, a key regulator of PPE gene expression. These results establish a novel role for RAR as a regulator of spatial patterning of the PPE through Tbx1 and RIPPLY3. Moreover, we demonstrate that Ripply3, acting downstream of RAR signaling, is a key player in establishing boundaries in the PPE.

Specification and regionalisation of the neural plate border

During early vertebrate development, the embryonic ectoderm becomes subdivided into neural, neural plate border (border) and epidermal regions. The nervous system is derived from the neural and border domains which, respectively, give rise to the central and peripheral nervous systems. To better understand the functional nervous system we need to know how individual neurons are specified and connected. Our understanding of the early development of the peripheral nervous system has been lagging compared to knowledge regarding central nervous system and epidermal cell lineage decision. Recent advances have shown when and how the specification of border cells is initiated. One important insight is that border specification is already initiated at blastula stages, and can be molecularly and temporally distinguished from rostrocaudal regionalisation of the border. From findings in several species, it is clear that Wnt, Bone Morphogenetic Protein and Fibroblast Growth Factor signals play important roles during the specification and regionalisation of the border. In this review, we highlight the individual roles of these signals and compare models of border specification, including a new model that describes how temporal coordination and epistatic interactions of extracellular signals result in the specification and regionalisation of border cells.

Differential distribution of competence for panplacodal and neural crest induction to non-neural and neural ectoderm

It is still controversial whether cranial placodes and neural crest cells arise from a common precursor at the neural plate border or whether placodes arise from non-neural ectoderm and neural crest from neural ectoderm. Using tissue grafting in embryos of Xenopus laevis, we show here that the competence for induction of neural plate, neural plate border and neural crest markers is confined to neural ectoderm, whereas competence for induction of panplacodal markers is confined to non-neural ectoderm. This differential distribution of competence is established during gastrulation paralleling the dorsal restriction of neural competence. We further show that Dlx3 and GATA2 are required cell-autonomously for panplacodal and epidermal marker expression in the non-neural ectoderm, while ectopic expression of Dlx3 or GATA2 in the neural plate suppresses neural plate, border and crest markers. Overexpression of Dlx3 (but not GATA2) in the neural plate is sufficient to induce different non-neural markers in a signaling-dependent manner, with epidermal markers being induced in the presence, and panplacodal markers in the absence, of BMP signaling. Taken together, these findings demonstrate a non-neural versus neural origin of placodes and neural crest, respectively, strongly implicate Dlx3 in the regulation of non-neural competence, and show that GATA2 contributes to non-neural competence but is not sufficient to promote it ectopically.

Neural crest induction at the neural plate border in vertebrates

The neural crest is a transient and multipotent cell population arising at the edge of the neural plate in vertebrates. Recent findings highlight that neural crest patterning is initiated during gastrulation, i.e. earlier than classically described, in a progenitor domain named the neural border. This chapter reviews the dynamic and complex molecular interactions underlying neural border formation and neural crest emergence.

V-ATPase-dependent ectodermal voltage and pH regionalization are required for craniofacial morphogenesis

Using voltage and pH reporter dyes, we have discovered a never-before-seen regionalization of the Xenopus ectoderm, with cell subpopulations delimited by different membrane voltage and pH. We distinguished three courses of bioelectrical activity. Course I is a wave of hyperpolarization that travels across the gastrula. Course II comprises the appearance of patterns that match shape changes and gene expression domains of the developing face; hyperpolarization marks folding epithelium and both hyperpolarized and depolarized regions overlap domains of head patterning genes. In Course III, localized regions of hyperpolarization form at various positions, expand, and disappear. Inhibiting H(+) -transport by the H(+) -V-ATPase causes abnormalities in: (1) the morphology of craniofacial structures; (2) Course II voltage patterns; and (3) patterns of sox9, pax8, slug, mitf, xfz3, otx2, and pax6. We conclude that this bioelectric signal has a role in development of the face. Thus, it exemplifies an important, under-studied mechanism of developmental regulation.

Origin and segregation of cranial placodes in Xenopus laevis

Cranial placodes are local thickenings of the vertebrate head ectoderm that contribute to the paired sense organs (olfactory epithelium, lens, inner ear, lateral line), cranial ganglia and the adenohypophysis. Here we use tissue grafting and dye injections to generated fate maps of the dorsal cranial part of the non-neural ectoderm for Xenopus embryos between neural plate and early tailbud stages. We show that all placodes arise from a crescent-shaped area located around the anterior neural plate, the pre-placodal ectoderm. In agreement with proposed roles of Six1 and Pax genes in the specification of a panplacodal primordium and different placodal areas, respectively, we show that Six1 is expressed uniformly throughout most of the pre-placodal ectoderm, while Pax6, Pax3, Pax8 and Pax2 each are confined to specific subregions encompassing the precursors of different subsets of placodes. However, the precursors of the vagal epibranchial and posterior lateral line placodes, which arise from the posteriormost pre-placodal ectoderm, upregulate Six1 and Pax8/Pax2 only at tailbud stages. Whereas our fate map suggests that regions of origin for different placodes overlap extensively with each other and with other ectodermal fates at neural plate stages, analysis of co-labeled placodes reveals that the actual degree of overlap is much smaller. Time lapse imaging of the pre-placodal ectoderm at single cell resolution demonstrates that no directed, large-scale cell rearrangements occur, when the pre-placodal region segregates into distinct placodes at subsequent stages. Our results indicate that individuation of placodes from the pre-placodal ectoderm does not involve large-scale cell sorting in Xenopus.

Transdifferentiation from cornea to lens in Xenopus laevis depends on BMP signalling and involves upregulation of Wnt signalling

Background

Surgical removal of the lens from larval Xenopus laevis results in a rapid transdifferention of central corneal cells to form a new lens. The trigger for this process is understood to be an induction event arising from the unprecedented exposure of the cornea to the vitreous humour that occurs following lens removal. The molecular identity of this trigger is unknown.

Results

Here, we have used a functional transgenic approach to show that BMP signalling is required for lens regeneration and a microarray approach to identify genes that are upregulated specifically during this process. Analysis of the array data strongly implicates Wnt signalling and the Pitx family of transcription factors in the process of cornea to lens transdifferentiation. Our analysis also captured several genes associated with congenital cataract in humans. Pluripotency genes, in contrast, were not upregulated, supporting the idea that corneal cells transdifferentiate without returning to a stem cell state. Several genes from the array were expressed in the forming lens during embryogenesis. One of these, Nipsnap1, is a known direct target of BMP signalling.

Conclusions

Our results strongly implicate the developmental Wnt and BMP signalling pathways in the process of cornea to lens transdifferentiation (CLT) in Xenopus, and suggest direct transdifferentiation between these two anterior eye tissues.

Comparison of Pretectal Genoarchitectonic Pattern between Quail and Chicken Embryos

Regionalization of the central nervous system is controlled by local networks of transcription factors that establish and maintain the identities of neuroepithelial progenitor areas and their neuronal derivatives. The conserved cerebral Bauplan of vertebrates must result essentially from conserved patterns of developmentally expressed transcription factors. We have previously produced detailed molecular maps for the alar plate of prosomere 1 (the pretectal region) in chicken (Ferran et al., 2007, 2008, 2009). Here we compare the early molecular signature of the pretectum of two closely related avian species of the family Phasianidae, Coturnix japonica (Japanese quail) and Gallus gallus (chicken), aiming to test conservation of the described pattern at a microevolutionary level. We studied the developmental pretectal expression of Bhlhb4, Dbx1, Ebf1, Gata3, Gbx2, Lim1, Meis1, Meis2, Pax3, Pax6, Six3, Tal2, and Tcf7l2 (Tcf4) mRNA, using in situ hybridization, and PAX7 immunohistochemistry. The genoarchitectonic profile of individual pretectal domains and strata was produced, using comparable section planes. Remarkable conservation of the combinatorial genoarchitectonic code was observed, fundamented in a tripartite anteroposterior subdivision. However, we found that at corresponding developmental stages the pretectal region of G. gallus was approximately 30% larger than that of C. japonica, but seemed relatively less mature. Altogether, our results on a conserved genoarchitectonic pattern highlight the importance of early developmental gene networks that causally underlie the production of homologous derivatives in these two evolutionarily closely related species. The shared patterns probably apply to sauropsids in general, as well as to more distantly related vertebrate species.