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Tindall RR, Bailey-Lundberg JM, Cao Y, Ko TC. The TGF-β superfamily as potential therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1362247. [PMID: 38500662 PMCID: PMC10944957 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1362247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily has important physiologic roles and is dysregulated in many pathologic processes, including pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancer diagnoses, and current therapies are largely ineffective due to tumor resistance and late-stage diagnosis with poor prognosis. Recent efforts are focused on the potential of immunotherapies in improving therapeutic results for patients with pancreatic cancer, among which TGF-β has been identified as a promising target. This review focuses on the role of TGF-β in the diseased pancreas and pancreatic cancer. It also aims to summarize the current status of therapies targeting the TGF-β superfamily and postulate potential future directions in targeting the TGF-β signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R. Tindall
- McGovern Medical School, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jennifer M. Bailey-Lundberg
- McGovern Medical School, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yanna Cao
- McGovern Medical School, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Tien C. Ko
- McGovern Medical School, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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2
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Slack J. The organizer: What it meant, and still means, to developmental biology. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 157:1-42. [PMID: 38556456 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
This article is about how the famous organizer experiment has been perceived since it was first published in 1924. The experiment involves the production of a secondary embryo under the influence of a graft of a dorsal lip from an amphibian gastrula to a host embryo. The early experiments of Spemann and his school gave rise to a view that the whole early amphibian embryo was "indifferent" in terms of determination, except for a special region called "the organizer". This was viewed mainly as an agent of neural induction, also having the ability to generate an anteroposterior body pattern. Early biochemical efforts to isolate a factor emitted by the organizer were not successful but culminated in the definition of "neuralizing (N)" and "mesodermalizing (M)" factors present in a wide variety of animal tissues. By the 1950s this view became crystallized as a "two gradient" model involving the N and M factors, which explained the anteroposterior patterning effect. In the 1970s, the phenomenon of mesoderm induction was characterized as a process occurring before the commencement of gastrulation. Reinvestigation of the organizer effect using lineage labels gave rise to a more precise definition of the sequence of events. Since the 1980s, modern research using the tools of molecular biology, combined with microsurgery, has explained most of the processes involved. The organizer graft should now be seen as an experiment which involves multiple interactions: dorsoventral polarization following fertilization, mesoderm induction, the dorsalizing signal responsible for neuralization and dorsoventral patterning of the mesoderm, and additional factors responsible for anteroposterior patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Slack
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.
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3
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Akhurst RJ. From shape-shifting embryonic cells to oncology: The fascinating history of epithelial mesenchymal transition. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 96:100-114. [PMID: 37852342 PMCID: PMC10883734 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or transformation (EMT) is a cell shape-changing process that is utilized repeatedly throughout embryogenesis and is critical to the attainment of a precise body plan. In the adult, EMT is observed under both normal and pathological conditions, such as during normal wounding healing, during development of certain fibrotic states and vascular anomalies, as well as in some cancers when malignant cells progress to become more aggressive, invasive, and metastatic. Epithelia derived from any of the three embryonic germ layers can undergo EMT, including those derived from mesoderm, such as endothelial cells (sometimes termed Endo-MT) and those derived from endoderm such as fetal liver stroma. At the cellular level, EMT is defined as the transformation of epithelial cells towards a mesenchymal phenotype and is marked by attenuation of expression of epithelial markers and de novo expression of mesenchymal markers. This process is induced by extracellular factors and can be reversible, resulting in mesenchymal-to-epithelial transformation (MET). It is now clear that a cell can simultaneously express properties of both epithelia and mesenchyme, and that such transitional cell-types drive tumor cell heterogeneity, an important aspect of cancer progression, development of a stem-like cell state, and drug resistance. Here we review some of the earliest studies demonstrating the existence of EMT during embryogenesis and discuss the discovery of the extracellular factors and intracellular signaling pathways that contribute to this process, with components of the TGFβ signaling superfamily playing a prominent role. We mention early controversies surrounding in vivo EMT during embryonic development and in adult diseased states, and the maturation of the field to a stage wherein targeting EMT to control disease states is an aspirational goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary J Akhurst
- Department of Anatomy and UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA
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4
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Sato Y, Narasaki I, Kunimoto T, Moriyama Y, Hashimoto C. The complete dorsal structure is formed from only the blastocoel roof of Xenopus blastula: insight into the gastrulation movement evolutionarily conserved among chordates. Dev Genes Evol 2023:10.1007/s00427-023-00701-1. [PMID: 36933042 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-023-00701-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Gastrulation is a critical event whose molecular mechanisms are thought to be conserved among vertebrates. However, the morphological movement during gastrulation appears to be divergent across species, making it difficult to discuss the evolution of the process. Previously, we proposed a novel amphibian gastrulation model, the "subduction and zippering (S&Z) model". In this model, the organizer and the prospective neuroectoderm are originally localized in the blastula's blastocoel roof, and these embryonic regions move downward to make physical contact of their inner surfaces with each other at the dorsal marginal zone. The developmental stage when contact between the head organizer and the anterior-most neuroectoderm is established is called "anterior contact establishment (ACE)." After ACE, the A-P body axis elongates posteriorly. According to this model, the body axis is derived from limited regions of the dorsal marginal zone at ACE. To investigate this possibility, we conducted stepwise tissue deletions using Xenopus laevis embryos and revealed that the dorsal one-third of the marginal zone had the ability to form the complete dorsal structure by itself. Furthermore, a blastocoel roof explant of the blastula, which should contain the organizer and the prospective neuroectoderm in the S&Z model, autonomously underwent gastrulation and formed the complete dorsal structure. Collectively, these results are consistent with the S&Z gastrulation model and identify the embryonic region sufficient for construction of the complete dorsal structure. Finally, by comparing amphibian gastrulation to gastrulation of protochordates and amniotes, we discuss the gastrulation movement evolutionarily conserved among chordates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Sato
- JT Biohistory Research Hall, 1-1 Murasaki-Cho, Takatsuki Osaka, 569-1125, Japan
| | - Izumi Narasaki
- JT Biohistory Research Hall, 1-1 Murasaki-Cho, Takatsuki Osaka, 569-1125, Japan.,Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Takuya Kunimoto
- JT Biohistory Research Hall, 1-1 Murasaki-Cho, Takatsuki Osaka, 569-1125, Japan.,Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Yuki Moriyama
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Chikara Hashimoto
- JT Biohistory Research Hall, 1-1 Murasaki-Cho, Takatsuki Osaka, 569-1125, Japan. .,Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
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5
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Johnson K, Freedman S, Braun R, LaBonne C. Quantitative analysis of transcriptome dynamics provides novel insights into developmental state transitions. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:723. [PMID: 36273135 PMCID: PMC9588240 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08953-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During embryogenesis, the developmental potential of initially pluripotent cells becomes progressively restricted as they transit to lineage restricted states. The pluripotent cells of Xenopus blastula-stage embryos are an ideal system in which to study cell state transitions during developmental decision-making, as gene expression dynamics can be followed at high temporal resolution. Results Here we use transcriptomics to interrogate the process by which pluripotent cells transit to four different lineage-restricted states: neural progenitors, epidermis, endoderm and ventral mesoderm, providing quantitative insights into the dynamics of Waddington’s landscape. Our findings provide novel insights into why the neural progenitor state is the default lineage state for pluripotent cells and uncover novel components of lineage-specific gene regulation. These data reveal an unexpected overlap in the transcriptional responses to BMP4/7 and Activin signaling and provide mechanistic insight into how the timing of signaling inputs such as BMP are temporally controlled to ensure correct lineage decisions. Conclusions Together these analyses provide quantitative insights into the logic and dynamics of developmental decision making in early embryos. They also provide valuable lineage-specific time series data following the acquisition of specific lineage states during development. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08953-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Johnson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Simon Freedman
- NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.,Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Math, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Rosemary Braun
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.,Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Math, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Northwestern Institute On Complex Systems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Carole LaBonne
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. .,NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
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6
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Satou-Kobayashi Y, Kim JD, Fukamizu A, Asashima M. Temporal transcriptomic profiling reveals dynamic changes in gene expression of Xenopus animal cap upon activin treatment. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14537. [PMID: 34267234 PMCID: PMC8282838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93524-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Activin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of proteins, induces various tissues from the amphibian presumptive ectoderm, called animal cap explants (ACs) in vitro. However, it remains unclear how and to what extent the resulting cells recapitulate in vivo development. To comprehensively understand whether the molecular dynamics during activin-induced ACs differentiation reflect the normal development, we performed time-course transcriptome profiling of Xenopus ACs treated with 50 ng/mL of activin A, which predominantly induced dorsal mesoderm. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to activin A increased over time, and totally 9857 upregulated and 6663 downregulated DEGs were detected. 1861 common upregulated DEGs among all Post_activin samples included several Spemann's organizer genes. In addition, the temporal transcriptomes were clearly classified into four distinct groups in correspondence with specific features, reflecting stepwise differentiation into mesoderm derivatives, and a decline in the regulation of nuclear envelop and golgi. From the set of early responsive genes, we also identified the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (socs3) as a novel activin A-inducible gene. Our transcriptome data provide a framework to elucidate the transcriptional dynamics of activin-driven AC differentiation, reflecting the molecular characteristics of early normal embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeko Satou-Kobayashi
- grid.264706.10000 0000 9239 9995Strategic Innovation and Research Center, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8605 Japan ,grid.264706.10000 0000 9239 9995Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8605 Japan ,grid.20515.330000 0001 2369 4728Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Tennoudai Ibaraki 305-8577 Japan
| | - Jun-Dal Kim
- grid.20515.330000 0001 2369 4728Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Tennoudai Ibaraki 305-8577 Japan ,grid.267346.20000 0001 2171 836XDivision of Complex Bioscience Research, Department of Research and Development, Institute of National Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194 Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Fukamizu
- grid.20515.330000 0001 2369 4728Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Tennoudai Ibaraki 305-8577 Japan
| | - Makoto Asashima
- grid.264706.10000 0000 9239 9995Strategic Innovation and Research Center, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8605 Japan ,grid.264706.10000 0000 9239 9995Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8605 Japan ,grid.20515.330000 0001 2369 4728Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Tennoudai Ibaraki 305-8577 Japan
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7
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Abstract
The endoderm is the innermost germ layer that forms the linings of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, and their associated organs, during embryonic development. Xenopus embryology experiments have provided fundamental insights into how the endoderm develops in vertebrates, including the critical role of TGFβ-signaling in endoderm induction,elucidating the gene regulatory networks controlling germ layer development and the key molecular mechanisms regulating endoderm patterning and morphogenesis. With new genetic, genomic, and imaging approaches, Xenopus is now routinely used to model human disease, discover mechanisms underlying endoderm organogenesis, and inform differentiation protocols for pluripotent stem cell differentiation and regenerative medicine applications. In this chapter, we review historical and current discoveries of endoderm development in Xenopus, then provide examples of modeling human disease and congenital defects of endoderm-derived organs using Xenopus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A Edwards
- Division of Developmental Biology, Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
| | - Aaron M Zorn
- Division of Developmental Biology, Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
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8
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Imaizumi K, Okano H. Modeling neurodevelopment in a dish with pluripotent stem cells. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:18-25. [PMID: 33141454 PMCID: PMC7984205 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can differentiate into all cell types in the body, and their differentiation procedures recapitulate the developmental processes of embryogenesis. Focusing on neurodevelopment, we describe here the application of knowledge gained from embryology to the neural induction of PSCs. Furthermore, PSC-based neural modeling provides novel insights into neurodevelopmental processes. In particular, human PSC cultures are a powerful tool for the study of human-specific neurodevelopmental processes and could even enable the elucidation of the mechanisms of human brain evolution. We also discuss challenges and potential future directions in further improving PSC-based neural modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent Imaizumi
- Department of PhysiologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of PhysiologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
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9
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Hashimoto M, Ho G, Sugama S, Takenouchi T, Waragai M, Sugino H, Inoue S, Masliah E. Possible Role of Activin in the Adiponectin Paradox-Induced Progress of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 81:451-458. [PMID: 33814453 PMCID: PMC8203218 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the adiponectin (APN) paradox might be involved in promoting aging-associated chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In human brain, APN regulation of the evolvability of amyloidogenic proteins (APs), including amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau, in developmental/reproductive stages, might be paradoxically manifest as APN stimulation of AD through antagonistic pleiotropy in aging. The unique mechanisms underlying APN activity remain unclear, a better understanding of which might provide clues for AD therapy. In this paper, we discuss the possible relevance of activin, a member of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily of peptides, to antagonistic pleiotropy effects of APN. Notably, activin, a multiple regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as an endocrine modulator in reproduction and an organizer in early development, might promote aging-associated disorders, such as inflammation and cancer. Indeed, serum activin, but not serum TGFβ increases during aging. Also, activin/TGFβ signal through type II and type I receptors, both of which are transmembrane serine/threonine kinases, and the serine/threonine phosphorylation of APs, including Aβ42 serine 8 and αS serine 129, may confer pathological significance in neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, activin expression is induced by APN in monocytes and hepatocytes, suggesting that activin might be situated downstream of the APN paradox. Finally, a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies demonstrated that two SNPs relevant to the activin/TGFβ receptor signaling pathways conferred risk for major aging-associated disease. Collectively, activin might be involved in the APN paradox of AD and could be a significant therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gilbert Ho
- PCND Neuroscience Research Institute, Poway, CA, USA
| | - Shuei Sugama
- Department of Physiology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takato Takenouchi
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Masaaki Waragai
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiromu Sugino
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Inoue
- Department of Systems Aging Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center for Genomic Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Division of Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA
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10
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Umair Z, Kumar S, Rafiq K, Kumar V, Reman ZU, Lee SH, Kim S, Lee JY, Lee U, Kim J. Dusp1 modulates activin/smad2 mediated germ layer specification via FGF signal inhibition in Xenopus embryos. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2020; 24:359-370. [PMID: 33456720 PMCID: PMC7782979 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2020.1847732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Activin, a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF-β) superfamily, induces mesoderm, endoderm and neuro-ectoderm formation in Xenopus embryos. Despite several previous studies, the complicated gene regulatory network and genes involved in this induction await more elaboration. We identified expression of various fibroblast growth factor (FGF) genes in activin/smad2 treated animal cap explants (AC) of Xenopus embryos. Activin/smad2 increased fgf3/8 expression, which was reduced by co-injection of dominant negative activin receptor (DNAR) and dominant negative Fgf receptor (DNFR). Interestingly, activin/smad2 also increased expression of dual specificity phosphatase 1 (dusp1) which has been known to inhibit Fgf signaling. Dusp1 overexpression in dorsal marginal zone caused gastrulation defect and decreased Jnk/Erk phosphorylation as well as Smad1 linker region phosphorylation. Dusp1 decreased neural and organizer gene expression with increasing of endodermal and ventral gene expression in smad2 treated AC, indicating that dusp1 modulates germ layer specification. Dusp1 decreased neural gene expression in fgf8 treated AC, suggesting that Erk and/or Jnk phosphorylation may be involved in fgf8 induced neural induction. In addition, dusp1 decreased the reporter gene activities of activin response element (ARE) and increased it for bmp response element (BRE), indicating that dusp1 modulates two opposite morphogen signaling of dorsal (activin/Smad2) and ventral (bmp/Smad1) tracks, acting to fine tune the Fgf/Erk pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zobia Umair
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - Khezina Rafiq
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - Zia Ur Reman
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hwan Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - SungChan Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Yong Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - Unjoo Lee
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaebong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Cell Differentiation and Aging, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do, Republic of Korea
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11
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Moreau M, Leclerc C, Néant I. [The saga of neural induction: almost a century of research]. Med Sci (Paris) 2020; 36:1018-1026. [PMID: 33151865 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2020172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural induction is a developmental process that allows cells from the ectoderm (the target tissue) to acquire a neural fate in response to signals coming from a specific adjacent embryonic region, the dorsal mesoderm (the inducing tissue). This process described in 1924 in amphibian embryos has not received a molecular explanation until the mid-1990s. Most of the work on neural induction has been carried out in amphibians. At these times, although the role played by the membrane of the target tissue had been suggested, no definitive work had been performed on the transduction of the neuralizing signal. Between 1990 and 2019 our aim was to decipher this transduction. We have underlined the necessary and sufficient role played by calcium signaling to induce ectoderm cells towards a neural fate from the activation of calcium channels to the direct transcription of early neural genes by calcium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Moreau
- Centre de biologie du développement (CBD), Centre de biologie intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Catherine Leclerc
- Centre de biologie du développement (CBD), Centre de biologie intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Isabelle Néant
- Centre de biologie du développement (CBD), Centre de biologie intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062, Toulouse, France
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12
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Esmaeili M, Blythe SA, Tobias JW, Zhang K, Yang J, Klein PS. Chromatin accessibility and histone acetylation in the regulation of competence in early development. Dev Biol 2020; 462:20-35. [PMID: 32119833 PMCID: PMC7225061 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
As development proceeds, inductive cues are interpreted by competent tissues in a spatially and temporally restricted manner. While key inductive signaling pathways within competent cells are well-described at a molecular level, the mechanisms by which tissues lose responsiveness to inductive signals are not well understood. Localized activation of Wnt signaling before zygotic gene activation in Xenopus laevis leads to dorsal development, but competence to induce dorsal genes in response to Wnts is lost by the late blastula stage. We hypothesize that loss of competence is mediated by changes in histone modifications leading to a loss of chromatin accessibility at the promoters of Wnt target genes. We use ATAC-seq to evaluate genome-wide changes in chromatin accessibility across several developmental stages. Based on overlap with p300 binding, we identify thousands of putative cis-regulatory elements at the gastrula stage, including sites that lose accessibility by the end of gastrulation and are enriched for pluripotency factor binding motifs. Dorsal Wnt target gene promoters are not accessible after the loss of competence in the early gastrula while genes involved in mesoderm and neural crest development maintain accessibility at their promoters. Inhibition of histone deacetylases increases acetylation at the promoters of dorsal Wnt target genes and extends competence for dorsal gene induction by Wnt signaling. Histone deacetylase inhibition, however, is not sufficient to extend competence for mesoderm or neural crest induction. These data suggest that chromatin state regulates the loss of competence to inductive signals in a context-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Esmaeili
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shelby A Blythe
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - John W Tobias
- Penn Genomic Analysis Core and Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Peter S Klein
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Departments of Medicine (Hematology-Oncology) and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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13
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Itoh K, Reis AH, Hayhurst A, Sokol SY. Isolation of nanobodies against Xenopus embryonic antigens using immune and non-immune phage display libraries. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216083. [PMID: 31048885 PMCID: PMC6497274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of Xenopus laevis as a model for vertebrate developmental biology is limited by a lack of antibodies specific for embryonic antigens. This study evaluated the use of immune and non-immune phage display libraries for the isolation of single domain antibodies, or nanobodies, with specificities for Xenopus embryonic antigens. The immune nanobody library was derived from peripheral blood lymphocyte RNA obtained from a llama immunized with Xenopus gastrula homogenates. Screening this library by immunostaining of embryonic tissues with pooled periplasmic material and sib-selection led to the isolation of several monoclonal phages reactive with the cytoplasm and nuclei of gastrula cells. One antigen recognized by a group of nanobodies was identified using a reverse proteomics approach as nucleoplasmin, an abundant histone chaperone. As an alternative strategy, a semi-synthetic non-immune llama nanobody phage display library was panned on highly purified Xenopus proteins. This proof-of-principle approach isolated monoclonal nanobodies that specifically bind Nuclear distribution element-like 1 (Ndel1) in multiple immunoassays. Our results suggest that immune and non-immune phage display screens on crude and purified embryonic antigens can efficiently identify nanobodies useful to the Xenopus developmental biology community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Itoh
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Alice H Reis
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Andrew Hayhurst
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United States of America
| | - Sergei Y Sokol
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
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Buitrago-Delgado E, Schock EN, Nordin K, LaBonne C. A transition from SoxB1 to SoxE transcription factors is essential for progression from pluripotent blastula cells to neural crest cells. Dev Biol 2018; 444:50-61. [PMID: 30144418 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The neural crest is a stem cell population unique to vertebrate embryos that gives rise to derivatives from multiple embryonic germ layers. The molecular underpinnings of potency that govern neural crest potential are highly conserved with that of pluripotent blastula stem cells, suggesting that neural crest cells may have evolved through retention of aspects of the pluripotency gene regulatory network (GRN). A striking difference in the regulatory factors utilized in pluripotent blastula cells and neural crest cells is the deployment of different sub-families of Sox transcription factors; SoxB1 factors play central roles in the pluripotency of naïve blastula and ES cells, whereas neural crest cells require SoxE function. Here we explore the shared and distinct activities of these factors to shed light on the role that this molecular hand-off of Sox factor activity plays in the genesis of neural crest and the lineages derived from it. Our findings provide evidence that SoxB1 and SoxE factors have both overlapping and distinct activities in regulating pluripotency and lineage restriction in the embryo. We hypothesize that SoxE factors may transiently replace SoxB1 factors to control pluripotency in neural crest cells, and then poise these cells to contribute to glial, chondrogenic and melanocyte lineages at stages when SoxB1 factors promote neuronal progenitor formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsy Buitrago-Delgado
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Elizabeth N Schock
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Kara Nordin
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Carole LaBonne
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States.
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15
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Rao A, LaBonne C. Histone deacetylase activity has an essential role in establishing and maintaining the vertebrate neural crest. Development 2018; 145:dev.163386. [PMID: 30002130 DOI: 10.1242/dev.163386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest, a progenitor population that drove vertebrate evolution, retains the broad developmental potential of the blastula cells it is derived from, even as neighboring cells undergo lineage restriction. The mechanisms that enable these cells to preserve their developmental potential remain poorly understood. Here, we explore the role of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity in this process in Xenopus We show that HDAC activity is essential for the formation of neural crest, as well as for proper patterning of the early ectoderm. The requirement for HDAC activity initiates in naïve blastula cells; HDAC inhibition causes loss of pluripotency gene expression and blocks the ability of blastula stem cells to contribute to lineages of the three embryonic germ layers. We find that pluripotent naïve blastula cells and neural crest cells are both characterized by low levels of histone acetylation, and show that increasing HDAC1 levels enhance the ability of blastula cells to be reprogrammed to a neural crest state. Together, these findings elucidate a previously uncharacterized role for HDAC activity in establishing the neural crest stem cell state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Rao
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Carole LaBonne
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA .,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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16
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Ariizumi T, Michiue T, Asashima M. In Vitro Induction of Xenopus Embryonic Organs Using Animal Cap Cells. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2017; 2017:pdb.prot097410. [PMID: 29084863 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot097410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The animal cap-the presumptive ectoderm of the blastula embryo-can differentiate into a variety of tissues belonging to the three germ layers following exposure to specific inducers. The "animal cap assay" was devised based on the pluripotency of presumptive ectodermal cells and enabled many important discoveries in the field of embryonic induction and cell differentiation. Using this system, investigators can test multiple factors in solution simultaneously to determine their inducing activities qualitatively, quantitatively, and synergistically. Furthermore, after dissociation and induction, reaggregated animal cap cells can be induced to form higher-order organs. This protocol details preoperative preparations, followed by the basic animal cap assay. Advanced protocols for the induction of kidney, pancreas, and heart are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Ariizumi
- Department of Agri-Production Sciences, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Michiue
- Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Makoto Asashima
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan; .,Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
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17
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Suzuki A, Yoshida H, van Heeringen SJ, Takebayashi-Suzuki K, Veenstra GJC, Taira M. Genomic organization and modulation of gene expression of the TGF-β and FGF pathways in the allotetraploid frog Xenopus laevis. Dev Biol 2017; 426:336-359. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Morikawa M, Derynck R, Miyazono K. TGF-β and the TGF-β Family: Context-Dependent Roles in Cell and Tissue Physiology. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2016; 8:8/5/a021873. [PMID: 27141051 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a021873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 822] [Impact Index Per Article: 102.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is the prototype of the TGF-β family of growth and differentiation factors, which is encoded by 33 genes in mammals and comprises homo- and heterodimers. This review introduces the reader to the TGF-β family with its complexity of names and biological activities. It also introduces TGF-β as the best-studied factor among the TGF-β family proteins, with its diversity of roles in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation, wound healing and immune system, and its key roles in pathology, for example, skeletal diseases, fibrosis, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Morikawa
- Ludwig Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rik Derynck
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Kohei Miyazono
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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19
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Caporilli S, Latinkic BV. Ventricular cell fate can be specified until the onset of myocardial differentiation. Mech Dev 2016; 139:31-41. [PMID: 26776863 PMCID: PMC4798847 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms that govern specification of various cell types that constitute vertebrate heart are not fully understood. Whilst most studies of heart development have utilised the mouse embryo, we have used an alternative model, embryos of the frog Xenopus laevis, which permits direct experimental manipulation of a non-essential heart. We show that in this model pluripotent animal cap explants injected with cardiogenic factor GATA4 mRNA express pan-myocardial as well as ventricular and proepicardial markers. We found that cardiac cell fate diversification, as assessed by ventricular and proepicardial markers, critically depends on tissue integrity, as it is disrupted by dissociation but can be fully restored by inhibition of the BMP pathway and partially by Dkk-1. Ventricular and proepicardial cell fates can also be restored in reaggregated GATA4-expressing cells upon transplantation into a host embryo. The competence of the host embryo to induce ventricular and proepicardial markers gradually decreases with the age of the transplant and is lost by the onset of myocardial differentiation at the late tailbud stage (st. 28). The influence of the host on the transplant was not limited to diversification of cardiac cell fates, but also included induction of growth and rhythmic beating, resulting in generation of a secondary heart-like structure. Our results additionally show that efficient generation of secondary heart requires normal axial patterning of the host embryo. Furthermore, secondary hearts can be induced in a wide range of locations within the host, arguing that the host embryo provides a permissive environment for development of cardiac patterning, growth and physiological maturation. Our results have implications for a major goal of cardiac regenerative medicine, differentiation of ventricular myocardium. Ventricular and proepicardial fate can be induced by cardiogenic factor GATA4. This process requires tissue integrity. Ventricular and proepicardial cell fate can be restored by BMP inhibition. A secondary heart-like structure can be induced from GATA4-expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Caporilli
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, Wales, UK
| | - Branko V Latinkic
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, Wales, UK.
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20
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Wong KA, Trembley M, Abd Wahab S, Viczian AS. Efficient retina formation requires suppression of both Activin and BMP signaling pathways in pluripotent cells. Biol Open 2015; 4:573-83. [PMID: 25750435 PMCID: PMC4400599 DOI: 10.1242/bio.20149977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Retina formation requires the correct spatiotemporal patterning of key regulatory factors. While it is known that repression of several signaling pathways lead to specification of retinal fates, addition of only Noggin, a known BMP antagonist, can convert pluripotent Xenopus laevis animal cap cells to functional retinal cells. The aim of this study is to determine the intracellular molecular events that occur during this conversion. Surprisingly, blocking BMP signaling alone failed to mimic Noggin treatment. Overexpressing Noggin in pluripotent cells resulted in a concentration-dependent suppression of both Smad1 and Smad2 phosphorylation, which act downstream of BMP and Activin signaling, respectively. This caused a decrease in downstream targets: endothelial marker, xk81, and mesodermal marker, xbra. We treated pluripotent cells with dominant-negative receptors or the chemical inhibitors, dorsomorphin and SB431542, which each target either the BMP or Activin signaling pathway. We determined the effect of these treatments on retina formation using the Animal Cap Transplant (ACT) assay; in which treated pluripotent cells were transplanted into the eye field of host embryos. We found that inhibition of Activin signaling, in the presence of BMP signaling inhibition, promotes efficient retinal specification in Xenopus tissue, mimicking the affect of adding Noggin alone. In whole embryos, we found that the eye field marker, rax, expanded when adding both dominant-negative Smad1 and Smad2, as did treating the cells with both dorsomorphin and SB431542. Future studies could translate these findings to a mammalian culture assay, in order to more efficiently produce retinal cells in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Wong
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA The Center for Vision Research, SUNY Eye Institute, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Michael Trembley
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Syafiq Abd Wahab
- Department of Molecular Biology, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Andrea S Viczian
- Department of Ophthalmology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA The Center for Vision Research, SUNY Eye Institute, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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21
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Fellgett SW, Maguire RJ, Pownall ME. Sulf1 has ligand-dependent effects on canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling. J Cell Sci 2015; 128:1408-21. [PMID: 25681501 PMCID: PMC4379729 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.164467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signalling plays essential roles during embryonic development and is known to be mis-regulated in human disease. There are many molecular mechanisms that ensure tight regulation of Wnt activity. One such regulator is the heparan-sulfate-specific 6-O-endosulfatase Sulf1. Sulf1 acts extracellularly to modify the structure of heparan sulfate chains to affect the bio-availability of Wnt ligands. Sulf1 could, therefore, influence the formation of Wnt signalling complexes to modulate the activation of both canonical and non-canonical pathways. In this study, we use well-established assays in Xenopus to investigate the ability of Sulf1 to modify canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling. In addition, we model the ability of Sulf1 to influence morphogen gradients using fluorescently tagged Wnt ligands in ectodermal explants. We show that Sulf1 overexpression has ligand-specific effects on Wnt signalling: it affects membrane accumulation and extracellular levels of tagged Wnt8a and Wnt11b ligands differently, and inhibits the activity of canonical Wnt8a but enhances the activity of non-canonical Wnt11b.
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22
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Hashimoto M, Morita H, Ueno N. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of development underlying congenital diseases. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2014; 54:1-7. [PMID: 24666178 DOI: 10.1111/cga.12039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In the last several decades, developmental biology has clarified the molecular mechanisms of embryogenesis and organogenesis. In particular, it has demonstrated that the “tool-kit genes” essential for regulating developmental processes are not only highly conserved among species, but are also used as systems at various times and places in an organism to control distinct developmental events. Therefore, mutations in many of these tool-kit genes may cause congenital diseases involving morphological abnormalities. This link between genes and abnormal morphological phenotypes underscores the importance of understanding how cells behave and contribute to morphogenesis as a result of gene function. Recent improvements in live imaging and in quantitative analyses of cellular dynamics will advance our understanding of the cellular pathogenesis of congenital diseases associated with aberrant morphologies. In these studies, it is critical to select an appropriate model organism for the particular phenomenon of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masakazu Hashimoto
- National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences and; the Graduate University for Advanced Studies; Okazaki Japan
| | - Hitoshi Morita
- National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences and; the Graduate University for Advanced Studies; Okazaki Japan
| | - Naoto Ueno
- National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences and; the Graduate University for Advanced Studies; Okazaki Japan
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23
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Kuwabara T, Asashima M. Regenerative medicine using adult neural stem cells: the potential for diabetes therapy and other pharmaceutical applications. J Mol Cell Biol 2012; 4:133-9. [PMID: 22577214 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjs016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs), which are responsible for continuous neurogenesis during the adult stage, are present in human adults. The typical neurogenic regions are the hippocampus and the subventricular zone; recent studies have revealed that NSCs also exist in the olfactory bulb. Olfactory bulb-derived neural stem cells (OB NSCs) have the potential to be used in therapeutic applications and can be easily harvested without harm to the patient. Through the combined influence of extrinsic cues and innate programming, adult neurogenesis is a finely regulated process occurring in a specialized cellular environment, a niche. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of adult NSCs and their cellular niche is not only important to understand the physiological roles of neurogenesis in adulthood, but also to provide the knowledge necessary for developing new therapeutic applications using adult NSCs in other organs with similar regulatory environments. Diabetes is a devastating disease affecting more than 200 million people worldwide. Numerous diabetic patients suffer increased symptom severity after the onset, involving complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy. Therefore, the development of treatments for fundamental diabetes is important. The utilization of autologous cells from patients with diabetes may address challenges regarding the compatibility of donor tissues as well as provide the means to naturally and safely restore function, reducing future risks while also providing a long-term cure. Here, we review recent findings regarding the use of adult OB NSCs as a potential diabetes cure, and discuss the potential of OB NSC-based pharmaceutical applications for neuronal diseases and mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Kuwabara
- Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central 4, 1-1-4 Higashi, Tsukuba Science City 305-8562, Japan
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24
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25
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Kashiwagi K, Kashiwagi A, Kurabayashi A, Hanada H, Nakajima K, Okada M, Takase M, Yaoita Y. Xenopus tropicalis: an ideal experimental animal in amphibia. Exp Anim 2010; 59:395-405. [PMID: 20660986 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.59.395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies using amphibians have contributed to the progress of life science including developmental biology and cell biology for more than one hundred years. Since the 1950s Xenopus laevis in particular has been used by scientists in many fields for experiments, resulting in the development of various techniques such as microsurgery on early embryos, biosynthesis of gene-encoded protein in oocytes by mRNA injection, misexpression experiments by mRNA injection into embryos, gene knockdown studies by injection of morpholino anti-sense oligonucleotide into fertilized eggs, transgenesis by the I-SceI meganuclease method, and so on. In this paper we will introduce Xenopus tropicalis as an alternative experimental animal. It has a shorter generation time and smaller diploid genome, together with whole-genome sequence data. The procedures available for Xenopus laevis can work well with Xenopus tropicalis, and embryos of both species develop at similar rates according to the developmental staging system of Nieuwkoop and Faber. Experimental systems of Xenopus tropicalis will pave the way for a new era of vertebrate genomics and genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Kashiwagi
- Division of Embryology and Genetics, Institute for Amphibian Biology, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, Japan
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26
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Smith JC. Forming and interpreting gradients in the early Xenopus embryo. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2010; 1:a002477. [PMID: 20066079 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a002477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The amphibian embryo provides a powerful model system to study morphogen gradients because of the ease with which it is possible to manipulate the early embryo. In particular, it is possible to introduce exogenous sources of morphogen, to follow the progression of the signal, to monitor the cellular response to induction, and to up- or down-regulate molecules that are involved in all aspects of long-range signaling. In this article, I discuss the evidence that gradients exist in the early amphibian embryo, the way in which morphogens might traverse a field of cells, and the way in which different concentrations of morphogens might be interpreted to activate the expression of different genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Smith
- National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA.
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Asashima M, Ito Y, Chan T, Michiue T, Nakanishi M, Suzuki K, Hitachi K, Okabayashi K, Kondow A, Ariizumi T. In vitro organogenesis from undifferentiated cells inXenopus. Dev Dyn 2009; 238:1309-20. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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28
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Okabayashi K, Ohnuma K, Asashima M. Development of in vitro differentiation systems using vertebrate stem cells. Inflamm Regen 2009. [DOI: 10.2492/inflammregen.29.302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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29
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Smith J, Wardle F, Loose M, Stanley E, Patient R. Germ layer induction in ESC--following the vertebrate roadmap. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; Chapter 1:Unit 1D.1. [PMID: 18785165 DOI: 10.1002/9780470151808.sc01d01s1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Controlled differentiation of pluripotential cells takes place routinely and with great success in developing vertebrate embryos. It therefore makes sense to take note of how this is achieved and use this knowledge to control the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). An added advantage is that the differentiated cells resulting from this process in embryos have proven functionality and longevity. This unit reviews what is known about the embryonic signals that drive differentiation in one of the most informative of the vertebrate animal models of development, the amphibian Xenopus laevis. It summarizes their identities and the extent to which their activities are dose-dependent. The unit details what is known about the transcription factor responses to these signals, describing the networks of interactions that they generate. It then discusses the target genes of these transcription factors, the effectors of the differentiated state. Finally, how these same developmental programs operate during germ layer formation in the context of ESC differentiation is summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim Smith
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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30
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Kaneko K, Sato K, Michiue T, Okabayashi K, Ohnuma K, Danno H, Asashima M. Developmental potential for morphogenesis in vivo and in vitro. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2008; 310:492-503. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.21222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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31
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Hashiguchi M, Shinya M, Tokumoto M, Sakai N. Nodal/Bozozok-independent induction of the dorsal organizer by zebrafish cell lines. Dev Biol 2008; 321:387-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2007] [Revised: 06/24/2008] [Accepted: 06/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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XRASGRP2 expression during early development of Xenopus embryos. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 372:886-91. [PMID: 18539143 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.05.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2008] [Accepted: 05/27/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we described the DNA microarray screening of vascular endothelial cells that were formed by treatment of aggregates prepared from Xenopus animal cap cells with activin and angiopoietin-2. One of the genes identified in this screening showed homology to human RASGRP2 which plays a role in the regulation of GTP-GDP exchange of the Ras and Rap proteins, and was named XRASGRP2. In the present study, we analyzed the expression pattern of xrasgrp2 during Xenopus embryogenesis. The xrasgrp2 mRNA was expressed after stage 24, as assessed by stage PCR analysis. Whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that xrasgrp2 mRNA was located in the vascular region of the embryo. Loss-of-function analysis revealed that the formation of blood and endothelial cells in the explants transplanted into Xenopus embryos was inhibited by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides that block xrasgrp2 translation. These results suggest that XRASGRP2 plays a role in angiogenesis in Xenopus embryos.
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Smith JC, Hagemann A, Saka Y, Williams PH. Understanding how morphogens work. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2008; 363:1387-92. [PMID: 18198154 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2007.2256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we describe the mechanisms by which morphogens in the Xenopus embryo exert their long-range effects. Our results are consistent with the idea that signalling molecules such as activin and the nodal-related proteins traverse responding tissue not by transcytosis or by cytonemes but by movement through the extracellular space. We suggest, however, that additional experiments, involving real-time imaging of morphogens, are required for a real understanding of what influences signalling range and the shape of a morphogen gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Smith
- Wellcome Trust/CR-UK Gurdon Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
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Asashima M, Michiue T, Kurisaki A. Elucidation of the role of activin in organogenesis using a multiple organ induction system with amphibian and mouse undifferentiated cells in vitro. Dev Growth Differ 2008; 50 Suppl 1:S35-45. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2008.00990.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Okada TS, Momiki Y, Nakajima E, Agata K. Interview with Dr Tokindo S. Okada in commemoration of the 50th volume of Development, Growth and Differentiation. Dev Growth Differ 2008; 50 Suppl 1:S3-9. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2008.01001.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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WGEF activates Rho in the Wnt-PCP pathway and controls convergent extension in Xenopus gastrulation. EMBO J 2008; 27:606-17. [PMID: 18256687 DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2008.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2007] [Accepted: 01/10/2008] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt-PCP (planar cell polarity, PCP) pathway regulates cell polarity and convergent extension movements during axis formation in vertebrates by activation of Rho and Rac, leading to the re-organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Rho and Rac activation require guanine nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs), but the identity of the GEF involved in Wnt-PCP-mediated convergent extension is unknown. Here we report the identification of the weak-similarity GEF (WGEF) gene by a microarray-based screen for notochord enriched genes, and show that WGEF is involved in Wnt-regulated convergent extension. Overexpression of WGEF activated RhoA and rescued the suppression of convergent extension by dominant-negative Wnt-11, whereas depletion of WGEF led to suppression of convergent extension that could be rescued by RhoA or Rho-associated kinase activation. WGEF protein preferentially localized at the plasma membrane, and Frizzled-7 induced colocalization of Dishevelled and WGEF. WGEF protein can bind to Dishevelled and Daam-1, and deletion of the Dishevelled-binding domain generates a hyperactive from of WGEF. These results indicate that WGEF is a component of the Wnt-PCP pathway that connects Dishevelled to Rho activation.
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Yuan L, Cao Y, Knöchel W. Endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by tunicamycin disables germ layer formation in Xenopus laevis embryos. Dev Dyn 2008; 236:2844-51. [PMID: 17849439 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis is essential for correct protein targeting and secretion. ER stress caused by accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins leads to disruption of cellular functions. We have investigated the effect of ER stress on Xenopus embryogenesis. ER stress induced by tunicamycin (TM) treatment of embryos resulted in defects affecting germ layer formation. We observed up-regulation of ER stress response genes, enhanced cytoplasmic splicing of xXBP1 RNA, and increased rate of apoptosis. In animal cap assays, TM treatment inhibited mesoderm formation induced by overexpression of activin/nodal RNA but did not affect mesoderm formation induced by functional activin protein, suggesting that dysfunction of ER caused a failure in activin/nodal processing and/or secretion. The observation that activin protein renders mesoderm formation under ER stress strengthens the role of activin/nodal for mesoderm induction. The results underline the functional significance of ER homeostasis in germ layer formation during Xenopus embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yuan
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Asashima M, Kurisaki A, Michiue T. In Vitro Control of Organogenesis by ActivinA Treatment of Amphibian and Mouse Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4020-8274-0_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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39
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Ogata S, Morokuma J, Hayata T, Kolle G, Niehrs C, Ueno N, Cho KW. TGF-beta signaling-mediated morphogenesis: modulation of cell adhesion via cadherin endocytosis. Genes Dev 2007; 21:1817-31. [PMID: 17639085 PMCID: PMC1920175 DOI: 10.1101/gad.1541807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms governing the cell behaviors underlying morphogenesis remain a major focus of research in both developmental biology and cancer biology. TGF-beta ligands control cell fate specification via Smad-mediated signaling. However, their ability to guide cellular morphogenesis in a variety of biological contexts is poorly understood. We report on the discovery of a novel TGF-beta signaling-mediated cellular morphogenesis occurring during vertebrate gastrulation. Activin/nodal members of the TGF-beta superfamily induce the expression of two genes regulating cell adhesion during gastrulation: Fibronectin Leucine-rich Repeat Transmembrane 3 (FLRT3), a type I transmembrane protein containing extracellular leucine-rich repeats, and the small GTPase Rnd1. FLRT3 and Rnd1 interact physically and modulate cell adhesion during embryogenesis by controlling cell surface levels of cadherin through a dynamin-dependent endocytosis pathway. Our model suggests that cell adhesion can be dynamically regulated by sequestering cadherin through internalization, and subsequent redeploying internalized cadherin to the cell surface as needed. As numerous studies have linked aberrant expression of small GTPases, adhesion molecules such as cadherins, and TGF-beta signaling to oncogenesis and metastasis, it is tempting to speculate that this FLRT3/Rnd1/cadherin pathway might also control cell behavior and morphogenesis in adult tissue homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souichi Ogata
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Developmental Biology Center, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Junji Morokuma
- Department of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Tadayoshi Hayata
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Developmental Biology Center, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Gabriel Kolle
- Division of Molecular Embryology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Christof Niehrs
- Division of Molecular Embryology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Naoto Ueno
- Department of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
- E-MAIL ; FAX 0564-57-7571
| | - Ken W.Y. Cho
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Developmental Biology Center, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
- Corresponding authors.E-MAIL
; FAX (949) 824-9395
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40
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Ramis JM, Collart C, Smith JC. Xnrs and activin regulate distinct genes during Xenopus development: activin regulates cell division. PLoS One 2007; 2:e213. [PMID: 17299593 PMCID: PMC1790703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2007] [Accepted: 01/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mesoderm of the amphibian embryo is formed through an inductive interaction in which vegetal cells of the blastula-staged embryo act on overlying equatorial cells. Candidate mesoderm-inducing factors include members of the transforming growth factor type beta family such as Vg1, activin B, the nodal-related proteins and derrière. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPLE FINDINGS Microarray analysis reveals different functions for activin B and the nodal-related proteins during early Xenopus development. Inhibition of nodal-related protein function causes the down-regulation of regionally expressed genes such as chordin, dickkopf and XSox17alpha/beta, while genes that are mis-regulated in the absence of activin B tend to be more widely expressed and, interestingly, include several that are involved in cell cycle regulation. Consistent with the latter observation, cells of the involuting dorsal axial mesoderm, which normally undergo cell cycle arrest, continue to proliferate when the function of activin B is inhibited. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These observations reveal distinct functions for these two classes of the TGF-beta family during early Xenopus development, and in doing so identify a new role for activin B during gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana M. Ramis
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kindgom
| | - Clara Collart
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kindgom
| | - James C. Smith
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kindgom
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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Yukita A, Michiue T, Danno H, Asashima M. XSUMO-1 is required for normal mesoderm induction and axis elongation during earlyXenopus development. Dev Dyn 2007; 236:2757-66. [PMID: 17823940 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) is a member of the ubiquitin-like protein family, and SUMO conjugation (SUMOylation) resembles ubiquitination. Despite many SUMOylation target proteins being reported, the role of this system in vertebrate development remains unclear. We inhibited the function of Xenopus SUMO-1 (XSUMO-1) using a morpholino antisense oligo against XSUMO-1 (XSUMO-1-MO) to clarify the role of SUMOylation. XSUMO-1-MO inhibited normal axis formation in embryos and elongation of activin-treated animal caps. The expression of several mesoderm markers was reduced by XSUMO-1-MO. We measured activin-like activity by using a reporter construct containing a multimer of activin-responsive elements from the Goosecoid promoter, [DE(6x)Luc]. This assay showed that XSUMO-1-MO directly inhibited activin/nodal signaling. Furthermore, XSUMO-1-MO inhibited ectopic axis formation induced by XSmad2, and XSmad2/4 mRNA could not rescue the axis elongation defect induced by XSUMO-1-MO. These results suggested that XSUMO-1 is required for normal axis elongation, at least partly mediating activin/nodal signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yukita
- Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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42
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Sugimoto K, Okabayashi K, Sedohara A, Hayata T, Asashima M. The role of XBtg2 in Xenopus neural development. Dev Neurosci 2006; 29:468-79. [PMID: 17119321 DOI: 10.1159/000097320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2006] [Accepted: 08/17/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In early neural development, active cell proliferation and apoptosis take place concurrent with cell differentiation, but how these processes are coordinated remains unclear. In this study, we characterized the role of XBtg2 in Xenopus neural development. XBtg2 transcripts were detected at the edge of the anterolateral neural plate and the neural crest region at the midneurula stage, and in eyes and in part of the neural tube at the tailbud stage. Translational inhibition of XBtg2 affected anterior neural development and impaired eye formation. XBtg2 depletion altered the expression patterns of the early neural genes, Zic3 and SoxD, at the midneurula stage, but not at the early neurula stage. At the midneurula stage, XBtg2-depleted embryos exhibited a marked decrease in the expression of anterior neural genes, En2, Otx2, and Rx1, without any changes in neural crest genes, Slug and Snail, or an epidermal gene, XK81. These results suggest that XBtg2 is required for the differentiation of the anterior neural plate from the midneurula stage, but not for the specification of the fate and patterning of the neural plate. XBtg2-depleted embryos also exhibited an increase in both proliferation and apoptosis in the anterior neural plate; however, the altered expression patterns of neural markers were not reversed by inhibition of either the cell cycle or apoptosis. Based on these data, we propose that XBtg2 plays an essential role in the anterior neural development, by regulating neural cell differentiation, and, independently, cell proliferation and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Sugimoto
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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43
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Okabayashi K, Asashima M. In Vitro organogenesis using amphibian pluripotent cells. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2006; 82:197-207. [PMID: 25792783 PMCID: PMC4343058 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.82.197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2006] [Accepted: 09/12/2006] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mesoderm induction as a result of the interaction between endoderm and ectoderm is one of the most crucial events in vertebrate development. We identified activin as a strong mesoderm-inducing factor in an animal cap assay, an in vitro assay system using amphibian pluripotential cell mass. Activin induces mesodermal tisswes including most dorsal mesodermal tissue, notochord (which has important roles in neural induction, somite segmentation, and endodermal organogenesis), and its effects are concentration-dependent. Animal cap cells treated with high concentrations of activin differentiate into anterior endoderm, which can act as an organizer, or center of body patterning. We have established an in vitro induction system for 22 different organs and tissues using animal cap cells, and have isolated many organ-specific genes. With these useful methods, and analysis of newly isolated tissue- and organ-specific genes, the molecular biological "road map" for organogenesis is being established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Okabayashi
- ICORP, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo,
Japan
| | - Makoto Asashima
- ICORP, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo,
Japan
- Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo,
Japan
- Recipient of Imperial Prize and Japan Academy Prize in 2001
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44
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Katada T, Ito M, Kojima Y, Miyatani S, Kinoshita T. XMam1, Xenopus Mastermind1, induces neural gene expression in a Notch-independent manner. Mech Dev 2006; 123:851-9. [PMID: 16979880 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2006.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2005] [Revised: 08/02/2006] [Accepted: 08/02/2006] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Mastermind, which is a Notch signal component, is a nuclear protein and is thought to contribute to the transactivation of target genes. Previously we showed that XMam1, Xenopus Mastermind1, was essential in the transactivation of a Notch target gene, XESR-1, and was involved in primary neurogenesis. To examine the function of XMam1 during Xenopus early development in detail, XMam1-overexpressed embryos were analyzed. Overexpression of XMam1 ectopically caused the formation of a cell mass with pigmentation on the surface of embryos and expressed nrp-1. The nrp-1-positive cell mass was produced by XMam1 without expression of the Notch target gene, XESR-1, and not by the activation form of Notch, NICD. The ectopic expression of nrp-1 was not inhibited by co-injection of XMam1 with a molecule known to inhibit Notch signaling. The nrp-1 expression was also recognized in the animal cap injected with XMam1DeltaN, which lacks the basic domain necessary for interacting with NICD and Su(H). These results show that XMam1 has the ability to induce the cell fate into the neurogenic lineage in a Notch-independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohisa Katada
- Developmental Biology, Department of Bioscience, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, 2-1 Gakuen, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1337, Japan
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45
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Cao Y, Siegel D, Knöchel W. Xenopus POU factors of subclass V inhibit activin/nodal signaling during gastrulation. Mech Dev 2006; 123:614-25. [PMID: 16860542 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2006.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2006] [Revised: 06/03/2006] [Accepted: 06/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Three POU factors of subclass V, Oct-25, Oct-60 and Oct-91 are expressed in Xenopus oocytes and early embryos. We here demonstrate that vegetal overexpression of Oct-25, Oct-60, Oct-91 or mammalian Oct-3/4 suppresses mesendoderm formation in Xenopus embryos. Oct-25 and Oct-60 are shown to inhibit activin/nodal and FGF signaling pathways. Loss of Oct-25 and Oct-60 function results in elevated transcription of mesendodermal marker genes and ectopic formation of endoderm in the equatorial region of gastrula stage embryos. Within the ectoderm, Oct-25 promotes neural fate by upregulating neuroectodermal genes, such as Xsox2, which prevent differentiation of neural progenitors into neurons. We also show that mouse Oct-3/4 and Xenopus Oct-25 or Oct-60 behave as functional homologues. We conclude that Xenopus Oct proteins are required to control the levels of embryonic signaling pathways, thereby ensuring the correct specification of germ layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm, Germany
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46
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Ejima D, Ono K, Tsumoto K, Arakawa T, Eto Y. A novel “reverse screening” to identify refolding additives for activin-A. Protein Expr Purif 2006; 47:45-51. [PMID: 16226036 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2005.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2005] [Revised: 08/23/2005] [Accepted: 08/23/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A general approach for refolding recombinant proteins from inclusion bodies (IBs) is to screen conditions, that facilitate a conversion of unfolded to folded structure and minimize a conversion of unfolded to misfolded and aggregated structures. In this simplified model, such conditions may be those that stabilize the native protein and/or reduce aggregation. In this paper, a novel screening approach, termed reverse screening, was developed using a native activin. Activin-A, a member of transforming growth factor beta superfamily, is a homodimeric protein with nine disulfide bonds. We examined partial unfolding process of native activin-A dissolved in a buffer containing moderate concentrations of denaturant and reducing reagent (i.e., 1.5 M urea and 0.2 mM dithiothreitol). The recovery of the protein was followed by reverse-phase high performance chromatography analysis. Without additives, activin-A showed about 60% loss of the protein due to aggregation after 12-h incubation in the above condition. We then tested various additives for their effects on the recovery after partial unfolding. One of these additives, sodium taurodeoxycholate (TDCA), greatly increased recovery and suppressed aggregation of the protein. These additives were then tested for refolding activin-A from IBs. TDCA among others is proved to be a highly effective refolding additive. These results strongly suggest that reverse screening using native proteins, if available, may be another approach to discovering effective refolding additives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Ejima
- Applied Research Department, Amino Science Laboratories, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., The University of Tokyo, Kawasaki 210-8681, Japan.
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47
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Sugimoto K, Hayata T, Asashima M. XBtg2 is required for notochord differentiation during early Xenopus development. Dev Growth Differ 2006; 47:435-43. [PMID: 16179070 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2005.00819.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The notochord is essential for normal vertebrate development, serving as both a structural support for the embryo and a signaling source for the patterning of adjacent tissues. Previous studies on the notochord have mostly focused on its formation and function in early organogenesis but gene regulation in the differentiation of notochord cells itself remains poorly defined. In the course of screening for genes expressed in developing notochord, we have isolated Xenopus homolog of Btg2 (XBtg2). The mammalian Btg2 genes, Btg2/PC3/TIS21, have been reported to have multiple functions in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation but their roles in early development are still unclear. Here we characterized XBtg2 in early Xenopus laevis embryogenesis with focus on notochord development. Translational inhibition of XBtg2 resulted in a shortened and bent axis phenotype and the abnormal structures in the notochord tissue, which did not undergo vacuolation. The XBtg2-depleted notochord cells expressed early notochord markers such as chordin and Xnot at the early tailbud stage, but failed to express differentiation markers of notochord such as Tor70 and 5-D-4 antigens in the later stages. These results suggest that XBtg2 is required for the differentiation of notochord cells such as the process of vacuolar formation after determination of notochord cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Sugimoto
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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48
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Sakabe M, Matsui H, Sakata H, Ando K, Yamagishi T, Nakajima Y. Understanding heart development and congenital heart defects through developmental biology: a segmental approach. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2005; 45:107-18. [PMID: 16359490 DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-4520.2005.00079.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The heart is the first organ to form and function during development. In the pregastrula chick embryo, cells contributing to the heart are found in the postero-lateral epiblast. During the pregastrula stages, interaction between the posterior epiblast and hypoblast is required for the anterior lateral plate mesoderm (ALM) to form, from which the heart will later develop. This tissue interaction is replaced by an Activin-like signal in culture. During gastrulation, the ALM is committed to the heart lineage by endoderm-secreted BMP and subsequently differentiates into cardiomyocyte. The right and left precardiac mesoderms migrate toward the ventral midline to form the beating primitive heart tube. Then, the heart tube generates a right-side bend, and the d-loop and presumptive heart segments begin to appear segmentally: outflow tract (OT), right ventricle, left ventricle, atrioventricular (AV) canal, atrium and sinus venosus. T-box transcription factors are involved in the formation of the heart segments: Tbx5 identifies the left ventricle and Tbx20 the right ventricle. After the formation of the heart segments, endothelial cells in the OT and AV regions transform into mesenchyme and generate valvuloseptal endocardial cushion tissue. This phenomenon is called endocardial EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transformation) and is regulated mainly by BMP and TGFbeta. Finally, heart septa that have developed in the OT, ventricle, AV canal and atrium come into alignment and fuse, resulting in the completion of the four-chambered heart. Altered development seen in the cardiogenetic process is involved in the pathogenesis of congenital heart defects. Therefore, understanding the molecular nature regulating the 'nodal point' during heart development is important in order to understand the etiology of congenital heart defects, as well as normal heart development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahide Sakabe
- Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Abenoku, Osaka, Japan
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49
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Abe T, Furue M, Kondow A, Matsuzaki K, Asashima M. Notch signaling modulates the nuclear localization of carboxy-terminal-phosphorylated smad2 and controls the competence of ectodermal cells for activin A. Mech Dev 2005; 122:671-80. [PMID: 15817224 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2004.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2004] [Revised: 12/11/2004] [Accepted: 12/11/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Loss of mesodermal competence (LMC) during Xenopus development is a well known but little understood phenomenon that prospective ectodermal cells (animal caps) lose their competence for inductive signals, such as activin A, to induce mesodermal genes and tissues after the start of gastrulation. Notch signaling can delay the onset of LMC for activin A in animal caps [Coffman, C.R., Skoglund, P., Harris, W.A., Kintner, C.R., 1993. Expression of an extracellular deletion of Xotch diverts cell fate in Xenopus embryos. Cell 73, 659-671], although the mechanism by which this modulation occurs remains unknown. Here, we show that Notch signaling also delays the onset of LMC in whole embryos, as it did in animal caps. To better understand this effect and the mechanism of LMC itself, we investigated at which step of activin signal transduction pathway the Notch signaling act to affect the timing of the LMC. In our system, ALK4 (activin type I receptor) maintained the ability to phosphorylate the C-terminal region of smad2 upon activin A stimulus after the onset of LMC in both control- and Notch-activated animal caps. However, C-terminal-phosphorylated smad2 could bind to smad4 and accumulate in the nucleus only in Notch-activated animal caps. We conclude that LMC was induced because C-terminal-phosphorylated smad2 lost its ability to bind to smad4, and consequently could not accumulate in the nucleus. Notch signal activation restored the ability of C-terminal-phosphorylated smad2 to bind to smad4, resulting in a delay in the onset of LMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Abe
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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50
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Koide T, Hayata T, Cho KWY. Xenopus as a model system to study transcriptional regulatory networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:4943-8. [PMID: 15795378 PMCID: PMC555977 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0408125102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Development is controlled by a complex series of events requiring sequential gene activation. Understanding the logic of gene networks during development is necessary for a complete understanding of how genes contribute to phenotype. Pioneering work initiated in the sea urchin and Drosophila has demonstrated that reasonable transcriptional regulatory network diagrams representing early development in multicellular animals can be generated through use of appropriate genomic, genetic, and biochemical tools. Establishment of similar regulatory network diagrams for vertebrate development is a necessary step. The amphibian Xenopus has long been used as a model for vertebrate early development and has contributed greatly to the elucidation of gene regulation. Because the best and most extensively studied transcriptional regulatory network in Xenopus is that underlying the formation and function of Spemann's organizer, we describe the current status of our understanding of this gene regulatory network and its relationship to mesodermal patterning. Seventy-four transcription factors currently known to be expressed in the mesoendoderm of Xenopus gastrula were characterized according to their modes of action, DNA binding consensus sequences, and target genes. Among them, nineteen transcription factors were characterized sufficiently in detail, allowing us to generate a gene regulatory network diagram. Additionally, we discuss recent amphibian work using a combined DNA microarray and bioinformatics approach that promises to accelerate regulatory network studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Koide
- Developmental Biology Center and the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2300, USA
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