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Yu EPY, Saxena V, Perin S, Ekker M. Loss of dlx5a/ dlx6a Locus Alters Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling and Meckel's Cartilage Morphology. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1347. [PMID: 37759750 PMCID: PMC10526740 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091347] [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] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The dlx genes encode transcription factors that establish a proximal-distal polarity within neural crest cells to bestow a regional identity during craniofacial development. The expression regions of dlx paralogs are overlapping yet distinct within the zebrafish pharyngeal arches and may also be involved in progressive morphologic changes and organization of chondrocytes of the face. However, how each dlx paralog of dlx1a, dlx2a, dlx5a and dlx6a affects craniofacial development is still largely unknown. We report here that the average lengths of the Meckel's, palatoquadrate and ceratohyal cartilages in different dlx mutants were altered. Mutants for dlx5a-/- and dlx5i6-/-, where the entire dlx5a/dlx6a locus was deleted, have the shortest lengths for all three structures at 5 days post fertilization (dpf). This phenotype was also observed in 14 dpf larvae. Loss of dlx5i6 also resulted in increased proliferation of neural crest cells and expression of chondrogenic markers. Additionally, altered expression and function of non-canonical Wnt signaling were observed in these mutants suggesting a novel interaction between dlx5i6 locus and non-canonical Wnt pathway regulating ventral cartilage morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marc Ekker
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 94A, Canada (S.P.)
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Raterman ST, Von Den Hoff JW, Dijkstra S, De Vriend C, Te Morsche T, Broekman S, Zethof J, De Vrieze E, Wagener FADTG, Metz JR. Disruption of the foxe1 gene in zebrafish reveals conserved functions in development of the craniofacial skeleton and the thyroid. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1143844. [PMID: 36994096 PMCID: PMC10040582 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1143844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Mutations in the FOXE1 gene are implicated in cleft palate and thyroid dysgenesis in humans.Methods: To investigate whether zebrafish could provide meaningful insights into the etiology of developmental defects in humans related to FOXE1, we generated a zebrafish mutant that has a disruption in the nuclear localization signal in the foxe1 gene, thereby restraining nuclear access of the transcription factor. We characterized skeletal development and thyroidogenesis in these mutants, focusing on embryonic and larval stages.Results: Mutant larvae showed aberrant skeletal phenotypes in the ceratohyal cartilage and had reduced whole body levels of Ca, Mg and P, indicating a critical role for foxe1 in early skeletal development. Markers of bone and cartilage (precursor) cells were differentially expressed in mutants in post-migratory cranial neural crest cells in the pharyngeal arch at 1 dpf, at induction of chondrogenesis at 3 dpf and at the start of endochondral bone formation at 6 dpf. Foxe1 protein was detected in differentiated thyroid follicles, suggesting a role for the transcription factor in thyroidogenesis, but thyroid follicle morphology or differentiation were unaffected in mutants.Discussion: Taken together, our findings highlight the conserved role of Foxe1 in skeletal development and thyroidogenesis, and show differential signaling of osteogenic and chondrogenic genes related to foxe1 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie T. Raterman
- Department of Dentistry—Orthodontics and Craniofacial Biology, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Sophie T. Raterman,
| | - Johannes W. Von Den Hoff
- Department of Dentistry—Orthodontics and Craniofacial Biology, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sietske Dijkstra
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Cheyenne De Vriend
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tim Te Morsche
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sanne Broekman
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jan Zethof
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Erik De Vrieze
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Frank A. D. T. G. Wagener
- Department of Dentistry—Orthodontics and Craniofacial Biology, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Juriaan R. Metz
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Fazel Darbandi S, Esau C, Lesage-Pelletier C, Monis S, Poitras L, Yu M, Perin S, Hatch G, Ekker M. Increased Sociability in Mice Lacking Intergenic Dlx Enhancers. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:718948. [PMID: 34671237 PMCID: PMC8520905 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.718948] [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: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Dlx homeodomain transcription factors play important roles in the differentiation and migration of GABAergic interneuron precursors. The mouse and human genomes each have six Dlx genes organized into three convergently transcribed bigene clusters (Dlx1/2, Dlx3/4, and Dlx5/6) with cis-regulatory elements (CREs) located in the intergenic region of each cluster. Amongst these, the I56i and I12b enhancers from the Dlx1/2 and Dlx5/6 locus, respectively, are active in the developing forebrain. I56i is also a binding site for GTF2I, a transcription factor whose function is associated with increased sociability and Williams-Beuren syndrome. In determining the regulatory roles of these CREs on forebrain development, we have generated mutant mouse-lines where Dlx forebrain intergenic enhancers have been deleted (I56i(-/-), I12b(-/-)). Loss of Dlx intergenic enhancers impairs expression of Dlx genes as well as some of their downstream targets or associated genes including Gad2 and Evf2. The loss of the I56i enhancer resulted in a transient decrease in GABA+ cells in the developing forebrain. The intergenic enhancer mutants also demonstrate increased sociability and learning deficits in a fear conditioning test. Characterizing mice with mutated Dlx intergenic enhancers will help us to further enhance our understanding of the role of these Dlx genes in forebrain development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Crystal Esau
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Simon Monis
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Luc Poitras
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Man Yu
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sofia Perin
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Gary Hatch
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Marc Ekker
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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