Genetics of erythropoiesis: induced mutations in mice and zebrafish

GATAe transcription factor is involved in Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin receptor gene expression inducing toxin susceptibility

The insecticidal Cry toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are powerful tools for insect control. Cry toxin receptors such as cadherin (CAD), ABCC2 transporter and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), located on insect midgut cells, are needed for Cry toxicity. Although insect cell lines are useful experimental models for elucidating toxin action mechanism, most of them show low expression of Cry-receptors genes. The GATA transcription factor family plays important roles in regulating development and differentiation of intestine stem cells. Here, we investigated whether GATAs transcription factors are involved in the expression of Cry1Ac-receptors genes, using multiple insect cell lines. Four GATA genes were identified in the transcriptome of the midgut tissue from the lepidopteran larvae Helicoverpa armigera. These HaGATA genes were transiently expressed in three lepidopteran cell lines, Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9, H. armigera QB-Ha-E5 and Trichoplusia ni Hi5. Analysis of transcription activity using transcriptional gene-fusions showed that only H. armigera GATAe (HaGATAe) significantly increased the transcription of CAD, ABCC2 and ALP receptors genes in all insect cell lines. Key DNA regions for HaGATAe regulation were identified in the promoter sequence of these Cry-receptors genes by using promoter deletion mapping. The transient expression of HaGATAe in these cell lines, conferred sensitivity to Cry1Ac toxin, although in Hi5 cells the susceptibility to Cry1Ac was lower than in other two cell lines. High sensitivity to Cry1Ac correlated with simultaneous transcription of ABCC2 and CAD genes in Sf9 and QB-Ha-E5 cells. Our results reveal that HaGATAe enhances transcription of several lepidopteran Cry1Ac receptor genes in cultured insect cells.

Haematopoiesis and haematopoietic organs in fish

Haematopoiesis is a complex process in which haematopoietic stem cells, the most immature elements of the haematopoietic hierarchy, proliferate and differentiate into various classes of haematopoietic progenitor cells. These progenitor cells have been shown to be able to differentiate into mature blood cells: erythrocytes, lymphocytes, thrombocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes. The pronephros, or head kidney, is a basic organ forming the blood elements, and is also a reservoir of blood cells. Basic haematopoietic structures and mechanisms in fish are similar to those functioning in other vertebrates, and all haematopoietic cell types are very similar to those of mammals.

Splitting of circulating red blood cells as an in vivo mechanism of erythrocyte maturation in developing zebrafish, chick and mouse embryos

Nucleated circulating red blood cells (RBCs) of developing zebrafish, chick and mouse embryos can actively proliferate. While marrow- or organ-mediated erythropoiesis has been widely studied, transforming in vivo processes of circulating RBCs are under little scrutiny. We employed confocal, stereo- and electron microscopy to document the maturation of intravascular RBCs. In zebrafish embryos (32-72 h post-fertilization), RBC splitting in the caudal vein plexus follows a four-step program: (i) nuclear division with continued cytoplasmic connection between somata; (ii) dumbbell-shaped RBCs tangle at transluminal vascular pillars; (iii) elongation; and (iv) disruption of soma-to-soma connection. Dividing RBCs of chick embryos, however, retain the nucleus in one of their somata. Here, RBC splitting acts to pinch off portions of cytoplasm, organelles and ribosomes. Dumbbell-shaped primitive RBCs re-appeared as circulation constituents in mouse embryos. The splitting of circulating RBCs thus represents a biologically relevant mechanism of RBC division and maturation during early vertebrate ontogeny.

An Introduction to Erythropoiesis Approaches

Many experimental models have been used to study erythropoiesis. Even prior to the advent of the genetic manipulation of animal models, erythropoiesis was examined in the mouse, chicken, sheep, goat, and rabbit, among other vertebrates. Erythroid cell lines derived from human blood cancers were also very useful, as they could be genetically manipulated more easily than whole animals. Genetic models in the mouse, zebrafish, and frog have provided a plethora of information advancing our understanding of erythropoiesis, and remain gold standards in the field for studies of hemoglobin switching, and experiments to study authentic blood cell development. Mouse and human embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent (iPS) cells can be differentiated to erythroid cells in culture, though their use is somewhat limited by their propensity to express only the embryonic and fetal globin genes. Some very useful cell lines have been developed by manipulating ES or fetal liver erythroid progenitor cells from knockout mouse models. In recent years, our understanding of erythropoiesis has improved, due to the ability to knock down genes in native human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells derived from umbilical cord blood or bone marrow, and differentiate them ex vivo to the erythroid lineage. These native cells, and cell lines derived from them, are now providing essential information about human erythropoiesis, which is complementary to that obtained from animal studies. This review provides some perspective about the cell and animal models used to study erythropoiesis over the years.

Erythrocyte-derived sphingosine 1-phosphate is essential for vascular development

Transport of oxygen by red blood cells (rbc) is critical for life and embryogenesis. Here, we determined that provision of the lipid mediator sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) to the systemic circulation is an essential function of rbc in embryogenesis. Mice with rbc-specific deletion of sphingosine kinases 1 and 2 (Sphk1 and Sphk2) showed embryonic lethality between E11.5 and E12.5 due to defects in vascular development. Administration of an S1P1 receptor agonist to pregnant dams rescued early embryonic lethality. Even though rbc-specific Sphk1 Sphk2-KO embryos were anemic, the erythropoietic capacity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) was not impaired, suggesting that rbc can develop in the absence of sphingosine kinase activity. Indeed, transplantation of HSCs deficient for Sphk1 and Sphk2 into adult mice produced rbc that lacked S1P and attenuated plasma S1P levels in recipients. However, in adult animals, both rbc and endothelium contributed to plasma S1P. Together, these findings demonstrate that rbc are essential for embryogenesis by supplying the lysophospholipid S1P, which regulates embryonic vascular development via its receptors.

Transcriptional divergence and conservation of human and mouse erythropoiesis

Mouse models have been used extensively for decades and have been instrumental in improving our understanding of mammalian erythropoiesis. Nonetheless, there are several examples of variation between human and mouse erythropoiesis. We performed a comparative global gene expression study using data from morphologically identical stage-matched sorted populations of human and mouse erythroid precursors from early to late erythroblasts. Induction and repression of major transcriptional regulators of erythropoiesis, as well as major erythroid-important proteins, are largely conserved between the species. In contrast, at a global level we identified a significant extent of divergence between the species, both at comparable stages and in the transitions between stages, especially for the 500 most highly expressed genes during development. This suggests that the response of multiple developmentally regulated genes to key erythroid transcriptional regulators represents an important modification that has occurred in the course of erythroid evolution. In developing a systematic framework to understand and study conservation and divergence between human and mouse erythropoiesis, we show how mouse models can fail to mimic specific human diseases and provide predictions for translating findings from mouse models to potential therapies for human disease.

Etv5a regulates the proliferation of ventral mesoderm cells and the formation of hemato-vascular derivatives

Hematopoietic and vascular endothelial cells constitute the circulatory system and are both generated from the ventral mesoderm. However, the molecules and signaling pathways involved in ventral mesoderm formation and specification remain unclear. We found that zebrafish etv5a was expressed in the ventral mesoderm during gastrulation. Knockdown of Etv5a using morpholinos increased the proliferation of ventral mesoderm cells and caused defects in hematopoietic derivatives and in vascular formation. By contrast, the formation of other mesodermal derivatives, such as pronephros, somites and the gut wall, was not affected. Knockdown specificity was further confirmed by overexpression of an etv5a construct lacking its acidic domain. In conclusion, our data reveal that etv5a is essential for the inhibition of ventral mesoderm cell proliferation and for the formation of the hemato-vascular lineage.

Critical function for the Ras-GTPase activating protein RASA3 in vertebrate erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis

Phenotype-driven approaches to gene discovery using inbred mice have been instrumental in identifying genetic determinants of inherited blood dyscrasias. The recessive mutant scat (severe combined anemia and thrombocytopenia) alternates between crisis and remission episodes, indicating an aberrant regulatory feedback mechanism common to erythrocyte and platelet formation. Here, we identify a missense mutation (G125V) in the scat Rasa3 gene, encoding a Ras GTPase activating protein (RasGAP), and elucidate the mechanism producing crisis episodes. The mutation causes mislocalization of RASA3 to the cytosol in scat red cells where it is inactive, leading to increased GTP-bound Ras. Erythropoiesis is severely blocked in scat crisis mice, and ~94% succumb during the second crisis (~30 d of age) from catastrophic hematopoietic failure in the spleen and bone marrow. Megakaryopoiesis is also defective during crisis. Notably, the scat phenotype is recapitulated in zebrafish when rasa3 is silenced. These results highlight a critical, conserved, and nonredundant role for RASA3 in vertebrate hematopoiesis.

Mapping mouse hemangioblast maturation from headfold stages

The mouse posterior primitive streak at neural plate/headfold stages (NP/HF, ~7.5 dpc-8 dpc) represents an optimal window from which hemangioblasts can be isolated. We performed immunohistochemistry on this domain using established monoclonal antibodies for proteins that affect blood and endothelial fates. We demonstrate that HoxB4 and GATA1 are the first set of markers that segregate independently to endothelial or blood populations during NP/HF stages of mouse embryonic development. In a subset of cells, both proteins are co-expressed and immunoreactivities appear mutually excluded within nuclear spaces. We searched for this particular state at later sites of hematopoietic stem cell emergence, viz., the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) and the fetal liver at 10.5-11.5 dpc, and found that only a rare number of cells displayed this character. Based on this spatial-temporal argument, we propose that the earliest blood progenitors emerge either directly from the epiblast or through segregation within the allantoic core domain (ACD) through reduction of cell adhesion and pSmad1/5 nuclear signaling, followed by a stochastic decision toward a blood or endothelial fate that involves GATA1 and HoxB4, respectively. A third form in which binding distributions are balanced may represent a common condition shared by hemangioblasts and HSCs. We developed a heuristic model of hemangioblast maturation, in part, to be explicit about our assumptions.

Ankyrin and band 3 differentially affect expression of membrane glycoproteins but are not required for erythroblast enucleation

During late stages of mammalian erythropoiesis the nucleus undergoes chromatin condensation, migration to the plasma membrane, and extrusion from the cytoplasm surrounded by a segment of plasma membrane. Since nuclear condensation occurs in all vertebrates, mammalian erythroid membrane and cytoskeleton proteins were implicated as playing important roles in mediating the movement and extrusion of the nucleus. Here we use erythroid ankyrin deficient and band 3 knockout mouse models to show that band 3, but not ankyrin, plays an important role in regulating the level of erythroid cell membrane proteins, as evidenced by decreased cell surface expression of glycophorin A in band 3 knockout mice. However, neither band 3 nor ankyrin are required for enucleation. These results demonstrate that mammalian erythroblast enucleation does not depend on the membrane integrity generated by the ankyrin-band 3 complex.

AhR2-mediated, CYP1A-independent cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos exposed to retene

In the embryo-larval stages of fish, alkylphenanthrenes such as retene (7-isopropyl-1-methylphenanthrene) produce a suite of developmental abnormalities typical of exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), including pericardial and yolk sac edema, cardiovascular dysfunction, and skeletal deformities. To investigate the mechanism and target tissue of retene toxicity, we used observational, histological, and protein knockdown techniques in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. The primary overt signs of toxicity are pericardial edema and reduced blood flow, first observed at 36 h post-fertilization (hpf). The most pronounced effects at this stage are a reduced layer of cardiac jelly in the atrium and reduced diastolic filling. Conversely, an increased layer of cardiac jelly is observed at 72 hpf in retene-exposed embryos. Induction of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) is apparent in a subset of cardiomyocytes by 48 hpf suggesting that early cardiac effects may be due to AhR activation in the myocardium. Myocardial CYP1A induction is transient, with only endocardial induction observed at 72 hpf. Knockdown of cyp1a by morpholino oligonucleotides does not affect retene toxicity; however, ahr2 knockdown prevents toxicity. Thus, the mechanism of retene cardiotoxicity is AhR2-mediated and CYP1A-independent, similar to TCDD; however, the onset and proximate signs of retene toxicity differ from those of TCDD. Retene cardiotoxicity also differs mechanistically from the cardiac effects of non-alkylated phenanthrane, illustrating that alkyl groups can alter toxic action. These findings have implications for understanding the toxicity of complex mixtures containing alkylated and non-alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Live imaging of the cytoskeleton in early cleavage-stage zebrafish embryos

The large and transparent cells of cleavage-stage zebrafish embryos provide unique opportunities to study cell division and cytoskeletal dynamics in very large animal cells. Here, we summarize recent progress, from our laboratories and others, on live imaging of the microtubule and actin cytoskeletons during zebrafish embryonic cleavage. First, we present simple protocols for extending the breeding competence of zebrafish mating ensembles throughout the day, which ensures a steady supply of embryos in early cleavage, and for mounting these embryos for imaging. Second, we describe a transgenic zebrafish line [Tg(bactin2:HsENSCONSIN17-282-3xEGFP)hm1] that expresses the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled microtubule-binding part of ensconsin (EMTB-3GFP). We demonstrate that the microtubule-based structures of the early cell cycles can be imaged live, with single microtubule resolution and with high contrast, in this line. Microtubules are much more easily visualized using this tagged binding protein rather than directly labeled tubulin (injected Alexa-647-labeled tubulin), presumably due to lower background from probe molecules not attached to microtubules. Third, we illustrate live imaging of the actin cytoskeleton by injection of the actin-binding fragment of utrophin fused to GFP. Fourth, we compare epifluorescence-, spinning-disc-, laser-scanning-, and two-photon-microscopic modalities for live imaging of the microtubule cytoskeleton in early embryos of our EMTB-3GFP-expressing transgenic line. Finally, we discuss future applications and extensions of our methods.

Cold exposure down-regulates zebrafish hematopoiesis

Erythropoiesis is regulated such that a sufficient number of mature erythrocytes is produced. Down-regulation of erythropoiesis causes various types of anemia. Although some anemia-related genes have been identified, there are several types of anemic disease for which the molecular mechanisms are yet unclear, suggesting that unidentified genes in addition to the classical cytokine pathways play important roles in anemia. To address this issue, a new animal model for anemia is required. We established a reversible anemic model in zebrafish by keeping fish at 17 degrees C, a low water temperature. In zebrafish kidney marrow, expression of several genes encoding hematopoietic transcription factors (Runx1, scl, c-myb and GATA-2) and particularly erythropoiesis-related factors (klfd, hbaa1, ba1, GATA-1, EPO, and EPOr) was down-regulated, whereas myelopoiesis-related factors (csf1a and csf3) was up-regulated in low temperature conditions. We propose that this zebrafish model is useful to identify novel genes for hematopoiesis, particularly erythropoiesis.

H4R3 methylation facilitates beta-globin transcription by regulating histone acetyltransferase binding and H3 acetylation

Histone modifications play an important role in the process of transcription. However, in contrast to lysine methylation, the role of arginine methylation in chromatin structure and transcription has been underexplored. The globin genes are regulated by a highly organized chromatin structure that juxtaposes the locus control region (LCR) with downstream globin genes. We report here that the targeted recruitment of asymmetric dimethyl H4R3 catalyzed by PRMT1 (protein arginine methyltransferase 1) facilitates histone H3 acetylation on Lys9/Lys14. Dimethyl H4R3 provides a binding surface for P300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) and directly enhances histone H3 acetylation in vitro. We show that these active modifications are essential for efficient interactions between the LCR and the beta(maj)-promoter as well as transcription of the beta-globin gene. Furthermore, knockdown (KD) of PRMT1 by RNA interference in erythroid progenitor cells prevents histone acetylation, enhancer and promoter interaction, and recruitment of transcription complexes to the active beta-globin promoter. Reintroducing rat PRMT1 into the PRMT1 KD MEL cells rescues PRMT1 binding, beta-globin transcription, and erythroid differentiation. Taken together, our data suggest that PRMT1-mediated dimethyl H4R3 facilitates histone acetylation and enhancer/promoter communications, which lead to the efficient recruitment of transcription preinitiation complexes to active promoters.

The Integrator subunits function in hematopoiesis by modulating Smad/BMP signaling

Hematopoiesis, the dynamic process of blood cell development, is regulated by the activity of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway and by many transcription factors. However, the molecules and mechanisms that regulate BMP/Smad signaling in hematopoiesis are largely unknown. Here, we show that the Integrator complex, an evolutionarily conserved group of proteins, functions in zebrafish hematopoiesis by modulating Smad/BMP signaling. The Integrator complex proteins are known to directly interact with RNA polymerase II to mediate 3' end processing of U1 and U2 snRNAs. We have identified several subunits of the Integrator complex in zebrafish. Antisense morpholino-mediated knockdown of the Integrator subunit 5 (Ints5) in zebrafish embryos affects U1 and U2 snRNA processing, leading to aberrant splicing of smad1 and smad5 RNA, and reduced expression of the hematopoietic genes stem cell leukemia (scl, also known as tal1) and gata1. Blood smears from ints5 morphant embryos show arrested red blood cell differentiation, similar to scl-deficient embryos. Interestingly, targeting other Integrator subunits also leads to defects in smad5 RNA splicing and arrested hematopoiesis, suggesting that the Ints proteins function as a complex to regulate the BMP pathway during hematopoiesis. Our work establishes a link between the RNA processing machinery and the downstream effectors of BMP signaling, and reveals a new group of proteins that regulates the switch from primitive hematopoietic stem cell identity and blood cell differentiation by modulating Smad function.

A non-canonical function of zebrafish telomerase reverse transcriptase is required for developmental hematopoiesis

Although it is clear that telomerase expression is crucial for the maintenance of telomere homeostasis, there is increasing evidence that the TERT protein can have physiological roles that are independent of this central function. To further examine the role of telomerase during vertebrate development, the zebrafish telomerase reverse transcriptase (zTERT) was functionally characterized. Upon zTERT knockdown, zebrafish embryos show reduced telomerase activity and are viable, but develop pancytopenia resulting from aberrant hematopoiesis. The blood cell counts in TERT-depleted zebrafish embryos are markedly decreased and hematopoietic cell differentiation is impaired, whereas other somatic lineages remain morphologically unaffected. Although both primitive and definitive hematopoiesis is disrupted by zTERT knockdown, the telomere lengths are not significantly altered throughout early development. Induced p53 deficiency, as well as overexpression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and E1B-19K, significantly relieves the decreased blood cells numbers caused by zTERT knockdown, but not the impaired blood cell differentiation. Surprisingly, only the reverse transcriptase motifs of zTERT are crucial, but the telomerase RNA-binding domain of zTERT is not required, for rescuing complete hematopoiesis. This is therefore the first demonstration of a non-canonical catalytic activity of TERT, which is different from “authentic” telomerase activity, is required for during vertebrate hematopoiesis. On the other hand, zTERT deficiency induced a defect in hematopoiesis through a potent and specific effect on the gene expression of key regulators in the absence of telomere dysfunction. These results suggest that TERT non-canonically functions in hematopoietic cell differentiation and survival in vertebrates, independently of its role in telomere homeostasis. The data also provide insights into a non-canonical pathway by which TERT functions to modulate specification of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells during vertebrate development. (276 words)

Identification of erythroid-enriched gene expression in the mouse embryonic yolk sac using microdissected cells

Little is known about the genes that control the embryonic erythroid program. Laser capture microdissection was used to isolate primitive erythroid precursors and epithelial cells from frozen sections of the embryonic day 9.5 yolk sac. The RNA samples were amplified and labeled for hybridization to Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Genome 430A 2.0 arrays. Ninety-one genes are expressed significantly higher in erythroid than in epithelial cells. Ingenuity pathway analysis indicates that many of these erythroid-enriched genes cluster in highly significant biological networks. One of these networks contains RBTN2/LMO2, SCL/TAL1, and EKLF/KLF1, three of the very few genes required for primitive erythropoiesis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to verify that platelet factor 4, reelin, thrombospondin-1, and muscleblind-like 1 mRNA is erythroid-enriched. These genes have established roles in development or differentiation in other systems, and are, therefore, good candidates for regulating primitive erythropoiesis. These results provide a catalog of genes expressed during primitive erythropoiesis.

The chromatin-remodeling enzyme BRG1 plays an essential role in primitive erythropoiesis and vascular development

ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complexes contribute to the proper temporal and spatial patterns of gene expression in mammalian embryos and therefore play important roles in a number of developmental processes. SWI/SNF-like chromatin-remodeling complexes use one of two different ATPases as their catalytic subunit: brahma (BRM, also known as SMARCA2) and brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1, also known as SMARCA4). We have conditionally deleted a floxed Brg1 allele with a Tie2-Cre transgene, which is expressed in developing hematopoietic and endothelial cells. Brg1(fl/fl):Tie2-Cre(+) embryos die at midgestation from anemia, as mutant primitive erythrocytes fail to transcribe embryonic alpha- and beta-globins, and subsequently undergo apoptosis. Additionally, vascular remodeling of the extraembryonic yolk sac is abnormal in Brg1(fl/fl):Tie2-Cre(+) embryos. Importantly, Brm deficiency does not exacerbate the erythropoietic or vascular abnormalities found in Brg1(fl/fl):Tie2-Cre(+) embryos, implying that Brg1-containing SWI/SNF-like complexes, rather than Brm-containing complexes, play a crucial role in primitive erythropoiesis and in early vascular development.

GATA factors induce mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation toward extraembryonic endoderm

The GATA family of transcription factors are implicated in early embryonic development. There are six factors in this family in vertebrates. GATA4 and GATA6 have been demonstrated to induce mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells differentiation toward extraembryonic endoderm (ExE). We investigated the effect of GATA3 on the differentiation of mES cells both in the ES cell and in the embryoid body (EB) states. The results demonstrate that GATA3 overexpression can initiate the ES cell differentiation program toward ExE. Furthermore, overexpression of GATA1 and GATA2 in ES cells and EBs resulted in similar effects. We believe this finding can augment our understanding of mouse ES cell differentiation.

Identification and characterization of hemoangiogenic progenitors during cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem cell differentiation

We identified intermediate-stage progenitor cells that have the potential to differentiate into hematopoietic and endothelial lineages from nonhuman primate embryonic stem (ES) cells. Sequential fluorescence-activated cell sorting and immunostaining analyses showed that when ES cells were cultured in an OP9 coculture system, both lineages developed after the emergence of two hemoangiogenic progenitor-bearing cell fractions, namely, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2(high) CD34(-) and VEGFR-2(high) CD34(+) cells. Exogenous vascular endothelial growth factor increased the proportion of VEGFR-2(high) cells, particularly that of VEGFR-2(high) CD34(+) cells, in a dose-dependent manner. Although either population of VEGFR-2(high) cells could differentiate into primitive and definitive hematopoietic cells (HCs), as well as endothelial cells (ECs), the VEGFR-2(high) CD34(+) cells had greater hemoangiogenic potential. Both lineages developed from VEGFR-2(high) CD34(-)or VEGFR-2(high) CD34(+) precursor at the single-cell level, which strongly supports the existence of hemangioblasts in these cell fractions. Thus, this culture system allows differentiation into the HC and EC lineages to be defined by surface markers. These observations should facilitate further studies both on early developmental processes and on regeneration therapies in human.

GATA factors as key regulatory molecules in the development of Drosophila endoderm

Essential roles for GATA factors in the development of endoderm have been reported in various animals. A Drosophila GATA factor gene, serpent (srp, dGATAb, ABF), is expressed in the prospective endoderm, and loss of srp activity causes transformation of the prospective endoderm into ectodermal foregut and hindgut, indicating that srp acts as a selector gene to specify the developmental fate of the endoderm. While srp is expressed in the endoderm only during early stages, it activates a subsequent GATA factor gene, dGATAe, and the latter continues to be expressed specifically in the endoderm throughout life. dGATAe activates various functional genes in the differentiated endodermal midgut. An analogous mode of regulation has been reported in Caenorhabditis elegans, in which a pair of GATA genes, end-1/3, specifies endodermal fate, and a downstream pair of GATA genes, elt-2/7, activates genes in the differentiated endoderm. Functional homology of GATA genes in nature is apparently extendable to vertebrates, because endodermal GATA genes of C. elegans and Drosophila induce endoderm development in Xenopus ectoderm. These findings strongly imply evolutionary conservation of the roles of GATA factors in the endoderm across the protostomes and the deuterostomes.

The zebrafish progranulin gene family and antisense transcripts

Background

Progranulin is an epithelial tissue growth factor (also known as proepithelin, acrogranin and PC-cell-derived growth factor) that has been implicated in development, wound healing and in the progression of many cancers. The single mammalian progranulin gene encodes a glycoprotein precursor consisting of seven and one half tandemly repeated non-identical copies of the cystine-rich granulin motif. A genome-wide duplication event hypothesized to have occurred at the base of the teleost radiation predicts that mammalian progranulin may be represented by two co-orthologues in zebrafish.

Results

The cDNAs encoding two zebrafish granulin precursors, progranulins-A and -B, were characterized and found to contain 10 and 9 copies of the granulin motif respectively. The cDNAs and genes encoding the two forms of granulin, progranulins-1 and -2, were also cloned and sequenced. Both latter peptides were found to be encoded by precursors with a simplified architecture consisting of one and one half copies of the granulin motif. A cDNA encoding a chimeric progranulin which likely arises through the mechanism of trans-splicing between grn1 and grn2 was also characterized. A non-coding RNA gene with antisense complementarity to both grn1 and grn2 was identified which may have functional implications with respect to gene dosage, as well as in restricting the formation of the chimeric form of progranulin. Chromosomal localization of the four progranulin (grn) genes reveals syntenic conservation for grna only, suggesting that it is the true orthologue of mammalian grn. RT-PCR and whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis of zebrafish grns during development reveals that combined expression of grna and grnb, but not grn1 and grn2, recapitulate many of the expression patterns observed for the murine counterpart. This includes maternal deposition, widespread central nervous system distribution and specific localization within the epithelial compartments of various organs.

Conclusion

In support of the duplication-degeneration-complementation model of duplicate gene retention, partitioning of expression between grna and grnb was observed in the intermediate cell mass and yolk syncytial layer, respectively. Taken together these expression patterns suggest that the function of an ancestral grn gene has been devolved upon four paralogues in zebrafish.

bloodthirsty, an RBCC/TRIM gene required for erythropoiesis in zebrafish

The Antarctic icefishes (family Channichthyidae, suborder Notothenioidei) constitute the only vertebrate taxon that fails to produce red blood cells. These fishes can be paired with closely related, but erythrocyte-producing, notothenioids to discover erythropoietic genes via representational difference analysis. Using a B30.2-domain-encoding DNA probe so derived from the hematopoietic kidney (pronephros) of a red-blooded Antarctic rockcod, Notothenia coriiceps, we discovered a related, novel gene, bloodthirsty (bty), that encoded a 547-residue protein that contains sequential RING finger, B Box, coiled-coil, and B30.2 domains. bty mRNA was expressed by the pronephric kidney of N. coriiceps at a steady-state level 10-fold greater than that found in the kidney of the icefish Chaenocephalus aceratus. To test the function of bty, we cloned the orthologous zebrafish gene from a kidney cDNA library. Whole-mount in situ hybridization of zebrafish embryos showed that bty mRNA was present throughout development and, after the mid-blastula transition, was expressed in the head and in or near the site of primitive erythropoiesis in the tail just prior to red cell production. One- to four-cell embryos injected with two distinct antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) targeted to the 5'-end of the bty mRNA failed to develop red cells, whereas embryos injected with 4- and 5-bp mismatch control MOs produced wild-type quantities of erythrocytes. The morphant phenotype was rescued by co-injection of synthetic bty mRNA containing an artificial 5'-untranslated region (UTR) with the antisense MO that bound the 5'-UTR of the wild-type bty transcript. Furthermore, the expression of genes that mark terminal erythroid differentiation was greatly reduced in the antisense-MO-treated embryos. We conclude that bty is likely to play a role in differentiation of the committed red cell progenitor.

Oxygen-dependent gene expression in fishes

The role of oxygen in regulating patterns of gene expression in mammalian development, physiology, and pathology has received increasing attention, especially after the discovery of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), a transcription factor that has been likened to a "master switch" in the transcriptional response of mammalian cells and tissues to low oxygen. At present, considerably less is known about the molecular responses of nonmammalian vertebrates and invertebrates to hypoxic exposure. Because many animals live in aquatic habitats that are variable in oxygen tension, it is relevant to study oxygen-dependent gene expression in these animals. The purpose of this review is to discuss hypoxia-induced gene expression in fishes from an evolutionary and ecological context. Recent studies have described homologs of HIF in fish and have begun to evaluate their function. A number of physiological processes are known to be altered by hypoxic exposure of fish, although the evidence linking them to HIF is less well developed. The diversity of fish presents many opportunities to evaluate if inter- and intraspecific variation in HIF structure and function correlate with hypoxia tolerance. Furthermore, as an aquatic group, fish offer the opportunity to examine the interactions between hypoxia and other stressors, including pollutants, common in aquatic environments. It is possible, if not likely, that results obtained by studying the molecular responses of fish to hypoxia will find parallels in the oxygen-dependent responses of mammals, including humans. Moreover, novel responses to hypoxia could be discovered through studies of this diverse and species-rich group.

An endoderm-specific GATA factor gene, dGATAe, is required for the terminal differentiation of the Drosophila endoderm

GATA factors play an essential role in endodermal specification in both protostomes and deuterostomes. In Drosophila, the GATA factor gene serpent (srp) is critical for differentiation of the endoderm. However, the expression of srp disappears around stage 11, which is much earlier than overt differentiation occurs in the midgut, an entirely endodermal organ. We have identified another endoderm-specific Drosophila GATA factor gene, dGATAe. Expression of dGATAe is first detected at stage 8 in the endoderm, and its expression continues in the endodermal midgut throughout the life cycle. srp is required for expression of dGATAe, and misexpression of srp resulted in ectopic dGATAe expression. Embryos that either lacked dGATAe or were injected with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) corresponding to dGATAe failed to express marker genes that are characteristic of differentiated midgut. Conversely, overexpression of dGATAe induced ectopic expression of endodermal markers even in the absence of srp activity. Transfection of the dGATAe cDNA also induced endodermal markers in Drosophila S2 cells. These studies provide an outline of the genetic pathway that establishes the endoderm in Drosophila. This pathway is triggered by sequential signaling through the maternal torso gene, a terminal gap gene, huckebein (hkb), and finally, two GATA factor genes, srp and dGATAe.

Loss of Hspa9b in zebrafish recapitulates the ineffective hematopoiesis of the myelodysplastic syndrome

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) comprises a heterogeneous group of often fatal hematopoietic stem cell disorders for which neither curative nor standard treatment exists. The complex karyotypes and multistep nature of MDS have severely restricted the identification of causative genetic mutations and thus limited insight into new and more effective therapies. Here we describe a zebrafish mutant crimsonless (crs) with a developmental blood defect that closely recapitulates the ineffective hematopoiesis of MDS including anemia, dysplasia, increased blood cell apoptosis, and multilineage cytopenia. By positional cloning, rescue, and morpholino knockdown experiments, we demonstrate that crs encodes a conserved mitochondrial matrix chaperone HSPA9B containing a glycine-to-glutamate substitution within the substrate-binding domain. This mutation compromises mitochondrial function, producing oxidative stress and apoptosis distinctly in blood cells. Thus, we identify an essential role for Hspa9b in hematopoiesis and implicate both loss of HSPA9B specifically and mitochondrial dysfunction generally in the pathogenesis of the MDS.

Zebrafish Genetics and Formation of Embryonic Vasculature

The embryonic vasculature develops in a conserved manner in all vertebrates. Endothelial progenitor cells differentiate from mesodermal cells, then migrate and assemble into the dorsal aorta and the cardinal vein. This primitive circulatory loop undergoes sprouting and branching via a two-step navigation mechanism to form the trunk vascular network. Various studies using several model systems have uncovered a number of signaling mechanisms that regulate these complex processes. A genetic approach in zebrafish has led to identification of mutations and molecules that are responsible for specification of endothelial progenitor cells, differentiation of arterial and venous cells, and patterning of the dorsal aorta and intersegmental vessels. These studies highlight the unique utilities and benefits of the zebrafish system for studying development of embryonic blood vessels.

Endothelial and hematopoietic cell fate of human embryonic stem cells originates from primitive endothelium with hemangioblastic properties

The cellular organization and relationships among precursors that initiate embryonic angiogenesis and hematopoiesis in the human have yet to be characterized. Here, we identify a subpopulation of primitive endothelial-like cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that express PECAM-1, Flk-1, and VE-cadherin, but not CD45 (CD45negPFV cells), and that are uniquely responsible for endothelial and hematopoietic development. Molecular profiling of CD45negPFV cells is consistent with endothelial and hematopoietic competency. Clonal isolation demonstrates that the CD45negPFV population includes bipotent cells with endothelial and hematopoietic capacity. We suggest that human hematopoiesis and endothelial maturation originate exclusively from a subset of embryonic endothelium that possesses hemangioblastic properties and offers a model system to study these lineage relationships in the human.

Modeling human hematopoietic and cardiovascular diseases in zebrafish

Zebrafish have emerged as a useful vertebrate model system in which unbiased large-scale screens have revealed hundreds of mutations affecting vertebrate development. Many zebrafish mutants closely resemble known human disorders, thus providing intriguing prospects for uncovering the genetic basis of human diseases and for the development of pharmacologic agents that inhibit or correct the progression of developmental disorders. The rapid pace of advances in genomic sequencing and map construction, in addition to morpholino targeting and transgenic techniques, have facilitated the identification and analysis of genes associated with zebrafish mutants, thus promoting the development of zebrafish as a model for human disorders. This review aims to illustrate how the zebrafish has been used to identify unknown genes, to assign function to known genes, and to delineate genetic pathways, all contributing valuable leads toward understanding human pathophysiology.

Embryonic origins of mammalian hematopoiesis

Hematopoiesis and vasculogenesis in the mammalian embryo begin in the blood islands of the yolk sac and continue, somewhat later, within the embryo proper. A subset of the first endothelial and hematopoietic cells of the yolk sac arise in close spatial and temporal association, apparently from a common mesodermal progenitor, the "hemangioblast." The mechanisms that control formation of hemangioblast and embryonic hematopoietic and endothelial (angioblastic) stem/progenitor cells are still not well understood. Formation of these cell types from nascent mesoderm requires signals from an adjacent outer layer of primitive (visceral) endoderm. Indian hedgehog (Ihh), a member of the hedgehog family of extracellular morphogens, is secreted by visceral endoderm and alone is sufficient to induce hematopoiesis and vasculogenesis in explanted embryos. While gene targeting studies in mice support a role for hedgehog signaling in these processes in vivo, they also suggest that additional molecules (perhaps, for example, Wnt proteins) are required for induction and patterning of hematopoietic and vascular mesoderm. Indian hedgehog likely functions through upregulation of genes encoding other signaling molecules, such as bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp)-4, in the target tissue. This review will focus on hematopoietic and vascular development in the early mouse embryo and will discuss potential implications of recent studies for stem cell transplantation in humans.

The LTR enhancer of ERV-9 human endogenous retrovirus is active in oocytes and progenitor cells in transgenic zebrafish and humans

The solitary LTRs of ERV-9 human endogenous retrovirus are middle repetitive DNAs associated with 3,000-4,000 human gene loci including the beta-globin gene locus where the ERV-9 LTR is juxtaposed to the locus control region (beta-LCR) far upstream of the globin genes. The ERV-9 LTRs are conserved during primate evolution, but their function in the primate genomes is unknown. Here, we show that in transgenic zebrafish harboring the beta-globin ERV-9 LTR coupled to the GFP gene, the LTR enhancer was active and initiated synthesis of GFP mRNA in oocytes but not in spermatozoa, and GFP expression in the embryos was maternally inherited. The LTR enhancer was active also in stem/progenitor cell regions of adult tissues of transgenic zebrafish. In human tissues, ERV-9 LTR enhancer was active also in oocytes and stem/progenitor cells but not in spermatozoa and a number of differentiated, adult somatic cells. Transcriptional analyses of the human beta-globin gene locus showed that the beta-globin ERV-9 LTR enhancer initiated RNA synthesis from the LTR in the direction of the downstream beta locus control region and globin genes in ovary and erythroid progenitor cells. The findings suggest that, during oogenesis, ERV-9 LTR enhancers in the human genome could activate the cis-linked gene loci to synthesize maternal mRNAs required for early embryogenesis. Alternatively, the ERV-9 LTR enhancers, in initiating RNA syntheses into the downstream genomic DNAs, could transcriptionally potentiate and preset chromatin structure of the cis-linked gene loci in oocytes and adult stem/progenitor cells.

From mesoderm to blood islands: patterns of key molecules during yolk sac erythropoiesis

Several identified genes play key roles in the specification of the blood-forming system, from commitment of mesoderm to differentiation of hemopoietic and endothelial cells. We have thoroughly analyzed the expression dynamics of some of these genes during yolk sac erythropoiesis in the chick embryo. The study includes transcription factors which are known to participate in multimeric complexes: GATA-1, -2, SCL/tal-1 and Lmo2 (whose avian orthologue we have cloned), VEGF-R2, a critical regulator of hemopoietic and endothelial commitment, and hemoglobin used as a marker of the last step in erythroid differentiation. Several findings were unexpected. (1) Two distinct patterns were revealed for GATA-2, first: low expression, ubiquitous in all mesodermal cells, as soon as cells ingress through the primitive streak; secondly: high, blood island-specific expression. (2) VEGF-R2 is coexpressed with GATA-2 at the level of the primitive streak. (3) SCL and Lmo2 expression is restricted to presumptive hemangioblasts. (4) The up-regulation of GATA-2 in newly formed blood islands is shortly followed by GATA-1 expression. (5) Lmo2 is up-regulated in blood island angioblasts thus appearing as one of the earliest markers for endothelial cell commitment. VEGF-R2 is down-regulated in hemopoietic cells prior to GATA-2, SCL/tal-1, Lmo2 and GATA-1 in erythroblasts.

The state of the art of the zebrafish model for toxicology and toxicologic pathology research--advantages and current limitations

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is now the pre-eminent vertebrate model system for clarification of the roles of specific genes and signaling pathways in development. The zebrafish genome will be completely sequenced within the next 1-2 years. Together with the substantial historical database regarding basic developmental biology, toxicology, and gene transfer, the rich foundation of molecular genetic and genomic data makes zebrafish a powerful model system for clarifying mechanisms in toxicity. In contrast to the highly advanced knowledge base on molecular developmental genetics in zebrafish, our database regarding infectious and noninfectious diseases and pathologic lesions in zebrafish lags far behind the information available on most other domestic mammalian and avian species, particularly rodents. Currently, minimal data are available regarding spontaneous neoplasm rates or spontaneous aging lesions in any of the commonly used wild-type or mutant lines of zebrafish. Therefore, to fully utilize the potential of zebrafish as an animal model for understanding human development, disease, and toxicology we must greatly advance our knowledge on zebrafish diseases and pathology.

Emergence of muscle and neural hematopoiesis in humans

During human development, hematopoiesis is thought to be compartmentalized to the fetal circulation, liver, and bone marrow. Here, we show that combinations of cytokines together with bone morphogenetic protein-4 and erythropoietin could induce multiple blood lineages from human skeletal muscle or neural tissue. Under defined serum-free conditions, the growth factors requirements, proliferation, and differentiation capacity of muscle and neural hematopoiesis were distinct to that derived from committed hematopoietic sites and were uniquely restricted to CD45(-)CD34(-) cells expressing the prominin AC133. Our study defines epigenetic factors required for the emergence of hematopoiesis from unexpected tissue origins and illustrates that embyronically specified microenvironments do not limit cell fate in humans.

Isolation and characterization of zebrafish NFE2

Vertebrate hematopoiesis is regulated by distinct cell-specific transcription factors such as GATA-1 and SCL. Mammalian p45-NFE2 was characterized for its ability to bind the hypersensitive sites of the globin locus control region. NFE2 is a member of a cap'n'collar (CNC) and basic zipper (BZIP) superfamily that regulates gene transcription. It has been implicated in diverse processes such as globin gene expression, oxidative stress, and platelet lineage differentiation. Here, we have isolated the zebrafish ortholog of NFE2. The gene is highly homologous, particularly in the DNA-binding domain. Mapping the zebrafish NFE2 to linkage group 23 establishes a region of chromosomal synteny with human chromosome 12, further suggesting evolutionary conservation. During embryogenesis, the zebrafish gene is expressed specifically in erythroid cells and also in the developing ear. NFE2 expression is lacking in zebrafish mutants that have no hematopoietic cells. An analysis of the sauternes mutant, which carries a mutation in the ALAS-2 gene and thus has defective heme synthesis, demonstrates higher levels of NFE2 expression than normal. This further establishes the block to erythroid differentiation in the sauternes mutant. Our studies demonstrate conservation of the vertebrate genetic program for the erythroid lineage.

Making worm guts: the gene regulatory network of the Caenorhabditis elegans endoderm

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a triploblastic ecdysozoan, which, although it contains too few cells during embryogenesis to create discernible germ "layers," deploys similar programs for germ layer differentiation used in animals with many more cells. The endoderm arises from a single progenitor, the E cell, and is selected from among three possible fates by a three-state combinatorial regulatory system involving intersecting cell-intrinsic and intercellular signals. The core gene regulatory cascade that drives endoderm development, extending from early maternal regulators to terminal differentiation genes, is characterized by activation of successive tiers of transcription factors, including a sequential cascade of redundant GATA transcription factors. Each tier is punctuated by a cell division, raising the possibility that intercession of one cell cycle round, or DNA replication, is required for activation of the next tier. The existence of each tier in the regulatory hierarchy is justified by the assignment of a unique task and each invariably performs at least two functions: to activate the regulators in the next tier and to perform one other activity distinct from that of the next tier. While the regulatory inputs that initiate endoderm development are highly divergent, they mobilize a gene regulatory network for endoderm development that appears to be common to all triploblastic metazoans. Genome-wide functional genomic approaches, including identification of >800 transcripts that exhibit the same regulatory patterns as a number of endoderm-specific genes, are contributing to elucidation of the complete endoderm gene regulatory network in C. elegans. Dissection of the architecture of the C. elegans endoderm network may provide insights into the evolutionary plasticity and origins of this germ layer.

The LIM domain protein LMO4 interacts with the cofactor CtIP and the tumor suppressor BRCA1 and inhibits BRCA1 activity

LMO4 belongs to the LIM-only (LMO) group of transcriptional regulators that appear to function as molecular adaptors for protein-protein interactions. Expression of the LMO4 gene is developmentally regulated in the mammary gland and is up-regulated in primary breast cancers. Using LMO4 in a yeast two-hybrid screen, we have identified the cofactor CtIP as an LMO4-binding protein. Interaction with CtIP appeared to be specific for the LMO subclass of LIM domain proteins and could be mediated by a single LIM motif of LMO4. We further identified the breast tumor suppressor BRCA1 as an LMO4-associated protein. The C-terminal BRCT domains of BRCA1, previously shown to bind CtIP, also mediated interaction with LMO4. Tumor-associated mutations within the BRCT repeats that abolish interaction between BRCA1 and CtIP had no effect on the association of BRCA1 with LMO4. A stable complex comprising LMO4, BRCA1, and CtIP was demonstrated in vivo. The LIM domain binding-protein Ldb1 also participated in this multiprotein complex. In functional assays, LMO4 was shown to repress BRCA1-mediated transcriptional activation in both yeast and mammalian cells. These findings reveal a novel complex between BRCA1, LMO4, and CtIP and indicate a role for LMO4 as a repressor of BRCA1 activity in breast tissue.

The BMP/BMPR/Smad pathway directs expression of the erythroid-specific EKLF and GATA1 transcription factors during embryoid body differentiation in serum-free media

Erythroid cell-specific gene regulation during terminal differentiation is controlled by transcriptional regulators, such as EKLF and GATA1, that themselves exhibit tissue-restricted expression patterns. Their early expression, already in evidence within multipotential hematopoietic cell lines, has made it difficult to determine what extracellular effectors and transduction mechanisms might be directing the onset of their own transcription during embryogenesis. To circumvent this problem, we have taken the novel approach of investigating whether the ability of embryonic stem (ES) cells to mimic early developmental patterns of cellular expression during embryoid body (EB) differentiation can address this issue. We first established conditions whereby EBs could form efficiently in the absence of serum. Surprisingly, in addition to mesoderm, these cells expressed hemangioblast and hematopoietic markers. However, they did not express the committed erythroid markers EKLF and GATA1, nor the terminally differentiated β-like globin markers. Using this system, we determined that EB differentiation in BMP4 was necessary and sufficient to recover EKLF and GATA1 expression and could be further stimulated by the inclusion of VEGF, SCF, erythropoietin and thyroid hormone. EBs were competent to respond to BMP4 only until day 4 of differentiation, which coincides with the normal onset of EKLF expression. The direct involvement of the BMP/Smad pathway in this induction process was further verified by showing that erythroid expression of a dominant negative BMP1B receptor or of the inhibitory Smad6 protein prevented induction of EKLF or GATA1 even in the presence of serum. Although Smad1, Smad5 and Smad8 are all expressed in the EBs, BMP4 induction of EKLF and GATA1 transcription is not immediate. These data implicate the BMP/Smad induction system as being a crucial pathway to direct the onset of EKLF and GATA1 expression during hematopoietic differentiation and demonstrate that EB differentiation can be manipulated to study induction of specific genes that are expressed early within a lineage.

c-Myc regulates mammalian body size by controlling cell number but not cell size

Overexpression of the proto-oncogene c-myc has been implicated in the genesis of diverse human tumours. c-Myc seems to regulate diverse biological processes, but its role in tumorigenesis and normal physiology remains enigmatic. Here we report the generation of an allelic series of mice in which c-myc expression is incrementally reduced to zero. Fibroblasts from these mice show reduced proliferation and after complete loss of c-Myc function they exit the cell cycle. We show that Myc activity is not needed for cellular growth but does determine the percentage of activated T cells that re-enter the cell cycle. In vivo, reduction of c-Myc levels results in reduced body mass owing to multiorgan hypoplasia, in contrast to Drosophila c-myc mutants, which are smaller as a result of hypotrophy. We find that c-myc substitutes for c-myc in fibroblasts, indicating they have similar biological activities. This suggests there may be fundamental differences in the mechanisms by which mammals and insects control body size. We propose that in mammals c-Myc controls the decision to divide or not to divide and thereby functions as a crucial mediator of signals that determine organ and body size.

Step-wise divergence of primitive and definitive haematopoietic and endothelial cell lineages during embryonic stem cell differentiation

BACKGROUND

The developmental processes leading from the mesoderm to primitive and definitive haematopoietic and endothelial lineages, although of great importance, are still poorly defined. Recent studies have suggested a model in which common precursors give rise to endothelial progenitors and haematopoietic progenitors, the latter subsequently generating both primitive and definitive haematopoietic lineages. However, this model is contradicted by findings that suggest the emergence of haematopoietic cells from the endothelial lineage.

RESULTS

We found sequential steps in the differentiation of FLK1+ mesoderm into haematopoietic and endothelial lineages in an in vitro differentiation system of embryonic stem (ES) cells: (i) the GATA-1+ subset of FLK1+ mesodermal cells loses the capacity to give rise to endothelial cells and is restricted to primitive erythroid, macrophage and definitive erythroid progenitors; (ii) the remaining GATA-1- cells give rise to VE-cadherin+ endothelial cells; and subsequently (iii) multiple definitive haematopoietic progenitors and endothelial cells branch off from a subset of VE-cadherin+ cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations strongly suggest that the divergence of primitive and multilineage definitive haematopoietic/endothelial lineages occurs first, and then multilineage definitive haematopoietic progenitors arise from VE-cadherin+ endothelial cells in the development of haematopoietic and endothelial cells.

Hemangioblast commitment in the avian allantois: cellular and molecular aspects

We recently identified the allantois as a site producing hemopoietic and endothelial cells capable of colonizing the bone marrow of an engrafted host. Here, we report a detailed investigation of some early cytological and molecular processes occurring in the allantoic bud, which are probably involved in the production of angioblasts and hemopoietic cells. We show that the allantois undergoes a program characterized by the prominent expression of several "hemangioblastic" genes in the mesoderm accompanied by other gene patterns in the associated endoderm. VEGF-R2, at least from stage HH17 onward, is expressed and is shortly followed by transcription factors GATA-2, SCL/tal-1, and GATA-1. Blood island-like structures differentiate that contain both CD45(+) cells and cells accumulating hemoglobin; these structures look exactly like blood islands in the yolk sac. This hemopoietic process takes place before the establishment of a vascular network connecting the allantois to the embryo. As far as the endoderm is concerned, GATA-3 mRNA is found in the region where allantois will differentiate before the posterior instestinal portal becomes anatomically distinct. Shortly before the bud grows out, GATA-2 was expressed in the endoderm and, at the same time, the hemangioblastic program became initiated in the mesoderm. GATA-3 is detected at least until E8 and GATA-2 until E3 the latest stage examined for this factor. Using in vitro cultures, we show that allantoic buds, dissected out before the establishment of circulation between the bud and the rest of the embryo, produced erythrocytes of the definitive lineage. Moreover, using heterospecific grafts between chick and quail embryos, we demonstrate that the allantoic vascular network develops from intrinsic progenitors. Taken together, these results extend our earlier findings about the commitment of mesoderm to the endothelial and hemopoietic lineages in the allantois. The detection of a prominent GATA-3 expression restricted to the endoderm of the preallantoic region and allantoic bud, followed by that of GATA-2, is an interesting and novel information, in the context of organ formation and endoderm specification in the emergence of hemopoietic cells.

Multiple roles for Gata5 in zebrafish endoderm formation

Previous studies have indicated that gata5, a zinc-finger transcription factor gene, is required for the development of the zebrafish gut tube. Here, we show that gata5 mutants also display defects in the development of other endodermal organs such as the liver, pancreas, thyroid and thymus. gata5 is expressed in the endodermal progenitors from late blastula stages, suggesting that it functions early during endoderm development. We indeed find that during gastrulation stages, gata5 mutants form fewer endodermal cells than their wild-type siblings. In addition, the endodermal cells that form in gata5 mutants appear to express lower than wild-type levels of endodermal genes such as sox17 and axial/foxA2. Conversely, overexpression of gata5 leads to expanded endodermal gene expression. These data indicate that Gata5 is involved both in the generation of endodermal cells at late blastula stages and in the maintenance of endodermal sox17 expression during gastrulation. We have also analyzed the relationship of Gata5 to other factors involved in endoderm formation. Using complementary mutant and overexpression analyses, we show that Gata5 regulates endoderm formation in cooperation with the Mix-type transcription factor Bon, that Gata5 and Bon function downstream of Nodal signaling, and that cas function is usually required for the activity of Gata5 in endoderm formation. Finally, we show that fau/gata5, bon and cas exhibit dominant genetic interactions providing additional support that they function in the same pathway. Together, these data demonstrate that Gata5 plays multiple roles in endoderm development in zebrafish, and position Gata5 relative to other regulators of endoderm formation.

Requirement of Runx1/AML1/PEBP2alphaB for the generation of haematopoietic cells from endothelial cells

Recent studies revealing that endothelial cells derived from E8.5-E10.5 mouse embryos give rise to haematopoietic cells appear to correspond to previous histological observations that haematopoietic cell clusters are attached to the ventral aspect of dorsal aorta in such a way as if they were budding from the endothelial cell layer. Gene disruption studies have revealed that Runx1/AML1 is required for definitive haematopoiesis but not for primitive haematopoiesis, but the precise stage of gene function is not yet known. We found that mice deficient in Runx1/AML1 (an alpha subunit of the transcription factor PEBP2/CBF) lack c-Kit+ haematopoietic cell clusters in the dorsal aorta, omphalomesenteric and umbilical arteries, as well as yolk sac vessels. Moreover, endothelial cells sorted from the embryo proper and the yolk sac of AML1-/- embryos are unable to differentiate into haematopoietic cells on OP9 stromal cells, whereas colonies of AML1-/- endothelial cells can be formed in culture. These results strongly suggest that the emergence of haematopoietic cells from endothelial cells represents a major pathway of definitive haematopoiesis and is an event that also occurs in the yolk sac in vivo, as suggested by earlier in vitro experiments.

Developmentally dynamic histone acetylation pattern of a tissue-specific chromatin domain

We have defined the histone acetylation pattern of the endogenous murine beta-globin domain, which contains the erythroidspecific beta-globin genes. The beta-globin locus control region (LCR) and transcriptionally active promoters were enriched in acetylated histones in fetal liver relative to fetal brain, whereas the inactive promoters were hypoacetylated. In contrast, the LCR and both active and inactive promoters were hyperacetylated in yolk sac. Hypersensitive site two of the LCR was also hyperacetylated in murine embryonic stem cells, whereas beta-globin promoters were hypoacetylated. Thus, the acetylation pattern varied at different developmental stages. Histone deacetylase inhibition selectively increased acetylation at a hypoacetylated promoter in fetal liver, suggesting that active deacetylation contributes to silencing of promoters. We propose that dynamic histone acetylation and deacetylation play an important role in the developmental control of beta-globin gene expression.