Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), crucial during embryogenesis for new tissue and organ formation, is also considered to be a prerequisite to cancer metastasis. We report here that the protein tyrosine phosphatase Pez is expressed transiently in discrete locations in developing brain, heart, pharyngeal arches, and somites in zebrafish embryos. We also find that Pez knock-down results in defects in these organs, indicating a crucial role in organogenesis. Overexpression of Pez in epithelial MDCK cells causes EMT, with a drastic change in cell morphology and function that is accompanied by changes in gene expression typical of EMT. Transfection of Pez induced TGFbeta signaling, critical in developmental EMT with a likely role also in oncogenic EMT. In zebrafish, TGFbeta3 is co- expressed with Pez in a number of tissues and its expression was lost from these tissues when Pez expression was knocked down. Together, our data suggest Pez plays a crucial role in organogenesis by inducing TGFbeta and EMT.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Nucleus / metabolism
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Dogs
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / cytology
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
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Embryonic Development / drug effects
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Epithelial Cells / cytology*
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Epithelial Cells / drug effects
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Epithelial Cells / metabolism
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
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Humans
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Mesoderm / cytology*
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Mesoderm / drug effects
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Mesoderm / metabolism
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Oligonucleotides, Antisense / pharmacology
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Organogenesis* / drug effects
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Phenotype
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Protein Transport / drug effects
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Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / genetics
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Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / metabolism*
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Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Non-Receptor / genetics
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Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Non-Receptor / metabolism
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Smad4 Protein / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
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Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / genetics
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
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Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / genetics
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Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / metabolism
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Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / genetics
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Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / metabolism
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Zebrafish / embryology*
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Zebrafish / genetics
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Zebrafish / metabolism*
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Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
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Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism*
Substances
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Oligonucleotides, Antisense
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RNA, Messenger
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Smad4 Protein
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Transcription Factors
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Transforming Growth Factor beta
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1
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Transforming Growth Factor beta2
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Transforming Growth Factor beta3
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Zebrafish Proteins
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ptpn21 protein, zebrafish
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PTPN14 protein, human
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Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
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Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Non-Receptor