Abstract
During and after gastrulation, the neural axis in vertebrates is patterned along the antero-posterior axis by the combined activity of signaling factors secreted in the neural ectoderm and the underlying mesoderm. These signals divide the neural axis into four major divisions: the forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain and spinal chord. Among the signals that pattern the neural axis, Wnts play a prominent role and many patterning genes have been found to be direct Wnt/beta-catenin target genes, including several homeobox domain-containing transcription factors. Here we show that HoxD1 and Irx3 are transcriptionally induced by the Wnt pathway during neurulation. Using induction in the presence of the translation blocking drug cycloheximide and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we confirm that HoxD1 and Irx3 are both direct Wnt target genes. In addition, we identified Crabp2 (cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2) as an indirect target that potentially links the activities of Wnt and retinoic acid during antero-posterior patterning.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Body Patterning / genetics
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Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
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Cycloheximide / pharmacology
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / embryology
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
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Embryonic Induction
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Gastrulation
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
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Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
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Nervous System / embryology*
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Neurulation*
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Receptors, Retinoic Acid / genetics
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Receptors, Retinoic Acid / metabolism
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Signal Transduction
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Transcription Factors / genetics*
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Wnt Proteins / genetics
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Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
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Xenopus Proteins / genetics*
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Xenopus Proteins / metabolism
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Xenopus laevis / embryology*
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Xenopus laevis / genetics
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Xenopus laevis / metabolism
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beta Catenin / genetics
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beta Catenin / metabolism*
Substances
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Hoxd1 protein, Xenopus
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IRX3 protein, Xenopus
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Receptors, Retinoic Acid
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Transcription Factors
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Wnt Proteins
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Xenopus Proteins
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beta Catenin
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retinoic acid binding protein II, cellular
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Cycloheximide