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Xmc mediates Xctr1‐independent morphogenesis in Xenopus laevis
Author(s) -
Haremaki Tomomi,
Weinstein Daniel C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.22050
Subject(s) - xenopus , biology , fgf and mesoderm formation , microbiology and biotechnology , morphogenesis , fibroblast growth factor , mesoderm , gene knockdown , notochord , noggin , gastrulation , zebrafish , morpholino , bone morphogenetic protein , anatomy , embryo , embryogenesis , genetics , gene , embryonic stem cell , receptor
Abstract In the frog, Xenopus laevis , fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is required for both mesoderm formation and the morphogenetic movements that drive the elongation of the notochord, a dorsal mesodermal derivative; the coordination of these distinct roles is mediated by the Xenopus Ctr1 (Xctr1) protein: maternal Xctr1 is required for mesodermal differentiation, while the subsequent loss of Xctr1 promotes morphogenesis. The signaling cascade activated by FGF in the presence of Ctr1 has been well characterized; however, the Xctr1‐independent, FGF‐responsive network remains poorly defined. We have identified Xenopus Marginal Coil ( Xmc ) as a gene whose expression is highly enriched following Xctr1 knockdown. Zygotic initiation of Xmc expression in vivo coincides with a decrease in maternal Xctr1 transcripts; moreover, Xmc loss‐of‐function inhibits Xctr1 knockdown‐mediated elongation of FGF‐treated animal cap explants, implicating Xmc as a key effector of Xctr1‐independent gastrular morphogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 238:2382–2400, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.