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Dact gene expression profiles suggest a role for this gene family in integrating Wnt and TGF‐β signaling pathways during chicken limb development
Author(s) -
Sensiate Lucimara Aparecida,
Sobreira Débora R.,
Veiga Fernanda Cristina,
Peterlini Denner Jefferson,
Pedrosa Angelica Vasconcelos,
Rirsch Thaís,
Joazeiro Paulo Pinto,
Schubert Frank R.,
CollaresBuzato Carla Beatriz,
XavierNeto José,
Dietrich Susanne,
Alvares Lúcia Elvira
Publication year - 2014
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.23948
Subject(s) - wnt signaling pathway , biology , limb development , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , signal transduction
Background: Dact gene family encodes multifunctional proteins that are important modulators of Wnt and TGF‐β signaling pathways. Given that these pathways coordinate multiple steps of limb development, we investigated the expression pattern of the two chicken Dact genes ( Dact1 and Dact2 ) from early limb bud up to stages when several tissues are differentiating. Results: During early limb development (HH24‐HH30) Dact1 and Dact2 were mainly expressed in the cartilaginous rudiments of the appendicular skeleton and perichondrium, presenting expression profiles related, but distinct. At later stages of development (HH31–HH35), the main sites of Dact1 and Dact2 expression were the developing synovial joints. In this context, Dact1 expression was shown to co‐localize with regions enriched in the nuclear β‐catenin protein, such as developing joint capsule and interzone. In contrast, Dact2 expression was restricted to the interzone surrounding the domains of bmpR‐1b expression, a TGF‐β receptor with crucial roles during digit morphogenesis. Additional sites of Dact expression were the developing tendons and digit blastemas. Conclusions: Our data indicate that Dact genes are good candidates to modulate and, possibly, integrate Wnt and TGF‐β signaling during limb development, bringing new and interesting perspectives about the roles of Dact molecules in limb birth defects and human diseases. Developmental Dynamics 243:428–439, 2014 . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.