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Identification of transcripts potentially involved in neural tube closure using RNA sequencing
Author(s) -
Kindt Lexy M.,
Coughlin Alicia R.,
Perosino Tianna R.,
Ersfeld Haley N.,
Hampton Marshall,
Liang Jennifer O.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.23096
Subject(s) - neurulation , neuroectoderm , neural plate , neural tube , mesoderm , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , neural fold , ectoderm , nodal , neuroepithelial cell , lateral plate mesoderm , zebrafish , fgf and mesoderm formation , adherens junction , nodal signaling , neurula , germ layer , genetics , gastrulation , embryogenesis , embryo , embryonic stem cell , cadherin , gene , neural stem cell , cell , stem cell , induced pluripotent stem cell
Anencephaly is a fatal human neural tube defect (NTD) in which the anterior neural tube remains open. Zebrafish embryos with reduced Nodal signaling display an open anterior neural tube phenotype that is analogous to anencephaly. Previous work from our laboratory suggests that Nodal signaling acts through induction of the head mesendoderm and mesoderm. Head mesendoderm/mesoderm then, through an unknown mechanism, promotes formation of the polarized neuroepithelium that is capable of undergoing the movements required for closure. We compared the transcriptome of embryos treated with a Nodal signaling inhibitor at sphere stage, which causes NTDs, to embryos treated at 30% epiboly, which does not cause NTDs. This screen identified over 3,000 transcripts with potential roles in anterior neurulation. Expression of several genes encoding components of tight and adherens junctions was significantly reduced, supporting the model that Nodal signaling regulates formation of the neuroepithelium. mRNAs involved in Wnt, FGF, and BMP signaling were also differentially expressed, suggesting these pathways might regulate anterior neurulation. In support of this, we found that pharmacological inhibition of FGF–receptor function causes an open anterior NTD as well as loss of mesodermal derivatives. This suggests that Nodal and FGF signaling both promote anterior neurulation through induction of head mesoderm.