Premium
Xenopus Brachyury regulates mesodermal expression of Zic3 , a gene controlling left–right asymmetry
Author(s) -
Kitaguchi Tetsuya,
Mizugishi Kiyomi,
Hatayama Minoru,
Aruga Jun,
Mikoshiba Katsuhiko
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-169x.2002.00624.x
Subject(s) - brachyury , xenopus , biology , notochord , mesoderm , lateral plate mesoderm , zebrafish , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , embryo , gene , embryogenesis , embryonic stem cell
The Brachyury gene has a critical role in the formation of posterior mesoderm and notochord in vertebrate development. A recent study showed that Brachyury is also responsible for the formation of the left–right (L–R) axis in mouse and zebrafish. However, the role of Brachyury in L–R axis specification is still elusive. Here, it is demonstrated that Brachyury is involved in L–R specification of the Xenopus laevis embryo and regulates expression of Zic3 , which controls the L–R specification process. Overexpression of Xenopus Brachyury ( Xbra ) and dominant‐negative type Xbra (Xbra‐EnR) altered the orientation of heart and gut looping, concomitant with disturbed laterality of nodal‐related 1 ( Xnr1 ) and Pitx2 expression, both of which are normally expressed in the left lateral plate mesoderm. Furthermore, activation of inducible type Xbra (Xbra‐GR) induces Zic3 expression within 20 min. These results suggest that a role of Brachyury in L–R specification may be the direct regulation of Zic3 expression.