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Transcription factor T bx6 plays a central role in fate determination between mesenchyme and muscle in embryos of the ascidian, H alocynthia roretzi
Author(s) -
Kumano Gaku,
Negoro Nobue,
Nishida Hiroki
Publication year - 2014
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 - 10.1111/dgd.12133
Subject(s) - mesenchyme , embryo , microbiology and biotechnology , transcription factor , biology , ingression , anatomy , genetics , embryogenesis , gastrulation , gene
Developmental fates are determined in relation to other fates in surrounding cells within the embryo, creating diversified tissue or cell types in the course of development. In ascidian embryos, maternally localized factors and inductive signals play essential and cooperative roles in fate determination at appropriate spatial and temporal positions during embryogenesis. Here, to clarify fate determination mechanisms of mesenchyme and muscle during mesenchyme induction by the fibroblast growth factor ( FGF ) signal in H alocynthia roretzi , we examined the function of transcription factor T bx6, which acts as a pivotal mediator of the maternally localized muscle differentiation determinant M acho‐1. Our results suggest that the level of T bx6 expression increases in muscle lineage cells through positive feedback regulation that promotes muscle differentiation as well as mesenchymal fate suppression. In addition, the FGF signal inactivated T bx6 transcriptional activity and positive feedback, leading to induction of the mesenchymal lineage. Taken together, our finding suggests that T bx6 is an important factor for determining mesenchyme and muscle fates.