Abstract
We show here that the homeodomain transcription factor SpOtx is required for endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation during sea urchin embryogenesis. SpOtx target genes were repressed by fusing the SpOtx homeodomain to an active repression domain of Drosophila Engrailed. The Engrailed-SpOtx fusion protein reduced the expression of endoderm- and aboral ectoderm-specific genes and inhibited the formation of endoderm and aboral ectoderm cell types. Coexpressing activated β-catenin with Engrailed-SpOtx did not overcome the inhibition of endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation, suggesting that SpOtx functioned either downstream of or parallel to nuclear β-catenin. Embryos expressing C-cadherin, which blocks nuclear translocation of β-catenin, have defects in endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation. Coexpressing SpOtx with C- cadherin restored aboral ectoderm-specific gene expression and aboral ectoderm morphology, but with C-cadherin present, SpOtx was not sufficient for endoderm formation. Our results show that SpOtx plays a key role in the activation of aboral ectoderm- and endoderm-specific gene expression and, in addition, suggest that SpOtx mediates some of β-catenin's functions in endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 425-439 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Developmental Biology |
| Volume | 212 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 15 1999 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- β-catenin
- Engrailed repression
- Otx proteins
- Sea urchin embryos
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology
Cite this
Requirement of spOtx in cell fate decisions in the sea urchin embryo and possible role as a mediator of β-catenin signaling. / Li, Xiaotao; Wikramanayake, Athula; Klein, William H.
In: Developmental Biology, Vol. 212, No. 2, 15.08.1999, p. 425-439.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Requirement of spOtx in cell fate decisions in the sea urchin embryo and possible role as a mediator of β-catenin signaling
AU - Li, Xiaotao
AU - Wikramanayake, Athula
AU - Klein, William H.
PY - 1999/8/15
Y1 - 1999/8/15
N2 - We show here that the homeodomain transcription factor SpOtx is required for endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation during sea urchin embryogenesis. SpOtx target genes were repressed by fusing the SpOtx homeodomain to an active repression domain of Drosophila Engrailed. The Engrailed-SpOtx fusion protein reduced the expression of endoderm- and aboral ectoderm-specific genes and inhibited the formation of endoderm and aboral ectoderm cell types. Coexpressing activated β-catenin with Engrailed-SpOtx did not overcome the inhibition of endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation, suggesting that SpOtx functioned either downstream of or parallel to nuclear β-catenin. Embryos expressing C-cadherin, which blocks nuclear translocation of β-catenin, have defects in endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation. Coexpressing SpOtx with C- cadherin restored aboral ectoderm-specific gene expression and aboral ectoderm morphology, but with C-cadherin present, SpOtx was not sufficient for endoderm formation. Our results show that SpOtx plays a key role in the activation of aboral ectoderm- and endoderm-specific gene expression and, in addition, suggest that SpOtx mediates some of β-catenin's functions in endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation.
AB - We show here that the homeodomain transcription factor SpOtx is required for endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation during sea urchin embryogenesis. SpOtx target genes were repressed by fusing the SpOtx homeodomain to an active repression domain of Drosophila Engrailed. The Engrailed-SpOtx fusion protein reduced the expression of endoderm- and aboral ectoderm-specific genes and inhibited the formation of endoderm and aboral ectoderm cell types. Coexpressing activated β-catenin with Engrailed-SpOtx did not overcome the inhibition of endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation, suggesting that SpOtx functioned either downstream of or parallel to nuclear β-catenin. Embryos expressing C-cadherin, which blocks nuclear translocation of β-catenin, have defects in endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation. Coexpressing SpOtx with C- cadherin restored aboral ectoderm-specific gene expression and aboral ectoderm morphology, but with C-cadherin present, SpOtx was not sufficient for endoderm formation. Our results show that SpOtx plays a key role in the activation of aboral ectoderm- and endoderm-specific gene expression and, in addition, suggest that SpOtx mediates some of β-catenin's functions in endoderm and aboral ectoderm formation.
KW - β-catenin
KW - Engrailed repression
KW - Otx proteins
KW - Sea urchin embryos
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033567029&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033567029&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1006/dbio.1999.9360
DO - 10.1006/dbio.1999.9360
M3 - Article
C2 - 10433832
AN - SCOPUS:0033567029
VL - 212
SP - 425
EP - 439
JO - Developmental Biology
JF - Developmental Biology
SN - 0012-1606
IS - 2
ER -