PUBLICATION

Mesoderm induction in the zebrafish embryo by the nodal, BMP, and FGF pathways

Authors
Lee, D.H.J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-090602-9
Date
2004
Source
Ph.D. Thesis : 127p (Thesis)
Registered Authors
Lee, Diana
Keywords
biology, genetics, cell biology
MeSH Terms
none
PubMed
none
Abstract
The Nodal, BMP, and FGF signaling pathways have all been implicated in mesoderm formation. My studies reveal the partially redundant, overlapping roles that these pathways play in the fundamental process of mesoderm induction. By using the Nodal mutant, maternal-zygotic one-eyed pinhead (MZoep), I uncovered a requirement for both the BMP and FGF pathways, in the absence of Nodal signaling, in the induction of the earliest mesodermal markers notail (ntl), spadetail (spt), and tbx6. The sufficiency of each pathway to induce early mesodermal marker expression was demonstrated in overexpression studies. Furthermore, I showed that the Nodal and BMP pathways directly regulate the expression of ntl and spt, while the FGF pathway indirectly regulates them. Analysis of later mesodermal markers indicate that these pathways also play distinctive roles in mesoderm induction and maintenance. Altogether, I have found that the Nodal, BMP, and FGF pathways have both overlapping and unique functions in mesoderm formation. This represents one mechanism in which an essential process of development is ensured to occur through the partially redundant roles of multiple pathways.
Errata / Notes
Ph.D. Thesis, New York University
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping