PUBLICATION

An ongoing role for Wnt signaling in differentiating melanocytes in vivo

Authors
Vibert, L., Aquino, G., Gehring, I., Subkhankulova, T., Schilling, T.F., Rocco, A., Kelsh, R.N.
ID
ZDB-PUB-161216-1
Date
2017
Source
Pigment cell & melanoma research   30(2): 219-232 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Gehring, Ines, Kelsh, Robert, Schilling, Tom
Keywords
mitfa, Differentiation, Melanocyte, Specification, Wnt signaling, Zebrafish, neural crest
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/cytology*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Melanocytes/cytology*
  • Melanocytes/metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/growth & development*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
27977907 Full text @ Pigment Cell Melanoma Res.
Abstract
A role for Wnt signaling in melanocyte specification from neural crest is conserved across vertebrates, but possible ongoing roles in melanocyte differentiation have received little attention. Using a systems biology approach to investigate the gene regulatory network underlying stable melanocyte differentiation in zebrafish highlighted a requirement for a positive feedback loop involving the melanocyte master regulator Mitfa. Here we test the hypothesis that Wnt signaling contributes to that positive feedback. We show firstly that Wnt signaling remains active in differentiating melanocytes and secondly that enhanced Wnt signaling drives elevated transcription of mitfa. We show that chemical activation of the Wnt signaling pathway at early stages of melanocyte development enhances melanocyte specification as expected, but importantly that at later (differentiation) stages it results in altered melanocyte morphology, although melanisation is not obviously affected. Downregulation of Wnt signaling also results in altered melanocyte morphology and organisation. We conclude that Wnt signaling plays a role in regulating ongoing aspects of melanocyte differentiation in zebrafish.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping