PUBLICATION

Vg1-Nodal heterodimers are the endogenous inducers of mesendoderm

Authors
Montague, T.G., Schier, A.F.
ID
ZDB-PUB-171117-8
Date
2017
Source
eLIFE   6: (Journal)
Registered Authors
Schier, Alexander
Keywords
developmental biology, stem cells, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Mesoderm/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Nodal Protein/metabolism*
  • Endoderm/embryology*
  • Animals
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism*
(all 8)
PubMed
29140251 Full text @ Elife
Abstract
Nodal is considered the key inducer of mesendoderm in vertebrate embryos and embryonic stem cells. Other TGF-beta-related signals, such as Vg1/Dvr1/Gdf3, have also been implicated in this process but their roles have been unclear or controversial. Here we report that zebrafish embryos without maternally provided vg1 fail to form endoderm and head and trunk mesoderm, and closely resemble nodal loss-of-function mutants. Although Nodal is processed and secreted without Vg1, it requires Vg1 for its endogenous activity. Conversely, Vg1 is unprocessed and resides in the endoplasmic reticulum without Nodal, and is only secreted, processed and active in the presence of Nodal. Co-expression of Nodal and Vg1 results in heterodimer formation and mesendoderm induction. Thus, mesendoderm induction relies on the combination of two TGF-beta-related signals: maternal and ubiquitous Vg1, and zygotic and localized Nodal. Modeling reveals that the pool of maternal Vg1 enables rapid signaling at low concentrations of zygotic Nodal.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (10 images)
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
a164
    Small Deletion
    a165
      Small Deletion
      tz257
        Point Mutation
        1 - 3 of 3
        Show
        Human Disease / Model
        No data available
        Sequence Targeting Reagents
        Target Reagent Reagent Type
        gdf3CRISPR2-gdf3CRISPR
        1 - 1 of 1
        Show
        Fish
        Antibodies
        No data available
        Orthology
        No data available
        Engineered Foreign Genes
        No data available
        Mapping
        No data available