Lost-a-fin encodes a type I BMP receptor, Alk8, acting maternally and zygotically in dorsoventral pattern formation

Development ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 859-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.A. Mintzer ◽  
M.A. Lee ◽  
G. Runke ◽  
J. Trout ◽  
M. Whitman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Formation ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
Mutant Phenotype ◽  
Chromosomal Mapping ◽  
Growth Defect ◽  
Type I ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
Bmp Receptor

TGFbeta signaling pathways of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) subclass are essential for dorsoventral pattern formation of both vertebrate and invertebrate embryos. Here we determine by chromosomal mapping, linkage analysis, cDNA sequencing and mRNA rescue that the dorsalized zebrafish mutant lost-a-fin (laf) is defective in the gene activin receptor-like kinase 8 (alk8), which encodes a novel type I TGFbeta receptor. The alk8 mRNA is expressed both maternally and zygotically. Embyros that lack zygotic, but retain maternal Laf/Alk8 activity, display a weak dorsalization restricted to the tail and die by 3 days postfertilization. We rescued the laf dorsalized mutant phenotype by alk8 mRNA injection and generated homozygous laf/alk8 mothers to investigate the maternal role of Laf/Alk8 activity. Adult fish lacking Laf/Alk8 activity are fertile, exhibit a growth defect and are significantly smaller than their siblings. Embryos derived from homozygous females, which lack both maternal and zygotic Laf/Alk8 activity, display a strongly dorsalized mutant phenotype, no longer limited to the tail. These mutant embryos lack almost all gastrula ventral cell fates, with a concomitant expansion of dorsal cell types. During later stages, most of the somitic mesoderm and neural tissue circumscribe the dorsoventral axis of the embryo. Zygotic laf/alk8 mutants can be rescued by overexpression of the BMP signal transducer Smad5, but not the Bmp2b or Bmp7 ligands, consistent with the Laf/Alk8 receptor acting within a BMP signaling pathway, downstream of a Bmp2b/Bmp7 signal. Antibodies specific for the phosphorylated, activated form of Smad1/5, show that BMP signaling is nearly absent in gastrula lacking both maternal and zygotic Laf/Alk8 activity, providing further evidence that Laf/Alk8 transduces a BMP signal. In total, our work strongly supports the role of Laf/Alk8 as a type I BMP receptor required for the specification of ventral cell fates.

Equivalent genetic roles for bmp7/snailhouse and bmp2b/swirl in dorsoventral pattern formation

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 957-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Schmid ◽  
M. Furthauer ◽  
S.A. Connors ◽  
J. Trout ◽  
B. Thisse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Formation ◽  
Zebrafish Embryo ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
Mutant Phenotype ◽  
Null Mutant ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
Hypomorphic Mutation ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
A Cell

A bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway acts in the establishment of the dorsoventral axis of the vertebrate embryo. Here we demonstrate the genetic requirement for two different Bmp ligand subclass genes for dorsoventral pattern formation of the zebrafish embryo. From the relative efficiencies observed in Bmp ligand rescue experiments, conserved chromosomal synteny, and isolation of the zebrafish bmp7 gene, we determined that the strongly dorsalized snailhouse mutant phenotype is caused by a mutation in the bmp7 gene. We show that the original snailhouse allele is a hypomorphic mutation and we identify a snailhouse/bmp7 null mutant. We demonstrate that the snailhouse/bmp7 null mutant phenotype is identical to the presumptive null mutant phenotype of the strongest dorsalized zebrafish mutant swirl/bmp2b, revealing equivalent genetic roles for these two Bmp ligands. Double mutant snailhouse/bmp7; swirl/bmp2b embryos do not exhibit additional or stronger dorsalized phenotypes, indicating that these Bmp ligands do not function redundantly in early embryonic development. Furthermore, overexpression experiments reveal that Bmp2b and Bmp7 synergize in the ventralization of wild-type embryos through a cell-autonomous mechanism, suggesting that Bmp2b/Bmp7 heterodimers may act in vivo to specify ventral cell fates in the zebrafish embryo.

scholarly journals The role of tolloid/mini fin in dorsoventral pattern formation of the zebrafish embryo

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (14) ◽  
pp. 3119-3130 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A. Connors ◽  
J. Trout ◽  
M. Ekker ◽  
M.C. Mullins
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Zebrafish Embryo ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
Mutant Phenotype ◽  
Chromosomal Mapping ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Dorsoventral Axis ◽  
Gene Characterization

A highly conserved TGF-β signaling pathway is involved in the establishment of the dorsoventral axis of the vertebrate embryo. Specifically, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (Bmps) pattern ventral tissues of the embryo while inhibitors of Bmps, such as Chordin, Noggin and Follistatin, are implicated in dorsal mesodermal and neural development. We investigated the role of Tolloid, a metalloprotease that can cleave Chordin and increase Bmp activity, in patterning the dorsoventral axis of the zebrafish embryo. Injection of tolloid mRNA into six dorsalized mutants rescued only one of these mutants, mini fin. Through chromosomal mapping, linkage and cDNA sequence analysis of several mini fin alleles, we demonstrate that mini fin encodes the tolloid gene. Characterization of the mini fin mutant phenotype reveals that Mini fin/Tolloid activity is required for patterning ventral tissues of the tail: the ventral fin, and the ventroposterior somites and vasculature. Gene expression studies show that mfn mutants exhibit reduced expression of ventrally restricted markers at the end of gastrulation, suggesting that the loss of ventral tail tissues is caused by a dorsalization occurring at the end of gastrulation. Based on the mini fin mutant phenotype and the expression of tolloid, we propose that Mini fin/Tolloid modifes the Bmp activity gradient at the end of gastrulation, when the ventralmost marginal cells of the embryo are in close proximity to the dorsal Chordin-expressing cells. At this time, unimpeded Chordin may diffuse to the most ventral marginal regions and inhibit high Bmp activity levels. In the presence of Mini fin/Tolloid, however, Chordin activity would be negatively modulated through proteolytic cleavage, thereby increasing Bmp signaling activity. This extracellular mechanism is amplified by an autoregulatory loop for bmp gene expression.

scholarly journals Non-apoptotic enteroblast-specific role of the initiator caspase Dronc for development and homeostasis of the Drosophila intestine

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jillian L. Lindblad ◽  
Meghana Tare ◽  
Alla Amcheslavsky ◽  
Alicia Shields ◽  
Andreas Bergmann
Keyword(s):  
Normal Development ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Specific Role ◽  
Mutant Phenotype ◽  
Apoptotic Pathway ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Card Domain

AbstractThe initiator caspase Dronc is the only CARD-domain containing caspase in Drosophila and is essential for apoptosis. Here, we report that homozygous dronc mutant adult animals are short-lived due to the presence of a poorly developed, defective and leaky intestine. Interestingly, this mutant phenotype can be significantly rescued by enteroblast-specific expression of dronc+ in dronc mutant animals, suggesting that proper Dronc function specifically in enteroblasts, one of four cell types in the intestine, is critical for normal development of the intestine. Furthermore, enteroblast-specific knockdown of dronc in adult intestines triggers hyperplasia and differentiation defects. These enteroblast-specific functions of Dronc do not require the apoptotic pathway and thus occur in a non-apoptotic manner. In summary, we demonstrate that an apoptotic initiator caspase has a very critical non-apoptotic function for normal development and for the control of the cell lineage in the adult midgut and therefore for proper physiology and homeostasis.

scholarly journals Conventional NK cells and ILC1 are partially ablated in the livers of Ncr1iCreTbx21fl/fl mice

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia O. Cuff ◽  
Victoria Male
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Mouse Liver ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Lymphoid Cells ◽  
Disease Models ◽  
Type I ◽  
Conditional Deletion ◽  
Equivalent Reduction

Mouse liver contains both Eomes-dependent conventional natural killer (cNK) cells and Tbet-dependent liver-resident type I innate lymphoid cells (ILC1). In order to better understand the role of ILC1, we attempted to generate mice that would lack liver ILC1, while retaining cNK, by conditional deletion of Tbet in NKp46+ cells. Here we report that the Ncr1iCreTbx21fl/fl mouse has a roughly equivalent reduction in both the cNK and ILC1 compartments of the liver, limiting its utility for investigating the relative contributions of these two cell types in disease models. We also describe the phenotype of these mice with respect to NK cells, ILC1 and NKp46+ ILC3 in the spleen and small intestine lamina propria.

scholarly journals Revisiting the role of IRF3 in inflammation and immunity by conditional and specifically targeted gene ablation in mice

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (20) ◽  
pp. 5253-5258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideyuki Yanai ◽  
Shiho Chiba ◽  
Sho Hangai ◽  
Kohei Kometani ◽  
Asuka Inoue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type I Ifn ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Gene Ablation ◽  
Cell Type Specific

IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) is a transcription regulator of cellular responses in many cell types that is known to be essential for innate immunity. To confirm IRF3’s broad role in immunity and to more fully discern its role in various cellular subsets, we engineered Irf3-floxed mice to allow for the cell type-specific ablation of Irf3. Analysis of these mice confirmed the general requirement of IRF3 for the evocation of type I IFN responses in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, immune cell ontogeny and frequencies of immune cell types were unaffected when Irf3 was selectively inactivated in either T cells or B cells in the mice. Interestingly, in a model of lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock, selective Irf3 deficiency in myeloid cells led to reduced levels of type I IFN in the sera and increased survival of these mice, indicating the myeloid-specific, pathogenic role of the Toll-like receptor 4–IRF3 type I IFN axis in this model of sepsis. Thus, Irf3-floxed mice can serve as useful tool for further exploring the cell type-specific functions of this transcription factor.

scholarly journals Targeted Disruption of Mouse Dip2B Leads to Abnormal Lung Development and Prenatal Lethality

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 8223
Author(s):  
Rajiv Kumar Sah ◽  
Jun Ma ◽  
Fatoumata Binta Bah ◽  
Zhenkai Xing ◽  
Salah Adlat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Development ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Branching Morphogenesis ◽  
Brdu Incorporation ◽  
Mouse Lung ◽  
Alveolar Type ◽  
Type I ◽  
Lung Maturation ◽  
M Phase

Molecular and anatomical functions of mammalian Dip2 family members (Dip2A, Dip2B and Dip2C) during organogenesis are largely unknown. Here, we explored the indispensable role of Dip2B in mouse lung development. Using a LacZ reporter, we explored Dip2B expression during embryogenesis. This study shows that Dip2B expression is widely distributed in various neuronal, myocardial, endothelial, and epithelial cell types during embryogenesis. Target disruption of Dip2b leads to intrauterine growth restriction, defective lung formation and perinatal mortality. Dip2B is crucial for late lung maturation rather than early-branching morphogenesis. The morphological analysis shows that Dip2b loss leads to disrupted air sac formation, interstitium septation and increased cellularity. In BrdU incorporation assay, it is shown that Dip2b loss results in increased cell proliferation at the saccular stage of lung development. RNA-seq analysis reveals that 1431 genes are affected in Dip2b deficient lungs at E18.5 gestation age. Gene ontology analysis indicates cell cycle-related genes are upregulated and immune system related genes are downregulated. KEGG analysis identifies oxidative phosphorylation as the most overrepresented pathways along with the G2/M phase transition pathway. Loss of Dip2b de-represses the expression of alveolar type I and type II molecular markers. Altogether, the study demonstrates an important role of Dip2B in lung maturation and survival.

scholarly journals The role of Activin A in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: a prominent mediator

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Lin ◽  
Fuli Shi ◽  
Jiayu Gao ◽  
Ping Hua
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva ◽  
Type I ◽  
Heterotopic Bone ◽  
Heterotopic Bone Formation

Abstract Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the aberrant formation of mature, lamellar bone in nonosseous tissue. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare and devastating genetic disorder that causes progressive HO in the ligaments, tendons, and muscles throughout the body. FOP is attributed to an autosomal mutation in activin receptor-like kinase 2 (ALK2), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptor. Initial studies show that mutant ALK2 drives HO by constitutively activating the BMP signaling pathway. Recently, mutant ALK2 has been shown to transduce Smad1/5 signaling and enhance chondrogenesis, calcification in response to Activin A, which normally signals through Smad2/3 and inhibits BMP signaling pathway. Furthermore, Activin A induces heterotopic bone formation via mutant ALK2, while inhibition of Activin A blocks spontaneous and trauma-induced HO. In this manuscript, we describe the molecular mechanism of the causative gene ALK2 in FOP, mainly focusing on the prominent role of Activin A in HO. It reveals a potential strategy for prevention and treatment of FOP by inhibition of Activin A. Further studies are needed to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Activin A in FOP in more detail.

scholarly journals Ion Transport by Pulmonary Epithelia

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika I. Hollenhorst ◽  
Katrin Richter ◽  
Martin Fronius
Keyword(s):  
Ion Transport ◽  
Fluid Layer ◽  
Alveolar Epithelium ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Alveolar Type ◽  
Type I ◽  
Basal Cells ◽  
Epithelial Ion Transport

The lung surface of air-breathing vertebrates is formed by a continuous epithelium that is covered by a fluid layer. In the airways, this epithelium is largely pseudostratified consisting of diverse cell types such as ciliated cells, goblet cells, and undifferentiated basal cells, whereas the alveolar epithelium consists of alveolar type I and alveolar type II cells. Regulation and maintenance of the volume and viscosity of the fluid layer covering the epithelium is one of the most important functions of the epithelial barrier that forms the outer surface area of the lungs. Therefore, the epithelial cells are equipped with a wide variety of ion transport proteins, among which Na+, Cl−, and K+channels have been identified to play a role in the regulation of the fluid layer. Malfunctions of pulmonary epithelial ion transport processes and, thus, impairment of the liquid balance in our lungs is associated with severe diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and pulmonary oedema. Due to the important role of pulmonary epithelial ion transport processes for proper lung function, the present paper summarizes the recent findings about composition, function, and ion transport properties of the airway epithelium as well as of the alveolar epithelium.

scholarly journals Type I interferon (IFN)-inducible Absent in Melanoma 2 proteins in neuroinflammation: implications for Alzheimer’s disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Divaker Choubey
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Type I ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractCumulative evidence indicates that activation of innate immune responses in the central nervous system (CNS) induces the expression of type 1 interferons (T1 IFNs), a family of cytokines. The T1 IFNs (IFN-α/β), through activation of the JAK/STAT-signaling in microglia, astrocytes, and neurons, induce the expression of IFN-inducible proteins, which mediate the pro- and anti-inflammatory functions of IFNs. Accordingly, T1 IFN-inducible Absent in Melanoma 2 proteins (murine Aim2 and human AIM2) negatively regulate the expression of TI IFNs and, upon sensing higher levels of cytosolic DNA, assemble the Aim2/AIM2 inflammasome, resulting in activation of caspase-1, pyroptosis, and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1β and IL-18). Of interest, studies have indicated a role for the Aim2/AIM2 proteins in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The ability of Aim2/AIM2 proteins to exert pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in CNS may depend upon age, sex hormones, cell-types, and the expression of species-specific negative regulators of the Aim2/AIM2 inflammasome. Therefore, we discuss the role of Aim2/AIM2 proteins in the development of AD. An improved understanding of the role of Absent in Melanoma 2 proteins in AD could identify new approaches to treat patients.

scholarly journals Granulosa Cell-expressed BMPR1A and BMPR1B have Unique Functions in Regulating Fertility but Act Redundantly to Suppress Ovarian Tumor Development

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-263
Author(s):  
Mark A. Edson ◽  
Caterina Clementi ◽  
Roopa L. Nalam ◽  
Heather L. Franco ◽  
Francesco J. DeMayo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cell ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Type I ◽  
Bmp Receptor ◽  
Bmp Receptors ◽  
Ovarian Tumorigenesis

ABSTRACT Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have diverse roles in development and reproduction. Although several BMPs are produced by oocytes, thecal cells, and granulosa cells of developing follicles, the in vivo functions of most of these ligands are unknown. BMP signals are transduced by multiple type I and type II transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family receptors, and of the type I receptors, BMP receptor 1A (BMPR1A) and BMP receptor 1B (BMPR1B) are known to be expressed in rodent granulosa cells. Female mice homozygous null for Bmpr1b are sterile due to compromised cumulus expansion, but the function of BMPR1A in the ovary is unknown. To further decipher a role for BMP signaling in mouse granulosa cells, we deleted Bmpr1a in the granulosa cells of the ovary and found Bmpr1a conditional knockout females to be subfertile with reduced spontaneous ovulation. To explore the redundant functions of BMP receptor signaling in the ovary, we generated Bmpr1a Bmpr1b double mutant mice, which developed granulosa cell tumors that have evidence of increased TGFβ and hedgehog signaling. Thus, similar to SMAD1 and SMAD5, which have redundant roles in suppressing granulosa cell tumor development in mice, two type I BMP receptors, BMPR1A and BMPR1B, function together to prevent ovarian tumorigenesis. These studies support a role for a functional BMP signaling axis as a tumor suppressor pathway in the ovary, with BMPR1A and BMPR1B acting downstream of BMP ligands and upstream of BMP receptor SMADs.

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