Tcf3: A transcriptional regulator of axis induction in the early embryo Journal Article
| Authors: | Merrill, B. J.; Pasolli, H. A.; Polak, L.; Rendl, M.; Garcia-Garcia, M. J.; Anderson, K. V.; Fuchs, E. |
| Article Title: | Tcf3: A transcriptional regulator of axis induction in the early embryo |
| Abstract: | The roles of Lef/Tcf proteins in determining cell fate characteristics have been described in many contexts during vertebrate embryogenesis, organ and tissue homeostasis, and cancer formation. Although much of the accumulated work on these proteins involves their ability to transactivate target genes when stimulated by β-catenin, Lef/Tcf proteins can repress target genes in the absence of stabilized β-catenin. By ablating Tcf3 function, we have uncovered an important requirement for a repressor function of Lef/Tcf proteins during early mouse development. Tcf3-/- embryos proceed through gastrulation to form mesoderm, but they develop expanded and often duplicated axial mesoderm structures, including nodes and notochords. These duplications are preceded by ectopic expression of Foxa2, an axial mesoderm gene involved in node specification, with a concomitant reduction in Lefty2, a marker for lateral mesoderm. By contrast, expression of a β-catenin-dependent, Lef/Tcf reporter (TOPGal), is not ectopically activated but is faithfully maintained in the primitive streak. Taken together, these data reveal a unique requirement for Tcf3 repressor function in restricting induction of the anterior-posterior axis. |
| Keywords: | signal transduction; controlled study; protein expression; dna-binding proteins; proto-oncogene proteins; nonhuman; protein function; protein analysis; mouse; phenotype; animals; mice; mice, knockout; gene targeting; embryo; cell fate; embryo development; embryo pattern formation; genetic transcription; mice, inbred c57bl; central nervous system; mice, transgenic; transcription factors; vertebrata; gene expression regulation, developmental; transactivation; reporter gene; gene duplication; pregnancy; trans-activators; homeostasis; wnt proteins; beta catenin; repressor protein; wnt protein; mesoderm; vertebrate; body patterning; t cell factor protein; enzyme induction; transcription factor fkhr; cytoskeletal proteins; wnt; gastrulation; node; repressor gene; anterior posterior axis; primitive streak; notochord; axis; gastrula; zebrafish proteins; tcf3; female; priority journal; article |
| Journal Title: | Development |
| Volume: | 131 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| ISSN: | 0950-1991 |
| Publisher: | Company of Biologists |
| Date Published: | 2004-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 263 |
| End Page: | 274 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1242/dev.00935 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PUBMED: | 14668413 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Development (Cambridge) -- Cited By (since 1996):123 -- Export Date: 16 June 2014 -- CODEN: DEVPE -- Source: Scopus |
