PUBLICATION

Nodal signaling is required for closure of the anterior neural tube in zebrafish

Authors
Aquilina-Beck, A., Ilagan, K., Liu, Q., and Liang, J.O.
ID
ZDB-PUB-071118-44
Date
2007
Source
BMC Developmental Biology   7(1): 126 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Liang, Jennifer, Liu, Qin
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Neural Tube/embryology*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Nodal Protein
  • Cadherins/genetics
  • Animals
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Mutation
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/embryology
  • Immunohistochemistry
(all 15)
PubMed
17996054 Full text @ BMC Dev. Biol.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nodals are secreted signaling proteins with many roles in vertebrate development. Here, we identify a new role for Nodal signaling in regulating closure of the rostral neural tube of zebrafish. RESULTS: We find that the neural tube in the presumptive forebrain fails to close in zebrafish Nodal signaling mutants. For instance, the cells that will give rise to the pineal organ fail to move from the lateral edges of the neural plate to the midline of the diencephalon. The open neural tube in Nodal signaling mutants may be due in part to reduced function of N-cadherin, a cell adhesion molecule expressed in the neural tube and required for neural tube closure. N-cadherin expression and localization to the membrane are reduced in fish that lack Nodal signaling. Further, N-cadherin mutants and morphants have a pineal phenotype similar to that of mutants with deficiencies in the Nodal pathway. Overexpression of an activated form of the TGFbeta Type I receptor Taram-A (Taram-A*) cell autonomously rescues mesendoderm formation in fish with a severe decrease in Nodal signaling. We find that overexpression of Taram-A* also corrects their open neural tube defect. This suggests that, as in mammals, the mesoderm and endoderm have an important role in regulating closure of the anterior neural tube of zebrafish. CONCLUSIONS: This work helps establish a role for Nodal signals in neurulation, and suggests that defects in Nodal signaling could underlie human neural tube defects such as exencephaly, a fatal condition characterized by an open neural tube in the anterior brain.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (9 images)
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Expression
Phenotype
Fish Conditions Stage Phenotype Figure
WT + MO1-cdh2standard conditionsProtruding-mouth
cdh2p79emcf/p79emcfstandard conditionsPrim-15
ndr1cz35/cz35standard conditions5-9 somites
ndr1cz35/cz35standard conditionsPrim-5
ndr1cz35/cz35standard conditionsPrim-5
ndr1cz35/cz35standard conditionsPrim-5
ndr1cz35/cz35standard conditionsPrim-5
ndr1cz35/cz35standard conditionsPrim-5
ndr1cz35/cz35; c161Tgstandard conditionsPrim-5
ndr1cz35/cz35; c161Tgstandard conditionsPrim-5
1 - 10 of 14
Show
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
c161TgTransgenic Insertion
    cz35
      		Insertion
      m117
        		Point Mutation
        m134
          		Point Mutation
          m294
            		Point Mutation
            p79emcf
              		Point Mutation
              1 - 6 of 6
              Show
              Human Disease / Model
              No data available
              Sequence Targeting Reagents
              Target Reagent Reagent Type
              cdh2MO1-cdh2MRPHLNO
              1 - 1 of 1
              Show
              Fish
              Fish
              c161Tg
              cdh2m117/m117
              cdh2p79emcf/p79emcf
              ndr1cz35/cz35
              ndr1cz35/cz35; c161Tg
              ndr2m294/m294
              tdgf1m134/m134
              WT
              WT + MO1-cdh2
              1 - 9 of 9
              Show
              Antibodies
              No data available
              Orthology
              Engineered Foreign Genes
              Marker Marker Type Name
              EGFPEFGEGFP
              1 - 1 of 1
              Show
              Mapping
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              Citation
              Aquilina-Beck, A., Ilagan, K., Liu, Q., and Liang, J.O. (2007) Nodal signaling is required for closure of the anterior neural tube in zebrafish. BMC Developmental Biology. 7(1):126.