Evidence for a mitogenic effect of Wnt-1 in the developing mammalian central nervous system.
The analysis of mutant alleles at the Wnt-1 locus has demonstrated that Wnt-1-mediated cell signalling plays a critical role in development of distinct regions of the embryonic central nervous system (CNS). To determine how these signals participate in the formation of the CNS, we have ectopically expressed this factor in the spinal cord under the control of the Hoxb-4 Region A enhancer. Ectopic Wnt-1 expression causes a dramatic increase in the number of cells undergoing mitosis in the ventricular region and a concomitant ventricular expansion. Although this leads to consistent changes in the relative proportions of dorsal and ventral regions, Wnt-1 does not appear to act as a primary patterning signal. Rather, our experiments indicate that Wnt-1 can act as a mitogen in the developing CNS.
Dickinson
M E
ME
Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Roche Research Center, Nutley, NJ 07110.
Krumlauf
R
R
McMahon
A P
AP
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008322:Mammals / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D017931:DNA Primers; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C495246:Wnt1 protein, mouse; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins