title: A role for WNT proteins in induction of dermomyotome.
abstract: Dorsoventral patterning of somites into sclerotome and dermomyotome involves antagonistic actions of ventralizing and dorsalizing signals originating from tissues surrounding the somites. The notochord and the floor plate of the neural tube provide a ventralizing signal(s) directing sclerotome development, whereas the surface ectoderm and dorsal neural tube provide a dorsalizing signal(s) directing dermomyotome development. Evidence has been provided that Sonic Hedgehog mediates the ventralizing effects of notochord and floor plate, but the dorsalizing signal(s) that patterns the dermomyotome has not been identified. The documented expression of Wnt1 and Wnt3a in the dorsal neural tube and of Wnt4 and Wnt6 in the surface ectoderm at the time of dermomyotome specification prompted us to investigate the involvement of WNT proteins in patterning the dermomyotome. Here we show that tissue culture cells expressing these WNT family members can maintain and induce dermomyotome marker expression in presomitic mesoderm explants, supporting the hypothesis that WNT proteins mediate the dorsalizing effects of the surface ectoderm and dorsal neural tube on somites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 115 West University Parkway, Baltimore, Maryland 21210, USA. fan@mail1.ciwemb.edu
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tessier-Lavigne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000502:physiology; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000502:physiology*; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009672:Notochord / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014162:Transfection; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D060508:Wnt3 Protein; D060509:Wnt3A Protein; D060528:Wnt4 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C495246:Wnt1 protein, mouse; C495245:Wnt1 protein, rat; D060508:Wnt3 Protein; D060509:Wnt3A Protein; C555511:Wnt3a protein, mouse; D060528:Wnt4 Protein; C555582:Wnt4 protein, mouse; C555583:Wnt4 protein, rat; C095936:Wnt6 protein, mouse; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins