Expression pattern of two Frizzled-related genes, Frzb-1 and Sfrp-1, during mouse embryogenesis suggests a role for modulating action of Wnt family members.
Wnt proteins have been implicated in regulating growth and pattern formation in a variety of tissues during embryonic development. We previously identified Frzb-1, a gene which encodes a secreted protein with homology in the ligand binding domain to the Wnt receptor Frizzled, but lacking the domain encoding the putative seven transmembrane segments. Frzb-1 has recently been shown to bind to Wnt proteins in vitro, and to inhibit the activity of Xenopus Wnt-8 in vivo. We report now that mFrzb-1 and Wnt transcripts display both complementary and overlapping expression patterns at multiple sites throughout embryonic development. By Northern analysis, the expression of mFrzb-1 in the developing mouse embryo is greatest from 10.5 to 12.5 days postcoitum (dpc). In the early embryo, mFrzb-1 is expressed in the primitive streak, presomitic mesoderm, somites, and brain. Later, mFrzb-1 exhibits sharp boundaries of expression in the limb bud, branchial arches, facial mesenchyme, and in cartilaginous elements of the appendicular skeleton. We conclude from these experiments that Frzb-1 is expressed at a time and location to modulate the action of Wnt family members during development of the limbs and central nervous system.
Hoang
B H
BH
Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio 44106, USA.
Thomas
J T
JT
Abdul-Karim
F W
FW
Correia
K M
KM
Conlon
R A
RA
Luyten
F P
FP
Ballock
R T
RT
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology; D005145:Face / Q000196:embryology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006023:Glycoproteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000099274:Frizzled-Related Proteins
D006023:Glycoproteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000099274:Frizzled-Related Proteins; C085389:WNT5A protein, human; C490675:WNT7B protein, human; C490676:Wnt7B protein, Xenopus; C490508:Wnt7a protein, mouse; C095937:Wnt7b protein, mouse