cyclops encodes a nodal-related factor involved in midline signaling.
Ventral structures in the central nervous system are patterned by signals emanating from the underlying mesoderm as well as originating within the neuroectoderm. Mutations in the zebrafish, Danio rerio, are proving instrumental in dissecting these midline signals. The cyclops mutation leads to a loss of medial floor plate and to severe deficits in ventral forebrain development, leading to cyclopia. Here, we report that the cyclops locus encodes the nodal-related protein Ndr2, a member of the transforming growth factor type beta superfamily of factors. The evidence includes identification of a missense mutation in the initiation codon and rescue of the cyclops phenotype by expression of ndr2 RNA, here renamed "cyclops." Thus, in interaction with other molecules implicated in these processes such as sonic hedgehog and one-eyed-pinhead, cyclops is required for ventral midline patterning of the embryonic central nervous system.
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Rebagliati
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Toyama
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Haffter
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Dawid
D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D055456:Nodal Signaling Ligands; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C113775:Ndr2 protein, vertebrate; D055456:Nodal Signaling Ligands; D011506:Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C485171:ndr1 protein, zebrafish