title: BMP4 is essential for lens induction in the mouse embryo.
abstract: Vertebrate lens development is a classical model system for studying embryonic tissue interactions. Little is known, however, about the molecules mediating such inductive events. Here, we show that Bmp4, which is expressed strongly in the optic vesicle and weakly in the surrounding mesenchyme and surface ectoderm, has crucial roles during lens induction. In Bmp4(tm1) homozygous null mutant embryos, lens induction is absent, but the process can be rescued by exogenous BMP4 protein applied into the optic vesicle in explant cultures. This is associated with rescue of ectodermal expression of Sox2, an early lens placode marker. Substituting the optic vesicle in explant cultures with BMP4-carrying beads, however, does not lead to lens induction, indicating that other factors produced by the optic vesicle are involved. BMP4 appears to regulate expression of a putative downstream gene, Msx2, in the optic vesicle. No change in Pax6 expression is seen in Bmp4(tm1) mutant eyes, and Bmp4 expression appears unaffected in the eyes of homozygous Pax6(Sey-1Neu), suggesting that PAX6 and BMP4 function independently. Based on these results we propose that BMP4 is required for the optic vesicle to manifest its lens-inducing activity, by regulating downstream genes and/or serving as one component of multiple inductive signals.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2175 USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furuta
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hogan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D052004:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004475:Ectoderm; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D005123:Eye / Q000196:embryology*; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006720:Homozygote; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology*; D008648:Mesoderm; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008954:Models, Biological; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D016378:Tissue Transplantation
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D052004:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors