A mouse homologue of FAST-1 transduces TGF beta superfamily signals and is expressed during early embryogenesis.
The transcription factor FAST-1 has recently been shown to play a key role in the specification of mesoderm by TGF beta superfamily signals in the early Xenopus embryo. We have cloned Fast1, a mouse homologue of Xenopus FAST-1, and characterized its expression during embryogenesis and function in activin/TGF beta signal transduction. In vitro, Fast1 associates with Smads in response to an activin/TGF beta signal to form a complex that recognizes the Xenopus activin responsive element (ARE) targeted by Xenopus FAST-1. In intact cells, introduction of Fast1 confers activin/TGF beta regulation of an ARE-luciferase reporter. In embryos, Fast1 is expressed predominantly throughout the epiblast before gastrulation and declines as development progresses. We propose that mouse Fast1, like Xenopus FAST-1, mediates TGF beta superfamily signals specifying developmental fate during early embryogenesis.
Weisberg
E
E
Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Winnier
G E
GE
Chen
X
X
Farnsworth
C L
CL
Hogan
B L
BL
Whitman
M
M
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D005775:Gastrula / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051785:Smad Proteins; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C102067:FOXH1 protein, Xenopus; C510350:FOXH1 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C491117:Foxh1 protein, mouse; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; C497790:SMAD3 protein, human; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051785:Smad Proteins; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497785:Smad2 protein, Xenopus; C497783:Smad2 protein, mouse; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497791:Smad3 protein, mouse; D051901:Smad4 Protein; C490810:Smad4 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C497789:madh3 protein, Xenopus; C490808:smad4.1 protein, Xenopus; C117263:smad4.2 protein, Xenopus