title: Cyclops-independent floor plate differentiation in zebrafish embryos.
abstract: In zebrafish, development of the ventral neural tube depends on the Nodal-related signal Cyclops (Cyc). One-day-old cyc mutant embryos lack the medial floor plate (MFP). We show here that cells expressing MFP marker genes differentiate gradually in cyc mutant embryos in a delayed manner during the second day of development. This late differentiation is restricted to the hindbrain and spinal cord and depends on an intact Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway. Cells expressing MFP marker genes in cyc mutant embryos appear to be derived from lateral floor plate (LFP) cells as they coexpress LFP and MFP marker genes. This finding suggests that the correct temporal development of the MFP is required for the distinction of LFP and MFP cells in wild-type embryos.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, C.U. de Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biellmann
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blader
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Strähle
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D009154:Mutation; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000196:embryology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D019076:Transgenes; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C512832:ndr2 protein, zebrafish