Developing with lethal RA levels: genetic ablation of Rarg can restore the viability of mice lacking Cyp26a1.
We have previously reported that the retinoic acid (RA) catabolizing enzyme CYP26A1 plays an important role in protecting tail bud tissues from inappropriate exposure to RA generated in the adjacent trunk tissues by RALDH2, and that Cyp26a1-null animals exhibit spina bifida and caudal agenesis. We now show that, in the absence of Cyp26a1, retinoic acid receptor gamma (RARgamma) mediates ectopic RA-signaling in the tail bud. We also show that activated RARgamma results in downregulation of Wnt3a and Fgf8, which integrate highly conserved signaling pathways known for their role in specifying caudal morphogenesis. Ablation of the gene for RARgamma (Rarg) rescues Cyp26a1-null mutant animals from caudal regression and embryonic lethality, thus demonstrating that CYP26A1 suppresses the RA-mediated downregulation of WNT3A and FGF8 signaling pathways by eliminating ectopic RA in gastrulating tail bud mesoderm.
Abu-Abed
Suzan
S
Cancer Research Labs, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
Dollé
Pascal
P
Metzger
Daniel
D
Wood
Caroline
C
MacLean
Glenn
G
Chambon
Pierre
P
Petkovich
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D051379:Mice; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000072516:Retinoic Acid 4-Hydroxylase; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013623:Tail / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000633:toxicity*; D000097768:Retinoic Acid Receptor gamma; D000098908:Brachyury Protein
D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D000072516:Retinoic Acid 4-Hydroxylase; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D014212:Tretinoin; D000097768:Retinoic Acid Receptor gamma; D000098908:Brachyury Protein; C000607080:Cyp26a1 protein, mouse