Tbx3 can alter limb position along the rostrocaudal axis of the developing embryo.
The limbs of the vertebrate embryo form at precise locations along the body and these positions are fixed across different species. The mechanisms that control this process are not understood. Ectopic expression of Tbx3, a transcriptional repressor that belongs to the Tbx2/3/4/5 subfamily of T-box transcriptional regulators, in the forelimb results in a rostral shift in the position of the limb along the main body axis. By contrast, a transcriptional activator form of Tbx3 shifts the limb to more caudal locations. We also show that dHand and Gli3, genes previously implicated in anteroposterior pre-patterning of the limb-forming region, are also involved in refining the position of the limbs. Our data suggest a new role for Tbx3 in positioning the limb along the main body axis through a genetic interplay between dHand and Gli3.
Rallis
Charalampos
C
Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
Del Buono
Jo
J
Logan
Malcolm P O
MP
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D019521:Body Patterning; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000502:physiology*; D005552:Forelimb / Q000196:embryology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008156:Luciferases; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008156:Luciferases; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3; C065683:GLI3 protein, human; C410915:hand2 protein, zebrafish