Formation of the head organizer in hydra involves the canonical Wnt pathway.
Stabilization of beta-catenin by inhibiting the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta has been shown to initiate axis formation or axial patterning processes in many bilaterians. In hydra, the head organizer is located in the hypostome, the apical portion of the head. Treatment of hydra with alsterpaullone, a specific inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, results in the body column acquiring characteristics of the head organizer, as measured by transplantation experiments, and by the expression of genes associated with the head organizer. Hence, the role of the canonical Wnt pathway for the initiation of axis formation was established early in metazoan evolution.
Broun
Mariya
M
Department of Developmental and Cell Biology and the Developmental Biology Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Gee
Lydia
L
Reinhardt
Beate
B
Bode
Hans R
HR
D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006257:Head / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D006829:Hydra / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
D001552:Benzazepines; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D007211:Indoles; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; C120793:alsterpaullone; D051176:beta Catenin; C015482:protein kinase modulator; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3