title: Developmental phenotypes and reduced Wnt signaling in mice deficient for pygopus 2.
abstract: Canonical Wnt signaling involves complex intracellular events culminating in the stabilization of beta-catenin, which enters the nucleus and binds to LEF/TCF transcription factors to stimulate gene expression. Pygopus was identified as a genetic modifier of Wg (Wnt homolog) signaling in Drosophila, and encodes a PHD domain protein that associates with the beta-catenin/LEF/TCF complex. Two murine pygopus paralogs, mpygo1 and mpygo2, have been identified, but their roles in development and Wnt signaling remain elusive. In this study, we report that ablation of mpygo2 expression in mice causes defects in morphogenesis of both ectodermally and endodermally derived tissues, including brain, eyes, hair follicles, and lung. However, no gross abnormality was observed in embryonic intestine. Using a BAT-gal reporter, we found Wnt signaling at most body sites to be reduced in the absence of mpygo2. Taken together, our studies show for the first time that mpygo2 deletion affects embryonic development of some but not all Wnt-requiring tissues.
authors: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-1700, USA.
authors: Boan
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Rhéaume
authors: Andy
authors: A
authors: Teng
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Bilanchone
authors: Jesus E
authors: JE
authors: Munguia
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Hu
authors: Shannon
authors: S
authors: Jessen
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Piccolo
authors: Marian L
authors: ML
authors: Waterman
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Dai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; C495570:pygopus 2 protein, mouse