title: Cripto promotes A-P axis specification independently of its stimulatory effect on Nodal autoinduction.
abstract: The EGF-CFC gene cripto governs anterior-posterior (A-P) axis specification in the vertebrate embryo. Existing models suggest that Cripto facilitates binding of Nodal to an ActRII-activin-like kinase (ALK) 4 receptor complex. Cripto also has a crucial function in cellular transformation that is independent of Nodal and ALK4. However, how ALK4-independent Cripto pathways function in vivo has remained unclear. We have generated cripto mutants carrying the amino acid substitution F78A, which blocks the Nodal-ALK4-Smad2 signaling both in embryonic stem cells and cell-based assays. In cripto(F78A/F78A) mouse embryos, Nodal fails to expand its own expression domain and that of cripto, indicating that F78 is essential in vivo to stimulate Smad-dependent Nodal autoinduction. In sharp contrast to cripto-null mutants, cripto(F78A/F78A) embryos establish an A-P axis and initiate gastrulation movements. Our findings provide in vivo evidence that Cripto is required in the Nodal-Smad2 pathway to activate an autoinductive feedback loop, whereas it can promote A-P axis formation and initiate gastrulation movements independently of its stimulatory effect on the canonical Nodal-ALK4-Smad2 signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Fate Laboratory, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: Giovanna L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.forename: J Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Le Good
authors.forename: Enza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lonardo
authors.forename: Olov
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Constam
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Persico
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minchiotti
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D002678:Chimera; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005775:Gastrula / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055457:Nodal Protein; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D055457:Nodal Protein; C526008:Nodal protein, mouse; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497783:Smad2 protein, mouse; C489450:Tdgf1 protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; C498933:Acvr1b protein, mouse