Generating asymmetries in the early vertebrate embryo: the role of the Cerberus-like family.
One fundamental aspect of vertebrate embryonic development is the formation of the body plan. For this process, asymmetries have to be generated during early stages of development along the three main body axes: Anterior-Posterior, Dorso-Ventral and Left-Right. We have been studying the role of a novel class of molecules, the Cerberus/Dan gene family. These are dedicated secreted antagonists of three major signaling pathways: Nodal, BMP and Wnt. Our studies contribute to the current view that the fine tuning of signaling is controlled by a set of inhibitory molecules rather than by activators. In this context, the Cerberus-like molecules emerge as key players in the regulation and generation of asymmetries in the early vertebrate embryo.
Belo
José António
JA
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal. jbelo@ualg.pt
Silva
Ana C
AC
Borges
Ana-Cristina
AC
Filipe
Mário
M
Bento
Margaret
M
Gonçalves
Lisa
L
Vitorino
Marta
M
Salgueiro
Ana-Marisa
AM
Texeira
Vera
V
Tavares
Ana T
AT
Marques
Sara
S
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002645:Chickens; D016207:Cytokines; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D055457:Nodal Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics
C110586:Cer1 protein, mouse; D016207:Cytokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D055457:Nodal Protein; D011506:Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C100866:cer1 protein, Xenopus