title: Dynamic analysis of BMP-responsive smad activity in live zebrafish embryos.
abstract: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are critical players in development and disease, regulating such diverse processes as dorsoventral patterning, palate formation, and ossification. These ligands are classically considered to signal via BMP receptor-specific Smad proteins 1, 5, and 8. To determine the spatiotemporal pattern of Smad1/5/8 activity and thus canonical BMP signaling in the developing zebrafish embryo, we generated a transgenic line expressing EGFP under the control of a BMP-responsive element. EGFP is expressed in many established BMP signaling domains and is responsive to alterations in BMP type I receptor activity and smad1 and smad5 expression. This transgenic Smad1/5/8 reporter line will be useful for determining ligand and receptor requirements for specific domains of BMP activity, as well as for genetic and pharmacological screens aimed at identifying enhancers or suppressors of canonical BMP signaling.
authors.forename: Derek W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Laux
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Febbo
authors.forename: Beth L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Roman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051898:Smad1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051902:Smad5 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051904:Smad8 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D051785:Smad Proteins; D051898:Smad1 Protein; D051902:Smad5 Protein; D051904:Smad8 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I