title: Vgll2a is required for neural crest cell survival during zebrafish craniofacial development.
abstract: Invertebrate and vertebrate vestigial (vg) and vestigial-like (VGLL) genes are involved in embryonic patterning and cell fate determination. These genes encode cofactors that interact with members of the Scalloped/TEAD family of transcription factors and modulate their activity. We have previously shown that, in mice, Vgll2 is differentially expressed in the developing facial prominences. In this study, we show that the zebrafish ortholog vgll2a is expressed in the pharyngeal endoderm and ectoderm surrounding the neural crest derived mesenchyme of the pharyngeal arches. Moreover, both the FGF and retinoic acid (RA) signaling pathways, which are critical components of the hierarchy controlling craniofacial patterning, regulate this domain of vgll2a expression. Consistent with these observations, vgll2a is required within the pharyngeal endoderm for NCC survival and pharyngeal cartilage development. Specifically, knockdown of Vgll2a in zebrafish embryos using Morpholino injection results in increased cell death within the pharyngeal arches, aberrant endodermal pouch morphogenesis, and hypoplastic cranial cartilages. Overall, our data reveal a novel non-cell autonomous role for Vgll2a in development of the NCC-derived vertebrate craniofacial skeleton.
authors: Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Denver, School of Dental Medicine, Aurora, 80045, USA.
authors: Christopher W
authors: CW
authors: Johnson
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Hernandez-Lagunas
authors: Weiguo
authors: W
authors: Feng
authors: Vida Senkus
authors: VS
authors: Melvin
authors: Trevor
authors: T
authors: Williams
authors: Kristin Bruk
authors: KB
authors: Artinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000196:embryology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors; C562080:Vgll2a protein, zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins