title: Induction of canonical Wnt signaling by alsterpaullone is sufficient for oral tissue fate during regeneration and embryogenesis in Nematostella vectensis.
abstract: Although regeneration is widespread among metazoa, the molecular mechanisms have been studied in only a handful of taxa. Of these taxa, fewer still are amenable to studies of embryogenesis. Our understanding of the evolution of regeneration, and its relation to embryogenesis, therefore remains limited. Using β-catenin as a marker, we investigated the role of canonical Wnt signaling during both regeneration and embryogenesis in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is known to play a conserved role in primary axis patterning in triploblasts. Induction of Wnt signaling with alsterpaullone results in ectopic oral tissue during both regeneration and embryogenesis by specifically upregulating β-catenin expression, as measured by qRTPCR. Our data indicate that canonical Wnt signaling is sufficient for oral patterning during Nematostella regeneration and embryogenesis. These data also contribute to a growing body of literature indicating a conserved role for patterning mechanisms across various developmental modes of metazoans.
authors: Biology Department, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN 47933, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Trevino
authors: Derek J
authors: DJ
authors: Stefanik
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Shane
authors: S
authors: Harmon
authors: Patrick M
authors: PM
authors: Burton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012615:Sea Anemones / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D007211:Indoles; C120793:alsterpaullone; D051176:beta Catenin