title: Switching axial progenitors from producing trunk to tail tissues in vertebrate embryos.
abstract: The vertebrate body is made by progressive addition of new tissue from progenitors at the posterior embryonic end. Axial extension involves different mechanisms that produce internal organs in the trunk but not in the tail. We show that Gdf11 signaling is a major coordinator of the trunk-to-tail transition. Without Gdf11 signaling, the switch from trunk to tail is significantly delayed, and its premature activation brings the hindlimbs and cloaca next to the forelimbs, leaving extremely short trunks. Gdf11 activity includes activation of Isl1 to promote formation of the hindlimbs and cloaca-associated mesoderm as the most posterior derivatives of lateral mesoderm progenitors. Gdf11 also coordinates reallocation of bipotent neuromesodermal progenitors from the anterior primitive streak to the tail bud, in part by reducing the retinoic acid available to the progenitors. Our findings provide a perspective to understand the evolution of the vertebrate body plan.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Arnon Dias
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Jurberg
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aires
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Varela-Lasheras
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nóvoa
authors.forename: Moisés
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mallo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001483:Base Sequence; D019521:Body Patterning; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000196:embryology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013623:Tail / Q000196:embryology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C119153:Gdf11 protein, mouse; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014157:Transcription Factors; C063843:insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1; D014212:Tretinoin; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I