Bmp suppression in mangrove killifish embryos causes a split in the body axis.
Bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmp) are major players in the formation of the vertebrate body plan due to their crucial role in patterning of the dorsal-ventral (DV) axis. Despite the highly conserved nature of Bmp signalling in vertebrates, the consequences of changing this pathway can be species-specific. Here, we report that Bmp plays an important role in epiboly, yolk syncytial layer (YSL) movements, and anterior-posterior (AP) axis formation in embryos of the self-fertilizing mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus. Stage and dose specific exposures of embryos to the Bmp inhibitor dorsomorphin (DM) produced three distinctive morphologies, with the most extreme condition creating the splitbody phenotype, characterised by an extremely short AP axis where the neural tube, somites, and notochord were bilaterally split. In addition, parts of caudal neural tissues were separated from the main body and formed cell islands in the posterior region of the embryo. This splitbody phenotype, which has not been reported in other animals, shows that modification of Bmp may lead to significantly different consequences during development in other vertebrate species.
Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Sulayman
S
Mourabit
Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Michael W
MW
Moles
Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Emma
E
Smith
Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Ronny
R
van Aerle
Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Tetsuhiro
T
Kudoh
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D007695:Killifishes / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D054259:Neural Tube / Q000196:embryology; D010641:Phenotype; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D019170:Somites / Q000196:embryology
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D029941:Fish Proteins; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011743:Pyrimidines; C516138:dorsomorphin