title: Wnt-regulated dynamics of positional information in zebrafish somitogenesis.
abstract: How signaling gradients supply positional information in a field of moving cells is an unsolved question in patterning and morphogenesis. Here, we ask how a Wnt signaling gradient regulates the dynamics of a wavefront of cellular change in a flow of cells during somitogenesis. Using time-controlled perturbations of Wnt signaling in the zebrafish embryo, we changed segment length without altering the rate of somite formation or embryonic elongation. This result implies specific Wnt regulation of the wavefront velocity. The observed Wnt signaling gradient dynamics and timing of downstream events support a model for wavefront regulation in which cell flow plays a dominant role in transporting positional information.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Lola
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bajard
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Saúl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ares
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pécréaux
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jülicher
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Oates
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D019170:Somites / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C501128:dkk1b protein, zebrafish; C481359:msgn1 protein, zebrafish; C112539:tbx16 protein, zebrafish
keywords: Embryonic elongation; Fgf signaling; Segmentation clock; Signal gradient; Time-lapse microscopy; Wnt signaling