title: SOX17 links gut endoderm morphogenesis and germ layer segregation.
abstract: Gastrulation leads to three germ layers--ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm--that are separated by two basement membranes. In the mouse embryo, the emergent gut endoderm results from the widespread intercalation of cells of two distinct origins: pluripotent epiblast-derived definitive endoderm (DE) and extra-embryonic visceral endoderm (VE). Here we image the trajectory of prospective DE cells before intercalating into the VE epithelium. We show that the transcription factor SOX17, which is activated in prospective DE cells before intercalation, is necessary for gut endoderm morphogenesis and the assembly of the basement membrane that separates gut endoderm from mesoderm. Our results mechanistically link gut endoderm morphogenesis and germ layer segregation, two central and conserved features of gastrulation.
authors.affiliation: 1] Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, New York 10065, USA [2] Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viotti
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nowotschin
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Anna-Katerina
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hadjantonakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004707:Endoderm / Q000196:embryology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D054262:Gastrulation; D005855:Germ Layers / Q000196:embryology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D024002:HMGB Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta / Q000235:genetics; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods; D055760:SOXF Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; C496503:Foxa2 protein, mouse; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D055760:SOXF Transcription Factors; C511606:Sox17 protein, mouse; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins