title: Cdx and T Brachyury Co-activate Growth Signaling in the Embryonic Axial Progenitor Niche.
abstract: In vertebrate embryos, anterior tissues are generated early, followed by the other axial structures that emerge sequentially from a posterior growth zone. The genetic network driving posterior axial elongation in mice, and its disturbance in mutants with posterior truncation, is not yet fully understood. Here, we show that the combined expression of Cdx2 and T Brachyury is essential to establish the core signature of posterior axial progenitors. Cdx2 and T Brachyury are required for extension of a similar trunk portion of the axis. Simultaneous loss of function of these two genes disrupts axial elongation to a much greater extent than each single mutation alone. We identify and validate common targets for Cdx2 and T Brachyury in vivo, including Wnt and Fgf pathway components active in the axial progenitor niche. Our data demonstrate that integration of the Cdx/Hox and T Brachyury transcriptional networks controls differential axial growth during vertebrate trunk elongation.
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Shilu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neijts
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simmini
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Rooijen
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sander C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kester
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Oudenaarden
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Menno P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Creyghton
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: j.deschamps@hubrecht.eu.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deschamps
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000098908:Brachyury Protein
chemical_list: D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098908:Brachyury Protein; C487514:Cdx2 protein, mouse
keywords: axial progenitors; elongation of the anteroposterior axis; genetics of posterior tissue generation; mouse embryonic development; regulatory elements