Anf: a novel class of vertebrate homeobox genes expressed at the anterior end of the main embryonic axis

Making developmental sense of the senses, their origin and function

The primary senses-touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing-connect animals with their environments and with one another. Aside from the eyes, the primary sense organs of vertebrates and the peripheral sensory pathways that relay their inputs arise from two transient stem cell populations: the neural crest and the cranial placodes. In this chapter we consider the senses from historical and cultural perspectives, and discuss the senses as biological faculties. We begin with the embryonic origin of the neural crest and cranial placodes from within the neural plate border of the ectodermal germ layer. Then, we describe the major chemical (i.e. olfactory and gustatory) and mechanical (i.e. vestibulo-auditory and somatosensory) senses, with an emphasis on the developmental interactions between neural crest and cranial placodes that shape their structures and functions.

Wide-scale identification of novel/eliminated genes responsible for evolutionary transformations

BACKGROUND

It is generally accepted that most evolutionary transformations at the phenotype level are associated either with rearrangements of genomic regulatory elements, which control the activity of gene networks, or with changes in the amino acid contents of proteins. Recently, evidence has accumulated that significant evolutionary transformations could also be associated with the loss/emergence of whole genes. The targeted identification of such genes is a challenging problem for both bioinformatics and evo-devo research.

RESULTS

To solve this problem we propose the WINEGRET method, named after the first letters of the title. Its main idea is to search for genes that satisfy two requirements: first, the desired genes were lost/emerged at the same evolutionary stage at which the phenotypic trait of interest was lost/emerged, and second, the expression of these genes changes significantly during the development of the trait of interest in the model organism. To verify the first requirement, we do not use existing databases of orthologs, but rely purely on gene homology and local synteny by using some novel quickly computable conditions. Genes satisfying the second requirement are found by deep RNA sequencing. As a proof of principle, we used our method to find genes absent in extant amniotes (reptiles, birds, mammals) but present in anamniotes (fish and amphibians), in which these genes are involved in the regeneration of large body appendages. As a result, 57 genes were identified. For three of them, c-c motif chemokine 4, eotaxin-like, and a previously unknown gene called here sod4, essential roles for tail regeneration were demonstrated. Noteworthy, we established that the latter gene belongs to a novel family of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutases lost by amniotes, SOD4.

CONCLUSIONS

We present a method for targeted identification of genes whose loss/emergence in evolution could be associated with the loss/emergence of a phenotypic trait of interest. In a proof-of-principle study, we identified genes absent in amniotes that participate in body appendage regeneration in anamniotes. Our method provides a wide range of opportunities for studying the relationship between the loss/emergence of phenotypic traits and the loss/emergence of specific genes in evolution.

Cytoskeletal protein Zyxin in embryonic development: from controlling cell movements and pluripotency to regulating embryonic patterning

The Lim-domain protein Zyxin was initially identified as a minor actin cytoskeleton protein that regulates the assembly and repair of actin filaments. At the same time, additional functions revealed for Zyxin in recent decades indicate that this protein can also play an important role in regulating gene expression and cell differentiation. In this review, we analysed the data in the literature pointing to Zyxin as one of the possible molecular hubs linking morphogenetic cell movements with gene expression, stem cell status regulation and pattern formation during the most complex processes in organism life, embryogenesis.

Discovery of four Noggin genes in lampreys suggests two rounds of ancient genome duplication

The secreted protein Noggin1 was the first discovered natural embryonic inducer produced by cells of the Spemann organizer. Thereafter, it was shown that vertebrates have a whole family of Noggin genes with different expression patterns and functional properties. For example, Noggin1 and Noggin2 inhibit the activity of BMP, Nodal/Activin and Wnt-beta-catenin signalling, while Noggin4 cannot suppress BMP but specifically modulates Wnt signalling. In this work, we described and investigated phylogeny and expression patterns of four Noggin genes in lampreys, which represent the most basally divergent group of extant vertebrates, the cyclostomes, belonging to the superclass Agnatha. Assuming that lampreys have Noggin homologues in all representatives of another superclass of vertebrates, the Gnathostomata, we propose a model for Noggin family evolution in vertebrates. This model is in agreement with the hypotheses suggesting two rounds of genome duplication in the ancestor of vertebrates before the divergence of Agnatha and Gnathostomata.

Ermakova et al. report four Noggin genes in lampreys and using phylogenetics, gene synteny analysis, and in situ hybridization, suggest that the Noggin gene underwent two rounds of duplication and evolved specific functions before the divergence of vertebrate and lamprey lineages. These findings offer insight into early vertebrate genome and developmental evolution.

Compensatory growth renders Tcf7l1a dispensable for eye formation despite its requirement in eye field specification

The vertebrate eye originates from the eye field, a domain of cells specified by a small number of transcription factors. In this study, we show that Tcf7l1a is one such transcription factor that acts cell-autonomously to specify the eye field in zebrafish. Despite the much-reduced eye field in tcf7l1a mutants, these fish develop normal eyes revealing a striking ability of the eye to recover from a severe early phenotype. This robustness is not mediated through genetic compensation at neural plate stage; instead, the smaller optic vesicle of tcf7l1a mutants shows delayed neurogenesis and continues to grow until it achieves approximately normal size. Although the developing eye is robust to the lack of Tcf7l1a function, it is sensitised to the effects of additional mutations. In support of this, a forward genetic screen identified mutations in hesx1, cct5 and gdf6a, which give synthetically enhanced eye specification or growth phenotypes when in combination with the tcf7l1a mutation.

Left and right eyes develop independently, yet they consistently grow to roughly the same size in humans and other creatures. How they do this remains a mystery, though scientists have learned that both eyes originate from a single group of cells in the developing nervous system called the eye field. As development progresses, the eye field splits in two, and buds into the two separate compartments from which each eye forms. As the eyes grow, the cells in each compartment specialize, or ‘differentiate’, to make working left and right eyes. Scientists often study eye development in zebrafish embryos because it is easy to see each step in the process.

Now, Young at al. show that zebrafish with a mutation that causes the eye field to be half its normal size go on to form normal-sized eyes. Somehow these developing embryos overcome this deleterious mutation. It turns out that the eyes of zebrafish with this mutation grow for a longer period of time than typical zebrafish eyes. This change allows the mutant fish’s eyes to catch up and reach normal size. When Young et al. removed some cells from one of the forming eyes of normal zebrafish embryos they found that same thing happened. The smaller eye developed for a longer time and delayed its differentiation until both eyes were the same size. Conversely, when eyes developed from a larger than normal eye field, growth stopped prematurely and differentiation began early preventing the eyes from ending up oversized.

Though the fish were able to overcome the effects of one mutation to develop normal-sized eyes, adding a second mutation that affected eye development led to unusual sized eyes or absence of eyes. Together the experiments identify genes and mechanisms essential for the formation and size of the eyes. Given that the processes underlying eye formation are very similar in many animals, this new information should help scientists to better understand eye abnormalities in humans.

The presence of Anf/Hesx1 homeobox gene in lampreys suggests that it could play an important role in emergence of telencephalon

Accumulated evidence indicates that the core genetic mechanisms regulating early patterning of the brain rudiment in vertebrates are very similar to those operating during development of the anterior region of invertebrate embryos. However, the mechanisms underlying the morphological differences between the elaborate vertebrate brain and its simpler invertebrate counterpart remain poorly understood. Recently, we hypothesized that the emergence of the most anterior unit of the vertebrate brain, the telencephalon, could be related to the appearance in vertebrates’ ancestors of a unique homeobox gene, Anf/Hesx1(further Anf), which is absent from all invertebrates and regulates the earliest steps of telencephalon development in vertebrates. However, the failure of Anf to be detected in one of the most basal extant vertebrate species, the lamprey, seriously compromises this hypothesis. Here, we report the cloning of Anf in three lamprey species and demonstrate that this gene is indeed expressed in embryos in the same pattern as in other vertebrates and executes the same functions by inhibiting the expression of the anterior general regulator Otx2 in favour of the telencephalic regulator FoxG1. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the Anf homeobox gene may have been important in the evolution of the telencephalon.

FoxA4 favours notochord formation by inhibiting contiguous mesodermal fates and restricts anterior neural development in Xenopus embryos

In vertebrates, the embryonic dorsal midline is a crucial signalling centre that patterns the surrounding tissues during development. Members of the FoxA subfamily of transcription factors are expressed in the structures that compose this centre. Foxa2 is essential for dorsal midline development in mammals, since knock-out mouse embryos lack a definitive node, notochord and floor plate. The related gene foxA4 is only present in amphibians. Expression begins in the blastula -chordin and -noggin expressing centre (BCNE) and is later restricted to the dorsal midline derivatives of the Spemann's organiser. It was suggested that the early functions of mammalian foxa2 are carried out by foxA4 in frogs, but functional experiments were needed to test this hypothesis. Here, we show that some important dorsal midline functions of mammalian foxa2 are exerted by foxA4 in Xenopus. We provide new evidence that the latter prevents the respecification of dorsal midline precursors towards contiguous fates, inhibiting prechordal and paraxial mesoderm development in favour of the notochord. In addition, we show that foxA4 is required for the correct regionalisation and maintenance of the central nervous system. FoxA4 participates in constraining the prospective rostral forebrain territory during neural specification and is necessary for the correct segregation of the most anterior ectodermal derivatives, such as the cement gland and the pituitary anlagen. Moreover, the early expression of foxA4 in the BCNE (which contains precursors of the whole forebrain and most of the midbrain and hindbrain) is directly required to restrict anterior neural development.

An essential role for heat shock transcription factor binding protein 1 (HSBP1) during early embryonic development

Heat shock factor binding protein 1 (HSBP1) is a 76 amino acid polypeptide that contains two arrays of hydrophobic heptad repeats and was originally identified through its interaction with the oligomerization domain of heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1), suppressing Hsf1's transcriptional activity following stress. To examine the function of HSBP1 in vivo, we generated mice with targeted disruption of the hsbp1 gene and examined zebrafish embryos treated with HSBP1-specific morpholino oligonucleotides. Our results show that hsbp1 is critical for preimplantation embryonic development. Embryonic stem (ES) cells deficient in hsbp1 survive and proliferate normally into the neural lineage in vitro; however, lack of hsbp1 in embryoid bodies (EBs) leads to disorganization of the germ layers and a reduction in the endoderm-specific markers (such as α-fetoprotein). We further show that hsbp1-deficient mouse EBs and knockdown of HSBP1 in zebrafish leads to an increase in the expression of the neural crest inducers Snail2, Tfap2α and Foxd3, suggesting a potential role for HSBP1 in the Wnt pathway. The hsbp1-deficient ES cells, EBs and zebrafish embryos with reduced HSBP1 levels exhibit elevated levels of Hsf1 activity and expression of heat shock proteins (Hsps). We conclude that HSBP1 plays an essential role during early mouse and zebrafish embryonic development.

HESX1- and TCF3-mediated repression of Wnt/β-catenin targets is required for normal development of the anterior forebrain

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays an essential role during regionalisation of the vertebrate neural plate and its inhibition in the most anterior neural ectoderm is required for normal forebrain development. Hesx1 is a conserved vertebrate-specific transcription factor that is required for forebrain development in Xenopus, mice and humans. Mouse embryos deficient for Hesx1 exhibit a variable degree of forebrain defects, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these defects are not fully understood. Here, we show that injection of a hesx1 morpholino into a 'sensitised' zygotic headless (tcf3) mutant background leads to severe forebrain and eye defects, suggesting an interaction between Hesx1 and the Wnt pathway during zebrafish forebrain development. Consistent with a requirement for Wnt signalling repression, we highlight a synergistic gene dosage-dependent interaction between Hesx1 and Tcf3, a transcriptional repressor of Wnt target genes, to maintain anterior forebrain identity during mouse embryogenesis. In addition, we reveal that Tcf3 is essential within the neural ectoderm to maintain anterior character and that its interaction with Hesx1 ensures the repression of Wnt targets in the developing forebrain. By employing a conditional loss-of-function approach in mouse, we demonstrate that deletion of β-catenin, and concomitant reduction of Wnt signalling in the developing anterior forebrain of Hesx1-deficient embryos, leads to a significant rescue of the forebrain defects. Finally, transcriptional profiling of anterior forebrain precursors from mouse embryos expressing eGFP from the Hesx1 locus provides molecular evidence supporting a novel function of Hesx1 in mediating repression of Wnt/β-catenin target activation in the developing forebrain.

Notch destabilises maternal beta-catenin and restricts dorsal-anterior development in Xenopus

The blastula chordin- and noggin-expressing centre (BCNE) is the predecessor of the Spemann-Mangold's organiser and also contains the precursors of the brain. This signalling centre comprises animal-dorsal and marginal-dorsal cells and appears as a consequence of the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin on the dorsal side. Here, we propose a role for Notch that was not previously explored during early development in vertebrates. Notch initially destabilises β-catenin in a process that does not depend on its phosphorylation by GSK3. This is important to restrict the BCNE to its normal extent and to control the size of the brain.

Zebrafish Pou5f1-dependent transcriptional networks in temporal control of early development

The transcription factor POU5f1/OCT4 controls pluripotency in mammalian ES cells, but little is known about its functions in the early embryo. We used time-resolved transcriptome analysis of zebrafish pou5f1 MZspg mutant embryos to identify genes regulated by Pou5f1. Comparison to mammalian systems defines evolutionary conserved Pou5f1 targets. Time-series data reveal many Pou5f1 targets with delayed or advanced onset of expression. We identify two Pou5f1-dependent mechanisms controlling developmental timing. First, several Pou5f1 targets are transcriptional repressors, mediating repression of differentiation genes in distinct embryonic compartments. We analyze her3 gene regulation as example for a repressor in the neural anlagen. Second, the dynamics of SoxB1 group gene expression and Pou5f1-dependent regulation of her3 and foxD3 uncovers differential requirements for SoxB1 activity to control temporal dynamics of activation, and spatial distribution of targets in the embryo. We establish a mathematical model of the early Pou5f1 and SoxB1 gene network to demonstrate regulatory characteristics important for developmental timing. The temporospatial structure of the zebrafish Pou5f1 target networks may explain aspects of the evolution of the mammalian stem cell networks.

A microarray screen for direct targets of Zic1 identifies an aquaporin gene, aqp-3b, expressed in the neural folds

The Zic1 transcription factor plays multiple roles during early development, for example, in patterning the early neural plate and formation of the neural crest, somites, and cerebellum. To identify direct downstream target genes of Zic1, a microarray screen was conducted in Xenopus laevis that identified 85 genes upregulated twofold or more. These include transcription factors, receptors, enzymes, proteins involved in retinoic acid signaling, and an aquaglyceroporin (aqp-3b), but surprisingly no genes known to be involved in cell proliferation. We show that both aqp-3 and aqp-3b were expressed in adult tissues, while during early embryonic development, only aqp-3b was transcribed. During neurula stages, aqp-3b was expressed specifically in the neural folds. This pattern of aqp-3b expression closely resembled that of NF-protocadherin (NFPC), which is involved in cell adhesion and neural tube closure. Aqp-3b may also be involved in neural tube closure, since mammalian Aqp-3 promotes cell migration and proliferation.

Normal forebrain development may require continual Wnt antagonism until mid-somitogenesis in zebrafish

During normal forebrain development in vertebrates, rostral neural tissue must be protected from Wnt signals via the actions of locally expressed Wnt antagonistic factors. In zebrafish zygotic oep (Zoep) mutants, forebrain structure is severely disrupted with reduced expression of the Wnt antagonists secreted frizzled related protein1 and dickkopf1. To analyze the temporal effects of Wnt antagonism on forebrain development, we generated transgenic zebrafish that overexpressed the dominant negative form of frizzled8a (DNfz8a) in wild-type and Zoep mutants under the control of a heat-inducible promoter. This model allowed for assessment of the dynamics of Wnt antagonistic signaling during forebrain development. Our results demonstrated that overexpression of DNfz8a in Zoep embryos between 7 and 16hpf increased putative forebrain region demarcated by anf and distal-less2 expressions. These results suggest that normal forebrain development requires continual Wnt antagonism from the early gastrula to the mid-somitogenesis stage.

[Transcriptional factor Xanf1 interacts with the focal adhesion protein zyxin in the early development of the Xenopus laevis brain]

We searched for potential protein partners of the homeodomain transcription repressor Xanf1, a key transcriptional regulator of the early development of the forebrain, using a yeast two-hybrid system and identified for the first time the LIM domain protein zyxin from the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. This protein is interesting because it can play the role of a signal transmitter from cell receptors to the cell nucleus and, thus, participate in the regulation of cell morphogenetic movements and gene expression. The interaction of zyxin with Xanf1 was confirmed by the immunoprecipitation of a complex of endogenous zyxin with the hybrid myc-Xanf1 protein from the lysate of X. laevis embryos. Using a set of deletion mutants of both proteins, we found that binding of the LIM2 domain of zyxin with the Engrailed Homology 1 repressor domain of Xanf1 is responsible for the interaction of these proteins.

The LIM-domain protein Zyxin binds the homeodomain factor Xanf1/Hesx1 and modulates its activity in the anterior neural plate of Xenopus laevis embryo

The question of how subdivision of embryo into cell territories acquiring different fates is coordinated with morphogenetic movements shaping the embryonic body still remains poorly resolved. In the present report, we demonstrate that a key regulator of anterior neural plate patterning, the homeodomain transcriptional repressor Xanf1/Hesx1, can bind to the LIM-domain protein Zyxin, which is known to regulate cell morphogenetic movements via influence on actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Using a set of deletion mutants, we found that the Engrailed-type repressor domain of Xanf1 and LIM2-domain of Zyxin are primarily responsible for interaction of these proteins. We also demonstrate that Zyxin overexpression in Xenopus embryos elicits effects similar to those observed in embryos with downregulated Xanf1. In contrast, when the repressor-fused variant of Zyxin is expressed, the forebrain enlargements typical for embryos overexpressing Xanf1 develop. These results are consistent with a possible role of Zyxin as a negative modulator of Xanf1 transcriptional repressing activity.

DNMT1 interacts with the developmental transcriptional repressor HESX1

Hesx1 is a highly conserved homeobox gene present in vertebrates, but absent from invertebrates. Gene targeting experiments in mice have shown that this transcriptional repressor is required for normal forebrain and pituitary development. In humans, mutations in HESX1 impairing either its repressing activity or DNA binding properties lead to a comparable phenotype to that observed in Hesx1 deficient mice. In an attempt to gain insights into the molecular function of HESX1, we have performed a yeast two-hybrid screen and identified DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) as a HESX1 binding protein. We show that Dnmt1 is co-expressed with Hesx1 within the anterior forebrain and in the developing Rathke's pouch. Mapping of the interacting regions indicates that the entire HESX1 protein is required to establish binding to a portion of the N-terminus of DNMT1 and its catalytic domain in the C-terminus. The HESX1–DNMT1 complexes can be immunoprecipitated in cells and co-localise in the nucleus. These results establish a link between HESX1 and DNMT1 and suggest a novel mechanism for the repressing properties of HESX1.

The homeodomain factor Xanf represses expression of genes in the presumptive rostral forebrain that specify more caudal brain regions

Early development of the rostral forebrain (RF) in vertebrates is accompanied by the inhibition of two homeobox regulators, Otx2 and Pax6 in the rostral sector of the anterior neural plate, further giving rise to the RF. However, the precise molecular mechanism and meaning of this inhibition is still obscure. We now demonstrate that the activity of the Anf homeodomain protein is necessary and sufficient for the anterior inhibition of Otx2 and Pax6. Specifically, we show that knockdown of the Xenopus laevis Anf, Xanf, by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides results in the anterior expansion of Otx2 and Pax6 expression into the presumptive RF territory. Furthermore, by overexpressing hormone-inducible activator- and repressor-fused variants of Xanf in the absence of protein synthesis, we present evidence that Xanf can directly downregulate Otx2 and Pax6 but not the more rostrally expressed Bf1, Bf2, Fgf8 and Nkx2.4. These results explain how the inhibitory activity of Xanf can discriminate RF regulators in favor of posterior forebrain ones. Assuming that the Anf type of homeobox is specific for vertebrates, our data suggest that the emergence of Anf in evolution could be a critical event for RF development in vertebrates through the elimination of homologues of modern posterior forebrain regulators from the rostral sector of the anterior neural plate.

Lack of the murine homeobox gene Hesx1 leads to a posterior transformation of the anterior forebrain

The homeobox gene Hesx1 is an essential repressor that is required within the anterior neural plate for normal forebrain development in mouse and humans. Combining genetic cell labelling and marker analyses, we demonstrate that the absence of Hesx1 leads to a posterior transformation of the anterior forebrain (AFB) during mouse development. Our data suggest that the mechanism underlying this transformation is the ectopic activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signalling within the Hesx1 expression domain in the AFB. When ectopically expressed in the developing mouse embryo, Hesx1 alone cannot alter the normal fate of posterior neural tissue. However, conditional expression of Hesx1 within the AFB can rescue the forebrain defects observed in the Hesx1 mutants. The results presented here provide new insights into the function of Hesx1 in forebrain formation.

Induction and specification of cranial placodes

Cranial placodes are specialized regions of the ectoderm, which give rise to various sensory ganglia and contribute to the pituitary gland and sensory organs of the vertebrate head. They include the adenohypophyseal, olfactory, lens, trigeminal, and profundal placodes, a series of epibranchial placodes, an otic placode, and a series of lateral line placodes. After a long period of neglect, recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in placode induction and specification. There is increasing evidence that all placodes despite their different developmental fates originate from a common panplacodal primordium around the neural plate. This common primordium is defined by the expression of transcription factors of the Six1/2, Six4/5, and Eya families, which later continue to be expressed in all placodes and appear to promote generic placodal properties such as proliferation, the capacity for morphogenetic movements, and neuronal differentiation. A large number of other transcription factors are expressed in subdomains of the panplacodal primordium and appear to contribute to the specification of particular subsets of placodes. This review first provides a brief overview of different cranial placodes and then synthesizes evidence for the common origin of all placodes from a panplacodal primordium. The role of various transcription factors for the development of the different placodes is addressed next, and it is discussed how individual placodes may be specified and compartmentalized within the panplacodal primordium. Finally, tissues and signals involved in placode induction are summarized with a special focus on induction of the panplacodal primordium itself (generic placode induction) and its relation to neural induction and neural crest induction. Integrating current data, new models of generic placode induction and of combinatorial placode specification are presented.

Comparative genomic and expression analysis of group B1soxgenes in zebrafish indicates their diversification during vertebrate evolution

Group B1 Sox genes encode HMG domain transcription factors that play major roles in neural development. We have identified six zebrafish B1 sox genes, which include pan-vertebrate sox1a/b, sox2, and sox3, and also fish-specific sox19a/b. SOX19A/B proteins show a transcriptional activation potential that is similar to other B1 SOX proteins. The expression of sox19a and sox3 begins at approximately the 1,000-cell stage during embryogenesis and becomes confined to the future ectoderm by the shield stage. This is reminiscent of the epiblastic expression of Sox2 and/or Sox3 in amniotes. As development progresses, these six B1 sox genes display unique expression patterns that overlap distinctly from one region to another. sox19a expression is widespread in the early neuroectoderm, resembling pan-neural Sox2 expression in amniotes, whereas zebrafish sox2 shows anterior-restricted expression. Comparative genomics suggests that sox19a/b and mammalian Sox15 (group G) have an orthologous relationship and that the B1/G Sox genes arose from a common ancestral gene through two rounds of genome duplication. It seems likely, therefore, that each B1/G Sox gene has gained a distinct expression profile and function during vertebrate evolution.

Multiple noggins in vertebrate genome: cloning and expression of noggin2 and noggin4 in Xenopus laevis

Noggin is a neural inducer secreted by cells of the Spemann organizer. A single noggin gene was identified until very recently in all tested vertebrates. The only exception was zebrafish, in which two close homologs of noggin, named noggin1 and noggin3, and one gene more diverged from them, noggin2, were cloned. Nevertheless, finding of three zebrafish noggins was attributed exclusively to specific genomic duplications in the fish evolutionary branch. However, very recently it was shown that Xenopus tropicalis have additional noggin homolog, called noggin2 [Fletcher, R.B., Watson, A.L., Harland, R.M. (2004). Expression of Xenopus tropicalis noggin1 and noggin2 in early development: two noggin genes in a tetrapod. Gene Expr. Patterns 5, 225-230], which indicates at least two independent noggin genes in vertebrate phylum. Now we report identification of two novel noggin homologs in each of so evolutionary distant species as Xenopus laevis, chicken and fugu. One of these noggins is ortholog of the X. tropicalis and zebrafish noggin2, whereas another, named noggin4, was not known previously. In the X. laevis embryos, the expression of noggin2 very resembles that of its counterpart in X. tropicalis: it begins with neurulation at the anterior margin of the neural plate and, afterward, continues mainly in the forebrain and dorsal hindbrain. At the same time, noggin4 is expressed starting from the beginning of gastrulation, throughout the ectoderm, with a local expression maximum in the prospective anterior neurectoderm. Later, it is widely expressed on the dorsal side of embryo, including neural tube, eyes, otic vesicles, cranial placodes, branchial arches, and somites. The data presented here demonstrate that the vertebrate phylum contains at least three distinct noggin genes.

The homeodomain-containing transcription factor X-nkx-5.1 inhibits expression of the homeobox gene Xanf-1 during the Xenopus laevis forebrain development

Expression of the homeobox gene Xanf-1 starts within the presumptive forebrain primordium of the Xenopus embryo at the midgastrula stage and is inhibited by the late neurula. Such stage-specific inhibition is essential for the normal development as the experimental prolongation of the Xanf-1 expression elicits severe brain abnormalities. To identify transcriptional regulators that are responsible for the Xanf-1 inhibition, we have used the yeast one-hybrid system and identified a novel Xenopus homeobox gene X-nkx-5.1 that belongs to a family of Nkx-5.1 transcription factors. In terms of gene expression, X-nkx-5.1 shares many common features with its orthologs in other species, including expression in the embryonic brain and in the ciliated cells of the otic and lateral line placodes. However, we have also observed several features specific for X-nkx-5.1, such as expression in precursors of the epidermal ciliated cells that may indicate a possible common evolutionary origin of all ciliated cells derived from the embryonic ectoderm. Another specific feature is that the X-nkx-5.1 expression in the anterior neural plate starts early, within the area overlapping the Xanf-1 expression territory at the midneurula stage, and it correlates with the beginning of the Xanf-1 inhibition. Using various loss and gain-of-function techniques, including microinjections of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides and mRNA encoding for the X-nkx-5.1 and its dominant repressor and activator versions, we have shown that X-nkx-5.1 can indeed play a role of stage-specific inhibitor of Xanf-1 in the anterior neural plate during the Xenopus development.

Structure, regulation, and function of micro1 in the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus

The animal-vegetal axis of sea urchin embryos is morphologically apparent at the 16-cell stage, when the mesomeres, macromeres, and micromeres align along it. At this stage, the micromere is the only autonomously specified blastomere that functions as a signaling center. We used a subtraction PCR survey to identify the homeobox gene micro1 as a micromere-specific gene. The micro1 gene is a representative of a novel family of paired-like class homeobox genes, along with PlHbox12 from Paracentrotus lividus and pmar1 from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. In the present study, we showed that micro1 is a multicopy gene with six or more polymorphic loci, at least three of which are clustered in a 30-kb region of the genome. The micro1 gene is transiently expressed during early cleavage stages in the micromere. Recently, nuclear beta-catenin was shown to be essential for the specification of vegetal cell fates, including micromeres, and the temporal and spatial coincidence of micro1 expression with the nuclear entry of beta-catenin is highly suggestive. We demonstrated that micro1 is a direct target of beta-catenin. In addition, we showed that micro1 is necessary and sufficient for micromere specification. These observations on the structure, regulation, and function of micro1 lead to the conclusion that micro1 and pmar1 (and potentially PlHbox12) are orthologous.

Patterning the forebrain: FoxA4a/Pintallavis and Xvent2 determine the posterior limit of Xanf1 expression in the neural plate

During early development of the nervous system in vertebrates, expression of the homeobox gene Anf/Hesx1/Rpx is restricted to the anterior neural plate subdomain corresponding to the presumptive forebrain. This expression is essential for normal forebrain development and ectopic expression of Xenopus Anf, Xanf1 (also known as Xanf-1), results in severe forebrain abnormalities. By use of transgenic embryos and a novel bi-colour reporter technique, we have identified a cis-regulatory element responsible for transcriptional repression of Xanf1 that defines its posterior expression limit within the neural plate. Using this element as the target in a yeast one-hybrid system, we identified two transcription factors, FoxA4a/Pintallavis and Xvent2 (also known as Xvent-2), which are normally expressed posterior to Xanf1. Overexpression of normal and dominant-negative versions of these factors, as well as inhibition of their mRNA translation by antisense morpholinos, show that they actually function as transcriptional repressors of Xanf1 just behind its posterior expression limit. The extremely high similarity of the identified Anf cis-regulatory sequences in Xenopus, chick and human, indicates that the mechanism restricting posterior expression of Anf in Xenopus is shared among vertebrates. Our findings support Nieuwkoop's activation-transformation model for neural patterning, according to which the entire neurectoderm is initially specified towards an anterior fate, which is later suppressed posteriorly as part of the trunk formation process.

Sequential antagonism of early and late Wnt-signaling by zebrafish colgate promotes dorsal and anterior fates

The establishment of the vertebrate body plan involves patterning of the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm along the dorsoventral and antero-posterior axes. Interactions among numerous signaling molecules from several multigene families, including Wnts, have been implicated in regulating these processes. Here we provide evidence that the zebrafish colgate(b382) (col) mutation results in increased Wnt signaling that leads to defects in dorsal and anterior development. col mutants display early defects in dorsoventral patterning manifested by a decrease in the expression of dorsal shield-specific markers and ectopic expression of ventrolaterally expressed genes during gastrulation. In addition to these early patterning defects, col mutants display a striking regional posteriorization within the neuroectoderm, resulting in a reduction in anterior fates and an expansion of posterior fates within the forebrain and midbrain-hindbrain regions. We are able to correlate these phenotypes to the overactivation of Wnt signaling in col mutants. The early dorsal and anterior patterning phenotypes of the col mutant embryos are selectively rescued by inactivation of Wnt8 function by morpholino translational interference. In contrast, the regionalized neuroectoderm posterioriorization phenotype is selectively rescued by morpholino-mediated inactivation of Wnt8b. These results suggest that col-mediated antagonism of early and late Wnt-signaling activity during gastrulation is normally required sequentially for both early dorsoventral patterning and the specification and patterning of regional fates within the anterior neuroectoderm.

Involvement of Pax6 and Otx2 in the forebrain-specific regulation of the vertebrate homeobox gene ANF/Hesx1

During early vertebrate development, ANF homeobox genes are expressed in the prospective forebrain. Their regulation is essential for correct morphogenesis and function of the prosencephalon. We identified a 1-kb fragment upstream of the chicken GANF gene sufficient to drive lacZ expression in the endogenous expression domain. Concordant with the high conservation of this sequence in five investigated species, this element is also active in the corresponding expression domain of the zebrafish orthologue. In vivo analysis of two in vitro-identified Otx2 binding sites in this conserved sequence revealed their necessity for activation of the chicken ANF promoter. In addition, we identified a Pax6-binding site close to the transcriptional start site that is occupied in vivo by Pax6 protein. Pax6 and GANF exhibit mutually exclusive expression domains in the anterior embryonic region. Overexpression of Pax6 in chick embryos inhibited the endogenous GANF expression, and in Pax6(-/-) mice the expression domain of the murine ANF orthologue Hesx1 was expanded and sustained, indicating inhibitory effects of Pax6 on GANF. However, a mutation of the Pax6 site did not abolish reporter activity from an electroporated vector. We conclude that Otx2 and Pax6 are key molecules involved in conserved mechanisms of ANF gene regulation.

Genetic analysis of adenohypophysis formation in zebrafish

The adenohypophysis consists of at least six different cell types, somatotropes, lactotropes, thyrotropes, melanotropes, corticotropes, and gonadotropes. In mouse, cloning of spontaneous mutations and gene targeting has revealed multiple genes required for different steps of adenohypophysis development. Here, we report the results of a systematic search for genes required for adenohypophysis formation and patterning in zebrafish. By screening F3 offspring of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-mutagenized founder fish, we isolated eleven mutants with absent or reduced expression of GH, the product of somatotropes, but a normally developing hypothalamus. Of such mutants, eight were further analyzed and mapped. They define four genes essential for different steps of adenohypophysis development. Two of them, lia and pia, affect the entire adenohypophysis, whereas the other two are required for a subset of adenohypophyseal cell types only. The third gene is zebrafish pit1 and is required for lactotropes, thyrotropes, and somatotropes, similar to its mouse ortholog, whereas the fourth, aal, is required for corticotropes, melanotropes, thyrotropes, and somatotropes, but not lactotropes. In conclusion, the isolated zebrafish mutants confirm principles of adenohypophysis development revealed in mouse, thereby demonstrating the high degree of molecular and mechanistic conservation among the different vertebrate species. In addition, they point to thus far unknown features of adenohypophysis development, such as the existence of a new lineage of pituitary cells, which partially overlaps with the Pit1 lineage. Positional cloning of the lia, pia, and aal genes might reveal novel regulators of vertebrate pituitary development.

Anterior identity is established in chick epiblast by hypoblast and anterior definitive endoderm

Previous studies of head induction in the chick have failed to demonstrate a clear role for the hypoblast and anterior definitive endoderm (ADE) in patterning the overlying ectoderm, whereas data from both mouse and rabbit suggest patterning roles for anterior visceral endoderm (AVE) and ADE. Based on similarity of gene expression patterns, fate and a dual role in 'protecting' the prospective forebrain from caudalising influences of the organiser, the chick hypoblast has been suggested to be the homologue of the mouse anterior visceral endoderm. In support of this, when transplanted to chick embryos, the rabbit AVE induces anterior markers in the chick epiblast. To reevaluate the role of the hypoblast/ADE (lower layer) in patterning the chick ectoderm, we used rostral blastoderm isolates (RBIs) as an assay, that is, rostral regions of blastoderms transected at levels rostral to the node. RBIs are, therefore, free from the influences of Hensen's node and ingressing axial mesoderm - tissues that are able to induce Ganf, the earliest specific marker of anterior neural plate. We demonstrate, using such RBIs (or RBIs dissected to remove the lower layer with or without tissue replacement), that the hypoblast/ADE (lower layer) is required and sufficient for patterning anterior positional identity in the overlying ectoderm, leading to expression of Ganf in neuroectoderm. Our results suggest that patterning of anterior positional identity and specification of neural identity are separable events operating to pattern the rostral end of the early chick embryo. Based on this new evidence we propose a revised model for establishing anteroposterior polarity, neural specification and head patterning in the early chick that is consonant with that occurring in other vertebrates.

Expression zones of three novel genes abut the developing anterior neural plate of Xenopus embryo

We identified three novel genes that were expressed within the anterior non-neural ectoderm of Xenopus early neurula embryos. The expression of these genes was observed in the different areas complementary to the expression zone of a homeodomain gene Xanf-1 in the anterior neural plate. One of these genes, a Ras-like GTP-ase Ras-dva, marked the anterior placodal ectoderm area; a second, an Agr family homologous gene, XAgr2, was expressed in the anterior-most ectoderm in the cement gland primordium, and a third, novel gene Nlo was expressed in the lateral neural folds. The genes were transiently expressed in the developing cement and hatching gland primordia, and repressed in the mature cement and hatching glands. XAgr2 and Nlo were also expressed in the otic vesicles, and Ras-dva was expressed in the dorso-lateral column of the neural tube.

Adenohypophysis formation in the zebrafish and its dependence on sonic hedgehog

Formation of the adenohypophysis in mammalian embryos occurs via an invagination of the oral ectoderm to form Rathke's pouch, which becomes exposed to opposing dorsoventral gradients of signaling proteins governing specification of the different hormone-producing pituitary cell types. One signal promoting pituitary cell proliferation and differentiation to ventral cell types is Sonic hedgehog (Shh) from the oral ectoderm. To study pituitary formation and patterning in zebrafish, we cloned four cDNAs encoding different pituitary hormones, prolactin (prl), proopiomelancortin (pomc), thyroid stimulating hormone (tsh), and growth hormone (gh), and analyzed their expression patterns relative to that of the pituitary marker lim3. prl and pomc start to be expressed at the lateral edges of the lim3 expression domain, before pituitary cells move into the head. This indicates that patterning of the pituitary anlage and terminal differentiation of pituitary cells starts while cells are still organized in a placodal fashion at the anterior edge of the developing brain. Following the expression pattern of prl and pomc during development, we show that no pituitary-specific invagination equivalent to Rathke's pouch formation takes place. Rather, pituitary cells move inwards together with stomodeal cells during oral cavity formation, with medial cells of the placode ending up posterior and lateral cells ending up anterior, resulting in an anterior-posterior, rather than a dorsoventral, patterning of the adenohypophysis. Carrying out loss- and gain-of-function experiments, we show that Shh from the ventral diencephalon plays a crucial role during induction, patterning, and growth of the zebrafish adenohypophysis. The phenotypes are very similar to those obtained upon pituitary-specific inactivation or overexpression of Shh in mouse embryo, suggesting that the role of Shh during pituitary development has been largely conserved between fish and mice, despite the different modes of pituitary formation in the two vertebrate classes.

Specification of an anterior neuroectoderm patterning by Frizzled8a-mediated Wnt8b signalling during late gastrulation in zebrafish

Wnts have been shown to provide a posteriorizing signal that has to be repressed in the anterior neuroectoderm for normal anteroposterior (AP) patterning. We have previously identified a zebrafish frizzled8a (fz8a) gene expressed in the presumptive anterior neuroectoderm as well as prechordal plate at the late gastrula stage. We have investigated the role of Fz8a-mediated Wnt8b signalling in anterior brain patterning in zebrafish. We show that in zebrafish embryos: (1) Wnt signalling has at least two different stage-specific posteriorizing activities in the anterior neuroectoderm, one before mid-gastrulation and the other at late gastrulation; (2) Fz8a plays an important role in mediating anterior brain patterning; (3) Wnt8b and Fz8a can functionally interact to transmit posteriorizing signals that determine the fate of the posterior diencephalon and midbrain in late gastrula embryos; and (4) Wnt8b can suppress fz8a expression in the anterior neuroectoderm and potentially affect the level and/or range of Wnt signalling. In conclusion, we suggest that a gradient of Fz8a-mediated Wnt8b signalling may play crucial role in patterning the posterior diencephalon and midbrain regions in the late gastrula.

A regulatory gene network that directs micromere specification in the sea urchin embryo

Micromeres and their immediate descendants have three known developmental functions in regularly developing sea urchins: immediately after their initial segregation, they are the source of an unidentified signal to the adjacent veg(2) cells that is required for normal endomesodermal specification; a few cleavages later, they express Delta, a Notch ligand which triggers the conditional specification of the central mesodermal domain of the vegetal plate; and they exclusively give rise to the skeletogenic mesenchyme of the postgastrular embryo. We demonstrate the key components of the zygotic regulatory gene network that accounts for micromere specificity. This network is a subelement of the overall endomesoderm specification network of the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus embryo. A central role is played by a newly discovered gene encoding a paired class homeodomain transcription factor which in micromeres acts as a repressor of a repressor: the gene is named pmar1 (paired-class micromere anti-repressor). pmar1 is expressed only during cleavage and early blastula stages, and exclusively in micromeres. It is initially activated as soon as the micromeres are formed, in response to Otx and beta-Catenin/Tcf inputs. The repressive nature of the interactions mediated by the pmar1 gene product was shown by the identical effect of introducing mRNA encoding the Pmar1 factor, and mRNA encoding an Engrailed-Pmar1 (En-Pmar1) repressor domain fusion. In both cases, the effects are derepression: of the delta gene; and of skeletogenic genes, including several transcription factors normally expressed only in micromere descendants, and also a set of downstream skeletogenic differentiation genes. The spatial phenotype of embryos bearing exogenous mRNA encoding Pmar1 factor or En-Pmar1 is expansion of the domains of expression of the downstream genes over most or all of the embryo. This results in transformation of much of the embryo into skeletogenic mesenchyme cells that express skeletogenic markers. The normal role of pmarl is to prevent, exclusively in the micromeres, the expression of a repressor that is otherwise operative throughout the embryo. This function accounts for the localization of delta transcription in micromeres, and thereby for the conditional specification of the vegetal plate mesoderm. It also explains why skeletogenic differentiation gene batteries normally function only in micromere descendants. More generally, the regulatory network subelement emerging from this work shows how the specificity of micromere function depends on continuing global regulatory interactions, as well as on early localized inputs.

Zebrafish DeltaNp63 is a direct target of Bmp signaling and encodes a transcriptional repressor blocking neural specification in the ventral ectoderm

Bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps) promote ventral specification in both the mesoderm and the ectoderm of vertebrate embryos. Here we identify zebrafish DeltaNp63, encoding an isoform of the p53-related protein p63, as an ectoderm-specific direct transcriptional target of Bmp signaling. DeltaNp63 itself acts as a transcriptional repressor required for ventral specification in the ectoderm of gastrulating embryos. Loss of DeltaNp63 function leads to reduced nonneural ectoderm followed by defects in epidermal development during skin and fin bud formation. In contrast, forced DeltaNp63 expression blocks neural development and promotes nonneural development, even in the absence of Bmp signaling. Together, DeltaNp63 fulfills the criteria to be the neural repressor postulated by the "neural default model."

Characterization of cis-regulatory elements of the homeobox gene Xanf-1

Investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying early patterning of the nervous system is an important task of modern developmental biology. Previously, we identified a novel homeobox gene, Anf, that is expressed in the most anterior zone at the beginning of neuroectoderm specification. The expression pattern of Anf corresponds to primordia of the telencephalon and the rostral part of the diencephalon. In the present work, we investigated cis-regulation of expression of the Xenopus laevis Anf, Xanf-1. Two elements, highly conserved in Xenopus, chick and human, were identified within the Xanf-1 promoter region. The first element, located near position -500, is necessary for overall enhancement of the Xanf-1 expression. The second element, near position -200, is crucial for maintenance of the Xanf-1 expression at moderate levels and also for specific localization of the expression in the anterior neuroectoderm. Thus, the distal part of this element is responsible for suppression of Xanf-1 posterior to the normal expression domain of this gene. The data obtained corroborate with the Nieuwkoop two-signal model of neural induction. This model states that at the first step of induction, all neuroectoderm acquires potencies to develop toward forebrain structures, but later these potencies are suppressed in posterior regions.

spiel-ohne-grenzen/pou2mediates regional competence to respond to Fgf8 during zebrafish early neural development

Neural patterning of the vertebrate brain starts within the ectoderm during gastrulation and requires the activity of organizer cell populations in the neurectoderm. One such organizer is located at the prospective midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) and controls development of the midbrain and the anterior hindbrain via the secreted signaling molecule Fgf8. However, little is known about how the ability of neural precursors to respond to Fgf8 is regulated. We have studied the function of the zebrafish spiel-ohne-grenzen (spg) gene in early neural development. Genetic mapping and molecular characterization presented in the accompanying paper revealed that spg mutations disrupt the pou2 gene, which encodes a POU domain transcription factor that is specifically expressed in the MHB primordium, and is orthologous to mammalian Oct3/Oct4. We show that embryos homozygous for spg/pou2 have severe defects in development of the midbrain and hindbrain primordium. Key molecules that function in the formation of the MHB, such as pax2.1, spry4, wnt1, her5, eng2 and eng3, and in hindbrain development, such as krox20, gbx2, fkd3 and pou2, are all abnormal in spg mutant embryos. By contrast, regional definition of the future MHB in the neuroectoderm by complementary expression of otx2 and gbx1, before the establishment of the complex regulatory cascade at the MHB, is normal in spg embryos. Moreover, the Fgf8 and Wnt1 signaling pathways are activated normally at the MHB but become dependent on spg towards the end of gastrulation. Therefore, spg plays a crucial role both in establishing and in maintaining development of the MHB primordium. Transplantation chimeras show that normal spg function is required within the neuroectoderm but not the endomesoderm. Importantly, gain-of-function experiments by mRNA injection of fgf8 and pou2 or Fgf8 bead implantations, as well as analysis of spg-ace double mutants show that spg embryos are insensitive to Fgf8, although Fgf receptor expression and activity of the downstream MAP kinase signaling pathway appear intact. We suggest that spg/pou2 is a transcription factor that mediates regional competence to respond to Fgf8 signaling.

Subcellular localization and targeting of glucocorticoid receptor protein fusions expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

An animal system of inducible activation of protein fusions with the binding domain of glucocorticoid receptor (BDGR) was tested in Arabidopsis thaliana by monitoring dexamethasone (DEX)-induced nuclear targeting of reporter constructs. Two constructs containing green fluorescent protein (GFP), human homeobox protein Hanf-1 and Xenopus laevis BDGR were used, GFP/Hanf-1/BDGR and GFP/BDGR. The control construct contained GFP alone. In the absence of DEX both fusion proteins were uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm of root cells, but showed strong association with plastids in plant aerial parts. DEX treatment of roots prompted a strong and reversible nuclear accumulation of GFP/Hanf-1/BDGR, but not GFP/BDGR. Thus, in roots, the specific nuclear translocation of GFP/Hanf-1/BDGR was driven by Hanf-1 and tightly regulated by BDGR. However, in plant aerial parts treated with DEX, nuclear translocation of GFP/Hanf-1/BDGR was observed only in a few cases, and most part of the fusion protein was incorrectly and irreversibly targeted to plastids. Protease X digestion of isolated chloroplasts showed that BDGR fusion proteins were translocated into the chloroplast envelope and bound to envelope membranes, probably due to association with the chloroplast import apparatus. Thus, for efficient use of the glucocorticoid-inducible system in plants, it will be necessary to modify BDGR structure to prevent incorrect targeting of fusion proteins.

The homeobox protein Six3 interacts with the Groucho corepressor and acts as a transcriptional repressor in eye and forebrain formation

Six3 is a vertebrate homeobox gene that is expressed in the anterior neural plate and eye anlage. We overexpressed a dominant transcriptional activator or repressor form of Six3 in zebrafish embryos to analyze their effect on eye and forebrain formation. RNA injection of the activator form of Six3 into zebrafish embryos caused reduction of the expression domains for rx2, pax2, and emx1 in the anterior neural plate, resulting in eye and forebrain hypoplasia. On the other hand, overexpression of the repressor form of Six3 or wild-type Six3 showed phenotypes opposite to those of the activator form. We found that Six3 has eh1-related motifs, motifs crucial for transcriptional repression function of Drosophila engrailed which plays a role in tethering the Groucho corepressor to the promoters. We isolated one of the zebrafish Groucho family genes, grg3, and demonstrated an interaction between Six3 and Grg3 using yeast two-hybrid analysis. Point-mutations in the eh1-related motifs in Six3 reduced both its eye and forebrain enlarging activities and its interaction with Grg3. These results strongly argue that Six3 functions as a Groucho-dependent repressor in eye and forebrain formation. Furthermore, zebrafish Six2 and Six4 also interacted with Grg3, implying a conserved function among the Six family proteins as transcriptional repressors.

Vertebrate cranial placodes I. Embryonic induction

Cranial placodes are focal regions of thickened ectoderm in the head of vertebrate embryos that give rise to a wide variety of cell types, including elements of the paired sense organs and neurons in cranial sensory ganglia. They are essential for the formation of much of the cranial sensory nervous system. Although relatively neglected today, interest in placodes has recently been reawakened with the isolation of molecular markers for different stages in their development. This has enabled a more finely tuned approach to the understanding of placode induction and development and in some cases has resulted in the isolation of inducing molecules for particular placodes. Both morphological and molecular data support the existence of a preplacodal domain within the cranial neural plate border region. Nonetheless, multiple tissues and molecules (where known) are involved in placode induction, and each individual placode is induced at different times by a different combination of these tissues, consistent with their diverse fates. Spatiotemporal changes in competence are also important in placode induction. Here, we have tried to provide a comprehensive review that synthesises the highlights of a century of classical experimental research, together with more modern evidence for the tissues and molecules involved in the induction of each placode.

Zebrafish Dkk1, induced by the pre-MBT Wnt signaling, is secreted from the prechordal plate and patterns the anterior neural plate

mRNA injection into the ventral blastomeres of Xenopus embryos of mRNA encoding Wnt pathway genes induces a secondary axis with complete head structures. To identify target genes of the pre-MBT dorsalization pathway that might be responsible for head formation in zebrafish, we have cloned zebrafish dickkopf1 (dkk1), which is expressed in tissues implicated in head patterning. We found that dkk1 blocks the post-MBT Wnt signaling and dkk1 is a target of the pre-MBT Wnt signaling. Dkk1 overexpression in the prechordal plate suggests that Dkk1, secreted from the prechordal plate, expands the forebrain at the expense of the midbrain in the anterior neural plate. Furthermore, dkk1 acts in parallel to the homeobox gene bozozok and bozozok is required for the maintenance of dkk1 expression. The nodal gene squint is also required for the maintenance of dkk1 expression. Among the mutually dependent target genes of the pre-MBT Wnt signaling, dkk1 plays an important role in patterning the anterior head of zebrafish.

Reconciling different models of forebrain induction and patterning: a dual role for the hypoblast

Several models have been proposed for the generation of the rostral nervous system. Among them, Nieuwkoop's activation/transformation hypothesis and Spemann's idea of separate head and trunk/tail organizers have been particularly favoured recently. In the mouse, the finding that the visceral endoderm (VE) is required for forebrain development has been interpreted as support for the latter model. Here we argue that the chick hypoblast is equivalent to the mouse VE, based on fate, expression of molecular markers and characteristic anterior movements around the time of gastrulation. We show that the hypoblast does not fit the criteria for a head organizer because it does not induce neural tissue from naive epiblast, nor can it change the regional identity of neural tissue. However, the hypoblast does induce transient expression of the early markers Sox3 and Otx2. The spreading of the hypoblast also directs cell movements in the adjacent epiblast, such that the prospective forebrain is kept at a distance from the organizer at the tip of the primitive streak. We propose that this movement is important to protect the forebrain from the caudalizing influence of the organizer. This dual role of the hypoblast is more consistent with the Nieuwkoop model than with the notion of separate organizers, and accommodates the available data from mouse and other vertebrates.

Axis-inducing activities and cell fates of the zebrafish organizer

We have investigated axis-inducing activities and cellular fates of the zebrafish organizer using a new method of transplantation that allows the transfer of both deep and superficial organizer tissues. Previous studies have demonstrated that the zebrafish embryonic shield possesses classically defined dorsal organizer activity. When we remove the morphologically defined embryonic shield, embryos recover and are completely normal by 24 hours post-fertilization. We find that removal of the morphological shield does not remove all goosecoid- and floating head-expressing cells, suggesting that the morphological shield does not comprise the entire organizer region. Complete removal of the embryonic shield and adjacent marginal tissue, however, leads to a loss of both prechordal plate and notochord. In addition, these embryos are cyclopean, show a significant loss of floor plate and primary motorneurons and display disrupted somite patterning. Motivated by apparent discrepancies in the literature we sought to test the axis-inducing activity of the embryonic shield. A previous study suggested that the shield is capable of only partial axis induction, specifically being unable to induce the most anterior neural tissues. Contrary to this study, we find shields can induce complete secondary axes when transplanted into host ventral germ-ring. In induced secondary axes donor tissue contributes to notochord, prechordal plate and floor plate. When explanted shields are divided into deep and superficial fragments and separately transplanted we find that deep tissue is able to induce the formation of ectopic axes with heads but lacking posterior tissues. We conclude that the deep tissue included in our transplants is important for proper head formation.

The homeobox gene Hesx1 is required in the anterior neural ectoderm for normal forebrain formation

The homeobox gene Hesx1 is expressed in the anterior visceral endoderm (AVE), anterior axial mesendoderm (AME), and anterior neural ectoderm (ANE) during early mouse embryogenesis. Previous studies have shown that Hesx1 is essential for normal murine forebrain development. Hesx1 homozygous mutants showed variable forebrain truncations ranging from mild to severe lack of forebrain tissue. Here, we have investigated the requirement of Hesx1 in the AVE, AME, and ANE using chimeric and in situ hybridization analyses to understand better the nature of the forebrain defects. Chimeric embryos composed predominantly of Hesx1(+/+) cells developing within Hesx1(-/-) visceral endoderm showed no evident forebrain abnormalities. In contrast, injection of Hesx1(-/-) ES cells into wild-type blastocysts gave rise to chimeras with forebrain defects similar to those observed in the Hesx1(-/-) mutants. RNA in situ hybridization analysis showed that the AVE and AME markers Cerrl, Lim1, and Shh were normally expressed in 6.5- and 7.5-dpc Hesx1(-/-) mutants. Expression of the ANE markers Six3 and Rax/Rx was also unperturbed in the Hesx1(-/-) mutants from late gastrula to late headfold stages. However, transcripts for both genes were markedly reduced by the early somite stage, about 24 h after Hesx1 is first expressed in the ANE. Therefore, Hesx1 seems to be required autonomously in the ANE for normal forebrain formation.

Ace/Fgf8 is required for forebrain commissure formation and patterning of the telencephalon

Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) form a large family of secreted signalling proteins that have a wide variety of roles during embryonic development. Within the central nervous system (CNS) Fgf8 is implicated in patterning neural tissue adjacent to the midbrain-hindbrain boundary. However, the roles of Fgfs in CNS tissue rostral to the midbrain are less clear. Here we examine the patterning of the forebrain in zebrafish embryos that lack functional Fgf8/Ace. We find that Ace is required for the development of midline structures in the forebrain. In the absence of Ace activity, midline cells fail to adopt their normal morphology and exhibit altered patterns of gene expression. This disruption to midline tissue leads to severe commissural axon pathway defects, including misprojections from the eye to ectopic ipsilateral and contralateral targets. Ace is also required for the differentiation of the basal telencephalon and several populations of putative telencephalic neurons but not for overall regional patterning of forebrain derivatives. Finally, we show that ace expression co-localises with anterior neural plate cells that have previously been shown to have forebrain patterning activity. Removal of these cells leads to a failure in induction of ace expression indicating that loss of Ace activity may contribute to the phenotypes observed when anterior neural plate cells are ablated. However, as ace mutant neural plate cells still retain at least some inductive activity, then other signals must also be produced by the anterior margin of the neural plate.