Notch and Nodal control forkhead factor expression in the specification of multipotent progenitors in sea urchin
Abstract
Indirect development, in which embryogenesis gives rise to a larval form, requires that some cells retain developmental potency until they contribute to the different tissues in the adult, including the germ line, in a later, post-embryonic phase. In sea urchins, the coelomic pouches are the major contributor to the adult, but how coelomic pouch cells (CPCs) are specified during embryogenesis is unknown. Here we identify the key signaling inputs into the CPC specification network and show that the forkhead factor foxY is the first transcription factor specifically expressed in CPC progenitors. Through dissection of its cis-regulatory apparatus we determine that the foxY expression pattern is the result of two signaling inputs: first, Delta/Notch signaling activates foxY in CPC progenitors; second, Nodal signaling restricts its expression to the left side, where the adult rudiment will form, through direct repression by the Nodal target pitx2. A third signal, Hedgehog, is required for coelomic pouch morphogenesis and institution of laterality, but does not directly affect foxY transcription. Knockdown of foxY results in a failure to form coelomic pouches and disrupts the expression of virtually all transcription factors known to be expressed in this cell type. Our experiments place foxY at the top of the regulatory hierarchy underlying the specification of a cell type that maintains developmental potency.
Additional Information
© 2013 The Company of Biologists Ltd. Accepted 18 February 2013. We are grateful for support and advice from Eric Davidson in whose laboratory most of the work was performed. Many thanks to Celina Juliano and Andy Cameron for numerous insights and to Gary Wessel for Vasa antibody. Funding: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health [grant HD-037105 to Eric Davidson and 1P30GM092374-01 to J.S.]; and a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship to J.S. Deposited in PMC for release after 12 months.Attached Files
Published - 1796.full.pdf
Supplemental Material - DEV091157.pdf
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Additional details
- PMCID
- PMC3621494
- Eprint ID
- 38319
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20130507-103449017
- HD-037105
- NIH
- 1P30GM092374-01
- NIH
- California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)
- Created
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2013-05-07Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field