Abstract
By conditional gene ablation in mice, we found that beta-catenin, an essential downstream effector of canonical Wnt signaling, is a key regulator of formation of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) and of the dorsal-ventral axis of the limbs. By generation of compound mutants, we also show that beta-catenin acts downstream of the BMP receptor IA in AER induction, but upstream or parallel in dorsal-ventral patterning. Thus, AER formation and dorsal-ventral patterning of limbs are tightly controlled by an intricate interplay between Wnt/beta-catenin and BMP receptor signaling.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Body Patterning / genetics
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
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Ectoderm / metabolism
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Extremities / embryology*
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 8
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Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism
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Hindlimb / abnormalities
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Limb Deformities, Congenital / genetics
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Mice
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Mice, Mutant Strains
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Mice, Transgenic
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Mutation
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
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Receptors, Growth Factor / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction*
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Trans-Activators / metabolism*
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Wnt Proteins
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Zebrafish Proteins*
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beta Catenin
Substances
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CTNNB1 protein, mouse
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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Fgf8 protein, mouse
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Receptors, Growth Factor
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Trans-Activators
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Wnt Proteins
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Zebrafish Proteins
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beta Catenin
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 8
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Fibroblast Growth Factors
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Bmpr1a protein, mouse
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I