Specification of germ layer identity in the chick gastrula
Open Access
- 30 July 2007
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in BMC Developmental Biology
- Vol. 7 (1), 91
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-213x-7-91
Abstract
Background: Chick definitive endoderm is an important source of signals that pattern the early embryo forming a central structure around which the body plan is constructed. Although the origin of definitive endoderm has been mapped in the chick, arising principally from rostral streak at elongating streak stages, it is not known when this layer first becomes fully committed to its germ layer fate, an important issue to resolve in light of its critical role in subsequent patterning of the early embryo. Results: Through gene expression screening of chick gastrula, we identified molecular markers of definitive endoderm restricted to rostral (Sox17) and caudal (Gata5/6) regions, suggesting that at least two subpopulations of definitive endodermal cells exist during ingression. We show (1) that presumptive mesoderm cells migrate to the middle layer and remain mesenchymal when transplanted to rostral primitive streak, and prospective endoderm cells enter the lower layer and become epithelial when transplanted to caudal primitive streak; and (2) that presumptive endoderm cells and mesoderm cells lose normal gene expression (Sox17 and Wnt8c, respectively) when transplanted outside of their normal position of origin. Moreover, when rostral or caudal primitive streak segments are transplanted into rostral blastoderm isolates (RBIs), both types of transplants express Sox17 4–6 hours later–consistent with their new position, regardless of their presumptive germ layer origin–and prospective mesoderm transplants, which normally express Wnt8c, turn off expression, suggesting that signals within the rostral blastoderm induce endoderm gene expression, and repress mesoderm gene expression, during gastrulation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that germ layer identity is fixed at the time populations of endoderm and mesoderm cells ingress through the primitive streak, whereas their gene expression patterns remain labile. In addition, our results show that inductive and repressive signals are present, and that these signals regulate gene expression of both ingressed endoderm and mesoderm cells. Thus, gastrula cells display elements of both pre-patterning and plasticity, with endoderm the first germ layer becoming committed to its fate during early gastrulation stages.Keywords
This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- Gene function in mouse embryogenesis: get set for gastrulationNature Reviews Genetics, 2007
- Fate and plasticity of the endoderm in the early chick embryoDevelopmental Biology, 2006
- Molecular Genetics of Axis Formation in ZebrafishAnnual Review of Genetics, 2005
- FGF8 initiates inner ear induction in chick and mouseGenes & Development, 2005
- Sox17 and β-catenin cooperate to regulate the transcription of endodermal genesDevelopment, 2004
- Zebrafish pou5f1/pou2, Homolog of Mammalian Oct4, Functions in the Endoderm Specification CascadeCurrent Biology, 2004
- Anterior identity is established in chick epiblast by hypoblast and anterior definitive endodermDevelopment, 2003
- Xhex-expressing endodermal tissues are essential for anterior patterning in XenopusMechanisms of Development, 2002
- Regulative ability of the prospective cardiogenic and vasculogenic areas of the primitive streak during avian gastrulationDevelopmental Dynamics, 1993
- Mesoderm movement and fate during avian gastrulation and neurulationDevelopmental Dynamics, 1992