PUBLICATION
Dickkopf1 and the Spemann-Mangold head organizer
- Authors
- Niehrs, C., Kazanskaya, O., Wu, W., and Glinka, A.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-010412-1
- Date
- 2001
- Source
- The International journal of developmental biology 45(1): 237-40 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Body Patterning
- Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Embryonic Induction
- Head/embryology
- Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
- Mice
- Organizers, Embryonic/physiology*
- Proteins/genetics
- Proteins/physiology*
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Wnt Proteins
- Xenopus/embryology
- Xenopus/genetics
- Xenopus Proteins
- Zebrafish/embryology
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins*
- PubMed
- 11291852
Citation
Niehrs, C., Kazanskaya, O., Wu, W., and Glinka, A. (2001) Dickkopf1 and the Spemann-Mangold head organizer. The International journal of developmental biology. 45(1):237-40.
Abstract
Work in amphibians indicates that inhibition of Wnt and BMP signals is essential for head development and that head induction by the Spemann-Mangold organizer may be mediated by secreted Wnt antagonists. Wnts are potent posteriorizing factors and antagonize the Spemann-Mangold organizer. Dickkopf1 (dkk1) encodes a secreted effector expressed in head organizing centers of Xenopus, mouse and zebrafish. It acts as a Wnt inhibitor and is able together with BMP inhibitors to induce the formation of ectopic embryonic heads in Xenopus. It anteriorizes both mesendoderm and neuroectoderm, promoting prechordal plate and forebrain fates. Injection of inhibitory antibodies leads to microcephaly and cyclopia. Dkk1 thus is an essential mediator of the vertebrate head organizer.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping