PUBLICATION

The pro-domain of the zebrafish Nodal-related protein Cyclops regulates its signaling activities

Authors
Tian, J., Andrée, B., Jones, C.M., and Sampath, K.
ID
ZDB-PUB-080630-13
Date
2008
Source
Development (Cambridge, England)   135(15): 2649-2658 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Sampath, Karuna, Tian, Jing
Keywords
Left-right asymmetry, Nodal signaling, Squint, Mature domain, Pro-domain, Zebrafish, Cyclops
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/embryology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism*
  • Lysosomes/genetics
  • Lysosomes/metabolism
  • Mutation/genetics
  • Nodal Protein
  • Nodal Signaling Ligands
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
  • Xenopus laevis
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/metabolism*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
18579681 Full text @ Development
Abstract
Nodal proteins are secreted signaling factors of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) family with essential roles in embryonic development in vertebrates. Mutations affecting the Nodal factors have severe consequences in mammals and fish. Furthermore, increased Nodal levels have been associated with melanoma tumor progression. Like other TGFbeta-related proteins, Nodal factors consist of a pro-domain and a mature domain. The pro-domain of mouse Nodal protein stabilizes its precursor. However, the mechanisms by which the pro-domains exert their activities are unknown. Here, we characterize the zebrafish Nodal-related factor Cyclops (Cyc) and find unexpected functions for the pro-domain in regulating Cyc activity. We identified a lysosome-targeting region in the Cyc pro-domain that destabilizes the precursor and restricts Cyc activity, revealing the molecular basis for the short-range signaling activities of Cyc. We show that both the pro- and mature-domains of Cyc regulate its stability. We also characterize a mutation in the pro-domain of human NODAL (hNODAL) that underlies congenital heterotaxia. Heterologous expression of mutant hNODAL increases expression of Nodal-response genes. Our studies reveal unexpected roles for the pro-domain of the Nodal factors and provide a possible mechanism for familial heterotaxia.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping