PUBLICATION

Heterochronic shift in Hox-mediated activation of sonic hedgehog leads to morphological changes during fin development

Authors
Sakamoto, K., Onimaru, K., Munakata, K., Suda, N., Tamura, M., Ochi, H., and Tanaka, M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-090417-4
Date
2009
Source
PLoS One   4(4): e5121 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Ochi, Haruki, Tanaka, Mikiko
Keywords
Embryos, Zebrafish, Limb buds, Dogfish, Messenger RNA, Hedgehog signaling, Gene expression, Vertebrates
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • Body Patterning/physiology
  • Dogfish/anatomy & histology
  • Dogfish/embryology*
  • Dogfish/genetics
  • Extremities/anatomy & histology
  • Extremities/embryology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Hedgehog Proteins/agonists
  • Hedgehog Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
  • Hedgehog Proteins/genetics
  • Hedgehog Proteins/metabolism*
  • Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism*
  • Mice
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • RNA, Messenger/metabolism
  • Signal Transduction/physiology
  • Zebrafish/anatomy & histology
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
19365553 Full text @ PLoS One
Abstract
We explored the molecular mechanisms of morphological transformations of vertebrate paired fin/limb evolution by comparative gene expression profiling and functional analyses. In this study, we focused on the temporal differences of the onset of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression in paired appendages among different vertebrates. In limb buds of chick and mouse, Shh expression is activated as soon as there is a morphological bud, concomitant with Hoxd10 expression. In dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), however, we found that Shh was transcribed late in fin development, concomitant with Hoxd13 expression. We utilized zebrafish as a model to determine whether quantitative changes in hox expression alter the timing of shh expression in pectoral fins of zebrafish embryos. We found that the temporal shift of Shh activity altered the size of endoskeletal elements in paired fins of zebrafish and dogfish. Thus, a threshold level of hox expression determines the onset of shh expression, and the subsequent heterochronic shift of Shh activity can affect the size of the fin endoskeleton. This process may have facilitated major morphological changes in paired appendages during vertebrate limb evolution.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping