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A role for frizzled 3 in neural crest development
M A Deardorff1, C Tan, J P Saint-Jeannet
1Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group (School of Medicine), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|October 5, 2001
Summary
Frizzled 3 (Xfz3) specifically enhances Wnt1 (Xwnt1) signaling, a crucial pathway for neural crest development in vertebrate embryos. This study demonstrates Xfz3
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Wnt signaling pathways are essential for numerous developmental processes.
- Frizzled proteins act as Wnt receptors, mediating Wnt signaling.
- The specific roles of vertebrate Frizzled proteins in Wnt signaling are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific interactions between Wnts and Frizzled proteins using a functional assay in Xenopus.
- To investigate the role of Frizzled 3 (Xfz3) in mediating Wnt1 (Xwnt1) signaling during neural crest formation.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale functional screen in Xenopus to identify Wnt-Frizzled interactions.
- Assessing the ability of Xfz3 to induce neural crest in ectodermal explants and whole embryos.
- Evaluating the effects of Xfz3 loss-of-function (morpholino or inhibitory form) on Xwnt1-dependent neural crest induction.
Main Results:
- Signaling by Xwnt1, but not other Wnts, was specifically enhanced by Xfz3.
- Xfz3 and Xwnt1 are localized to dorsal neural tissues, suggesting a role in neural crest development.
- Xfz3 alone can induce neural crest, and it synergizes with Xwnt1 at lower expression levels.
- Loss of Xfz3 function inhibited Xwnt1-induced neural crest formation and blocked endogenous neural crest development.
Conclusions:
- Xfz3 is a specific mediator of Xwnt1 signaling.
- Xfz3 is essential for Xwnt1-dependent neural crest induction in Xenopus embryos.
- This study clarifies the specific roles of Frizzled proteins in vertebrate Wnt signaling pathways.