Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Modified Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell based Assay for Quantifying Cardiogenic Induction Efficiency
Published on: April 22, 2011
Beta-catenin directly regulates Islet1 expression in cardiovascular progenitors and is required for multiple aspects
Lizhu Lin1, Li Cui, Wenlai Zhou
1Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Abstract:
Recent studies have demonstrated that the LIM homeodomain transcription factor Islet1 (Isl1) marks pluripotent cardiovascular progenitor cells and is required for proliferation, survival, and migration of recently defined second heart field progenitors. Factors that are upstream of Isl1 in cardiovascular progenitors have not yet been defined. Here we demonstrate that beta-catenin is required for Isl1 expression in cardiac progenitors, directly regulating the Isl1 promoter. Ablation of beta-catenin in Isl1-expressing progenitors disrupts multiple aspects of cardiogenesis, resulting in embryonic lethality at E13. beta-Catenin is also required upstream of a number of genes required for pharyngeal arch, outflow tract, and/or atrial septal morphogenesis, including Tbx2, Tbx3, Wnt11, Shh, and Pitx2. Our findings demonstrate that beta-catenin signaling regulates proliferation and survival of cardiac progenitors.
Related Concept Videos
Catenins
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Cell Specific Gene Expression
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...

