Characterisation of the fibroblast growth factor dependent transcriptome in early development

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Stem Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signaling is crucial for animal development, mesoderm patterning, and embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and differentiation.
• Understanding FGF's role in early development is essential for comprehending fundamental biological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify transcriptional targets of FGF signaling during early development in Xenopus laevis.
• To elucidate the role of FGF signaling in regulating gene expression in early embryonic tissues.

Main Methods:

• Gene expression analysis in Xenopus embryos with inhibited FGF signaling using dominant-negative FGF receptors.
• Identification of positively and negatively regulated genes by FGF signaling.

Main Results:

• Identified 67 positively and 16 negatively regulated FGF target genes during the late blastula to early gastrula stages.
• FGF target genes are expressed in the early mesoderm, dorsal ectoderm, and Spemann organizer.
• FGF targets MKP1 and DUSP5 negatively regulate FGF signaling, and pluripotency factors FoxD3 and Lin28 are downregulated upon FGF inhibition.

Conclusions:

• A robust dataset of FGF target genes was generated, highlighting a significant role in Spemann organizer function.
• FGF targets MKP1 and DUSP5 are involved in feedback loops modulating FGF signaling.
• FGF signaling is linked to the regulation of pluripotency factors in early development.