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Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Grafting of Beads into Developing Chicken Embryo Limbs to Identify Signal Transduction Pathways Affecting Gene Expression
Published on: January 17, 2016
Diverse Fgfr1 signaling pathways and endocytic trafficking regulate early mesoderm development
James F Clark1, Philippe Soriano1
1Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029.
Abstract:
The Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway is a conserved signaling pathway required for embryonic development. Activated FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) drives multiple intracellular signaling cascade pathways, including ERK/MAPK and PI3K/AKT, collectively termed canonical signaling. However, unlike Fgfr1 null embryos, embryos containing hypomorphic mutations in Fgfr1 lacking the ability to activate canonical downstream signals are still able to develop to birth, but exhibit severe defects in all mesodermal-derived tissues. The introduction of an additional signaling mutation further reduces the activity of Fgfr1, leading to earlier lethality, reduced somitogenesis, and more severe changes in transcriptional outputs. Genes involved in migration, ECM-interaction, and phosphoinositol signaling were significantly downregulated, proteomic analysis identified changes in interactions with endocytic pathway components, and cells expressing mutant receptors show changes in endocytic trafficking. Together, we identify processes regulating early mesoderm development by mechanisms involving both canonical and non-canonical Fgfr1 pathways, including direct interaction with cell adhesion components and endocytic regulation.
Insights
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) canonical signaling is crucial for embryonic development. Non-canonical FGFR1 pathways also regulate mesoderm development through cell adhesion and endocytic trafficking.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- The Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway is essential for embryonic development.
- Activated Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) initiates canonical signaling cascades like ERK/MAPK and PI3K/AKT.
Approach:
- Studied hypomorphic mutations in Fgfr1 that impair canonical signaling but allow embryonic development.
- Investigated the effects of reduced FGFR1 activity on mesodermal tissues, somitogenesis, and gene expression.
- Utilized proteomic analysis to identify changes in protein interactions and cellular trafficking.
Key Points:
- Embryos with hypomorphic Fgfr1 mutations show severe mesodermal defects despite reaching birth.
- Reduced FGFR1 activity leads to earlier lethality, impaired somitogenesis, and altered gene expression.
- Genes regulating cell migration, extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction, and phosphoinositol signaling are downregulated.
- Proteomic analysis revealed altered interactions with endocytic pathway components and changes in endocytic trafficking.
Conclusions:
- Both canonical and non-canonical FGFR1 pathways are critical for early mesoderm development.
- Non-canonical pathways involve direct interactions with cell adhesion molecules and regulation of endocytic processes.
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