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Differential expression of BMP receptors in early mouse development
B A Roelen1, M J Goumans, M A van Rooijen
1Hubrecht Laboratory, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, Utrecht.
The International Journal of Developmental Biology
|August 1, 1997
Summary
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor expression varies during early embryonic development. Different BMP receptor types are present at distinct preimplantation stages, suggesting stage-specific signaling complex formation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are crucial signaling molecules in the TGF-β superfamily.
- BMPs mediate cellular functions through interactions with type I and type II transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors.
- Understanding BMP receptor expression is key to deciphering early embryonic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of BMP type II receptor (BMPR-II) and type I receptors (ActR-I, BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB) in preimplantation mouse embryos.
- To correlate receptor expression with potential signaling complex formation during early development.
- To examine BMP receptor expression in embryonic stem cells and early postimplantation embryos.
Main Methods:
- Heminested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect mRNA expression.
- In situ hybridization was employed to analyze BMPR-II mRNA distribution in postimplantation embryos.
Main Results:
- BMPR-II and ActR-I mRNA were detected in one-cell, two-cell, and blastocyst stage embryos.
- BMPR-IA mRNA was exclusively found in blastocysts.
- BMPR-IB transcripts were present from the one-cell stage to the uncompacted morula but absent in compacted morulae and blastocysts.
- BMPR-II, BMPR-IA, and BMPR-IB mRNAs were also found in embryonal carcinoma and embryonic stem cells.
- BMPR-II expression was detected from 6.0 days post coitum in postimplantation embryos and found to be ubiquitous until midgestation.
Conclusions:
- Differential expression of BMP type I and type II receptors suggests the formation of distinct signaling complexes at various preimplantation developmental stages.
- BMP receptors are expressed in pluripotent stem cells and throughout early postimplantation development.
- These findings highlight the dynamic role of BMP signaling in early embryogenesis.