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Spatial response to fibroblast growth factor signalling in Xenopus embryos
1Developmental Biology Programme, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|December 3, 1998
Summary
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) drive extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) activation during Xenopus development. FGF signaling, not other growth factors, controls this process, with FGF proteins diffusing over several cell diameters.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Signaling
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway activation is crucial for cellular processes.
- Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are key signaling molecules in embryonic development.
- Understanding spatial patterns of signaling pathways provides insights into developmental mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial pattern of ERK activation during Xenopus development.
- To determine the role of FGF signaling in endogenous ERK activation.
- To explore the diffusion properties of FGFs in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Xenopus embryos for developmental studies.
- Employed dominant-negative FGF receptor to inhibit FGF signaling.
- Injected mRNA (eFGF, dominant-negative Ras) to manipulate signaling pathways.
- Observed ERK activation patterns spatially.
Main Results:
- ERK activation patterns closely mirrored FGF expression domains.
- Endogenous FGF signaling mediated ERK activation until the tailbud stage.
- ERK activation was not induced by BMP4 or activin.
- Wounding induced transient ERK activation, independent of FGF signaling.
- Injected FGF activated ERK in surrounding cells, indicating diffusion.
Conclusions:
- FGF signaling is the primary driver of ERK activation during early Xenopus development.
- Specific embryonic regions are sites of active FGF signaling.
- FGF proteins exhibit significant diffusion capacity in embryonic tissues.