β-catenin regulates Pax3 and Cdx2 for caudal neural tube closure and elongation

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.101550
• Publication Date: 2013-11-28T03:02:53Z
• Authors: Tianyu Zhao; Qini Gan; Arjun Stokes; Rhonda N. T. Lass...; Yongping Wang; Jason Chan; Jane X. Han; David E. Pleasure; Jonathan A. Epstein; Chengji J. Zhou
• Keywords: Convergent extension; Neural fold; FGF8; PAX3; Neurulation; Beta-catenin

Non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling plays a primary role in the convergent extension that drives neural tube closure and body axis elongation. PCP gene mutations cause severe defects (NTDs). However, of canonical Wnt/β-catenin NTDs remains poorly understood. This study shows conditional targeting β-catenin dorsal folds mouse embryos represses expression homeobox-containing genes Pax3 Cdx2 at posterior neuropore (PNP), subsequently diminishes target T, Tbx6 Fgf8 tail bud, leading to spina bifida aperta, caudal bending truncation. We demonstrate are novel downstream targets signaling. Transgenic activation cDNA can rescue defect mutants, suggesting is key effector PNP process. known be crucial elongation closure. found also repressed PNPs Pax3-null embryos. ectopically activated mutants cannot restore mRNA PNP, presence both required for regional expression. Thus, elongation, acting through transcriptional regulation PNP.