Convergence of Wnt and FGF signals in the genesis of posterior neural plate through activation of theSox2enhancer N-1

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.02196
• Publication Date: 2005-12-15T01:14:05Z
• Authors: Tatsuya Takemoto; Masanori Uchikawa; Yusuke Kamachi; Hisato Kondoh
• Keywords: Enhancer RNAs

The expression of the transcription factor gene Sox2 precisely marks neural plate in various vertebrate species. We previously showed that prevailing chicken embryos is actually regulated by coordination five phylogenetically conserved enhancers having discrete regional coverage, among which 420-bp long enhancer N-1, active node-proximal region, probably involved directly genesis posterior plate. investigated signaling systems regulating this enhancer, first identifying 56-bp N-1 core (N-1c), a trimeric form recapitulates activity N-1. Mutational analysis identified blocks, A to E, regulate N-1c. Functional these blocks indicated Wnt and FGF signals synergistically activate through Blocks A-B, bound Lef1, Block D, respectively. Fgf8b Wnt8c expressed organizer-primitive streak region account for embryo. E essential repression N-1c mesendodermal precursors. not affected BMP signals. Thus, converge N-1c, revealing direct involvement signal initiation development.