Wnt5aandWnt11regulate mammalian anterior-posterior axis elongation

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.119065
• Publication Date: 2015-03-27T13:06:45Z
• Authors: Philipp Andre; Hai Song; Wantae Kim; Andreas Kispert; Yingzi Yang
• Keywords: Convergent extension; Notochord; Paraxial mesoderm; Primitive streak

Mesoderm formation and subsequent anterior-posterior (A-P) axis elongation are fundamental aspects of gastrulation, which is initiated by the primitive streak (PS). Convergent extension (CE) movements epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) important for A-P in vertebrate embryos. The evolutionarily conserved planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway regulates CE, Wnts regulate many gastrulation including CE EMT. However, Wnt ligands that mammalian development remain unknown. Wnt11 Wnt5a lower vertebrates, but only Wnt5a, not Wnt11, PCP signaling development. Here, generating Wnt5a; compound mutants, we show play redundant roles during mouse elongation. Both genes trunk notochord through PCP-controlled cells, establishing a role PCP. We required proper patterning neural tube somites regulating formation, provide evidence both generation migration axial paraxial mesodermal precursor cells Axial precursors ectopically accumulate PS at late gastrula stages Wnt5a−/−; Wnt11−/− embryos these express epithelial adhesion molecules. Our data suggest EMT inducing p38 (Mapk14) phosphorylation. findings new insights into early also cancer metastasis, plays crucial role.