Nodal-related signals induce axial mesoderm and dorsalize mesoderm during gastrulation

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.121.11.3651
• Publication Date: 2021-04-26T02:11:34Z
• Authors: C. Michael Jones; Michael R. Kuehn; Brigid L. M. Hogan; James C. Smith; Christopher V. E....
• Keywords: Nodal signaling; Lateral plate mesoderm; Germ layer; Paraxial mesoderm

ABSTRACT Mouse embryos homozygous for a null mutation in nodal arrest development at early gastrulation and contain little or no embryonic mesoderm. Here, two Xenopus nodalrelated genes (Xnr-1 Xnr-2) are identified shown to be expressed transiently during embryogenesis, first within the vegetal region of late blastulae later marginal zone gastrulation, with enrichment dorsal lip. Xnrs mouse function as dosedependent dorsoanterior ventral mesoderm inducers whole explanted animal caps. Using plasmid vector produce Xnr proteins we show that, contrast activin other TGFβ-like molecules, Xnr-1 Xnr-2 can dorsalize explants induce muscle differentiation. signalling also rescues complete axis UV-ventralized embryos. The patterns expression, activities phenotype mutants, all argue strongly that signaling pathway involving nodal, nodal-related peptides, is an essential conserved element differentiation associated vertebrate axial patterning.