The putative Wnt receptor Xenopus frizzled-7 functions upstream of β-catenin in vertebrate dorsoventral mesoderm patterning

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.127.9.1981
• Publication Date: 2021-04-23T20:21:22Z
• Authors: Saulius Sumanas; Peter Strege; Janet Heasman; Stephen C. Ekker
• Keywords: Ectopic expression; Lateral plate mesoderm; LRP6; Morpholino

ABSTRACT We have isolated one member of the frizzled family wnt receptors from Xenopus (Xfz7) to study role cell-cell communication in establishment vertebrate axis. demonstrate that this maternally encoded protein specifically synergizes with proteins ectopic axis induction. Embryos derived oocytes depleted maternal Xfz7 RNA by antisense oligonucleotide injection are deficient dorsoanterior structures. Xfz7-depleted embryos dorsal but not ventral mesoderm due reduced expression target genes siamois, Xnr3 and goosecoid. These signaling defects can be restored addition β-catenin Xwnt8b. thus functions upstream known GSK-3/axin/β-catenin intracellular complex dorsoventral specification.