Wnt6 expression in epidermis and epithelial tissues during Xenopus organogenesis

Danielle L. Lavery, Ian R. Davenport, Yvonne D. Turnbull, Grant N. Wheeler, Stefan Hoppler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Here, we report the localization within embryonic tissues of xWnt6 protein; together with the temporal and spatial expression of Xenopus laevis Wnt6 mRNA. Wnt6 expression in Xenopus embryos is low until later stages of neurulation, when it is predominantly found in the surface ectoderm. Wnt6 expression increases during early organogenesis in the epidermis overlaying several developing organs, including the eye, heart, and pronephros. At later stages of development, Wnt6 mRNA and protein generally localize in epithelial tissues and specifically within the epithelial tissues of these developing organs. Wnt6 localization correlates closely with sites of both epithelial to mesenchymal transformations and mesenchymal to epithelial transformations. Xenopus Wnt6 sequence and its expression pattern are highly conserved with other vertebrates. Xenopus embryos, therefore, provide an excellent model system for investigating the function of vertebrate Wnt6 in organ development and regulation of tissue architecture.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)768-779
Number of pages12
JournalDevelopmental Dynamics
Volume237
Issue number3
Early online date25 Jan 2008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2008

Keywords

  • Wnt6
  • organogenesis
  • epidermis
  • ectoderm
  • epithelial
  • kidney
  • pronephros
  • pronephric tubules
  • proximal tubules
  • eye
  • lens
  • pigmented epithelial cells
  • retina
  • somites
  • gut
  • intestine
  • pharynx
  • heart
  • endocardium
  • epicardium
  • in-situ detection
  • beta-catenin
  • genes
  • laevis
  • mouse
  • pathways
  • proteins
  • mesoderm
  • pattern

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