Coco regulates dorsoventral specification of germ layers via inhibition of TGFβ signalling

Thomas J. D. Bates; Alin Vonica; Janet Heasmann; Ali H. Brivanlou; Esther Bell

doi:10.1242/dev.095521

Coco regulates dorsoventral specification of germ layers via inhibition of TGFβ signalling

Thomas J. D. Bates, Alin Vonica, Janet Heasmann, Ali H. Brivanlou, Esther Bell

Developmental Neurobiology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

One of the earliest steps in embryonic development is the specification of the germ layers, the subdivision of the blastula embryo into endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. Maternally expressed members of the Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) family influence all three germ layers; the ligands are required to induce endoderm and mesoderm, whereas inhibitors are required for formation of the ectoderm. Here, we demonstrate a vital role for maternal Coco, a secreted antagonist of TGFβ signalling, in this process. We show that Coco is required to prevent Activin and Nodal signals in the dorsal marginal side of the embryo from invading the prospective ectoderm, thereby restricting endoderm- and mesoderm-inducing signals to the vegetal and marginal zones of the pre-gastrula Xenopus laevis embryo.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4177-4181
Number of pages	5
Journal	Development
Volume	140
Issue number	20
Early online date	11 Sept 2013
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.095521
Publication status	Published - 15 Oct 2013

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abstract = "One of the earliest steps in embryonic development is the specification of the germ layers, the subdivision of the blastula embryo into endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. Maternally expressed members of the Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) family influence all three germ layers; the ligands are required to induce endoderm and mesoderm, whereas inhibitors are required for formation of the ectoderm. Here, we demonstrate a vital role for maternal Coco, a secreted antagonist of TGFβ signalling, in this process. We show that Coco is required to prevent Activin and Nodal signals in the dorsal marginal side of the embryo from invading the prospective ectoderm, thereby restricting endoderm- and mesoderm-inducing signals to the vegetal and marginal zones of the pre-gastrula Xenopus laevis embryo.",

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AU - Vonica, Alin

AU - Heasmann, Janet

AU - Brivanlou, Ali H.

AU - Bell, Esther

PY - 2013/10/15

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AB - One of the earliest steps in embryonic development is the specification of the germ layers, the subdivision of the blastula embryo into endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. Maternally expressed members of the Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) family influence all three germ layers; the ligands are required to induce endoderm and mesoderm, whereas inhibitors are required for formation of the ectoderm. Here, we demonstrate a vital role for maternal Coco, a secreted antagonist of TGFβ signalling, in this process. We show that Coco is required to prevent Activin and Nodal signals in the dorsal marginal side of the embryo from invading the prospective ectoderm, thereby restricting endoderm- and mesoderm-inducing signals to the vegetal and marginal zones of the pre-gastrula Xenopus laevis embryo.

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DO - 10.1242/dev.095521

M3 - Article

SN - 0950-1991

VL - 140

SP - 4177

EP - 4181

JO - Development

JF - Development

IS - 20

ER -

Coco regulates dorsoventral specification of germ layers via inhibition of TGFβ signalling

Abstract

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