First published online September 12, 2006
Development 133, 1901e (2006)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
Antagonistic approach to mesoderm development
BMP signalling regulates the development of many cell types throughout
embryogenesis. Now, Miura and colleagues report that it is required during
gastrulation for the development of the paraxial mesoderm, which forms the
connective tissues of the back (see
p. 3767). To
investigate BMP signalling during gastrulation, the researchers deleted
Bmpr1a (which encodes a receptor for BMP2 and BMP4) in some epiblast
cells of mouse embryos. Whereas Bmpr1a-null embryos fail to initiate
gastrulation, in these mosaic embryos gastrulation begins normally but then
recruitment of prospective paraxial mesoderm to the primitive streak becomes
delayed. As a result, cells with paraxial mesoderm character form both in the
middle of the streak and at the anterior end where they normally form;
strikingly, multiple columns of somites develop as a result. Inhibition of FGF
signalling, however, restores the timing of prospective paraxial mesoderm
recruitment and partly rescues somite development. The researchers conclude,
therefore, that BMP and FGF signalling function antagonistically during the
development of paraxial mesoderm.
Related articles in Development:
- BMP signaling in the epiblast is required for proper recruitment of the prospective paraxial mesoderm and development of the somites
- Shigeto Miura, Shannon Davis, John Klingensmith, and Yuji Mishina
Development 2006 133: 3767-3775.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
