Posterior Wnts Have Distinct Roles in Specification and Patterning of the Planarian Posterior Region

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Miquel Sureda-Gómez²  Eudald Pascual-Carreras²  Teresa Adell¹ 

[1] Department of Genetics and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona E-08028, Catalonia, Spain

关键词: patterning;    identity specification;    wnt signaling;    planarians;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms161125970

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The wnt signaling pathway is an intercellular communication mechanism essential in cell-fate specification, tissue patterning and regional-identity specification. A βcatenin-dependent signal specifies the AP (Anteroposterior) axis of planarians, both during regeneration of new tissues and during normal homeostasis. Accordingly, four wnts (posterior wnts) are expressed in a nested manner in central and posterior regions of planarians. We have analyzed the specific role of each posterior wnt and the possible cooperation between them in specifying and patterning planarian central and posterior regions. We show that each posterior wnt exerts a distinct role during re-specification and maintenance of the central and posterior planarian regions, and that the integration of the different wnt signals (βcatenin dependent and independent) underlies the patterning of the AP axis from the central region to the tip of the tail. Based on these findings and data from the literature, we propose a model for patterning the planarian AP axis.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.