Citation:
Development. 2018 May 16. pii: dev.161372. doi: 10.1242/dev.161372. [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract:
Retinoic acid (RA) is required for pancreas specification in Xenopus and other vertebrates. However, the gene network that is directly induced by RA-signalling in this context remains to be defined. We identified the transcription factor Hnf1β and the Wnt-receptor Fzd4/Fzd4s as direct RA-target genes through RNA-sequencing of in vitro generated pancreatic explants. Functional analyses of Hnf1β and Fzd4/Fzd4s in programmed pancreatic explants and whole embryos revealed their requirement for pancreatic progenitor formation and differentiation. Hnf1β and Fzd4/Fzd4s thus appear to be involved in pre-patterning events of the embryonic endoderm allowing for pancreas formation.
Epub:
Yes
Link to Publication:
http://dev.biologists.org/content/early/2018/05/15/dev.161372
Organism or Cell Type:
Xenopus laevis
Delivery Method:
microinjection