Wnt genes and vertebrate development.

A variety of experimental approaches have underscored the critical role played by secreted polypeptide factors, such as those encoded by members of the Wnt gene family, in many aspects of vertebrate embryogenesis. Recent papers have revealed restricted patterns of Wnt gene expression that delineate important subdivisions within the early forebrain and spinal cord, demonstrated that Wnt gene products can regulate mesoderm formation and gastrulation, and investigated how Wnt protein signaling may affect cell adhesion.

Tbx12, a novel T-box gene, is expressed during early stages of heart and retinal development.

T-box genes encode transcription factors that regulate many developmental processes. We have cloned a novel mouse T-box gene, Tbx12. Tbx12 is the vertebrate homologue of the Drosophila H15 gene and the Caenorhabditis elegans tbx-12 gene. Tbx12 is expressed in extraembryonic tissues such as the amnion and allantois. In the embryo, Tbx12 is strongly expressed in the neural retina and the heart.

Wnt7a is a novel inducer of ß-catenin-independent tumor-suppressive cellular senescence in lung cancer.

Cellular senescence is an initial barrier for carcinogenesis. However, the signaling mechanisms that trigger cellular senescence are incompletely understood, particularly in vivo. Here we identify Wnt7a as a novel upstream inducer of cellular senescence. In two different mouse strains (C57Bl/6J and FVB/NJ), we show that the loss of Wnt7a is a major contributing factor for increased lung tumorigenesis owing to reduced cellular senescence, and not reduced apoptosis, or autophagy. Wnt7a-null mice under de novo conditions and in both the strains display E-cadherin-to-N-cadherin switch, reduced expression of cellular senescence markers and reduced expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype, indicating a genetic predisposition of these mice to increased carcinogen-induced lung tumorigenesis. Interestingly, Wnt7a induced an alternate senescence pathway, which was independent of ß-catenin, and distinct from that of classical oncogene-induced senescence mediated by the well-known p16(INK4a) and p19(ARF) pathways. Mechanistically, Wnt7a induced cellular senescence via inactivation of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2, an important alternate regulator of cellular senescence. Additionally, we identified Iloprost, a prostacyclin analog, which initiates downstream signaling cascades similar to that of Wnt7a, as a novel inducer of cellular senescence, presenting potential future clinical translational strategies. Thus pro-senescence therapies using either Wnt7a or its mimic, Iloprost, might represent a new class of therapeutic treatments for lung cancer.

Sexually dimorphic development of the mammalian reproductive tract requires Wnt-7a.

An important feature of mammalian development is the generation of sexually dimorphic reproductive tracts from the Müllerian and Wolffian ducts. In females, Müllerian ducts develop into the oviduct, uterus, cervix and upper vagina, whereas Wolffian ducts regress. In males, testosterone promotes differentiation of Wolffian ducts into the epididymis, vas deferens and seminal vesicle. The Sertoli cells of the testes produce Müllerian-inhibiting substance, which stimulates Müllerian duct regression in males. The receptor for Müllerian-inhibiting substance is expressed by mesenchymal cells underlying the Müllerian duct that are thought to mediate regression of the duct. Mutations that inactivate either Müllerian-inhibiting substance or its receptor allow development of the female reproductive tract in males. These pseudohermaphrodites are frequently infertile because sperm passage is blocked by the presence of the female reproductive system. Here we show that male mice lacking the signalling molecule Wnt-7a fail to undergo regression of the Müllerian duct as a result of the absence of the receptor for Müllerian-inhibiting substance. Wnt7a-deficient females are infertile because of abnormal development of the oviduct and uterus, both of which are Müllerian duct derivatives. Therefore, we propose that signalling by Wnt-7a allows sexually dimorphic development of the Müllerian ducts.

Dorsalizing signal Wnt-7a required for normal polarity of D-V and A-P axes of mouse limb.

Formation of the vertebrate limb requires specification of cell position along three axes. Proximal-distal identity is regulated by the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) at the distal tip of the growing limb. Anterior-posterior identity is controlled by signals from the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA) within the posterior limb mesenchyme. Dorsal-ventral identity is regulated by ectodermally derived signals. Recent studies have begun to identify signalling molecules that may mediate these patterning activities. Members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family are expressed in the AER and can mimic its proximal-distal signalling activity. Similarly, the gene Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is expressed in the ZPA, and Shh-expressing cells, like ZPA cells, can cause digit duplications when transplanted to the anterior limb margin. In contrast, no signal has yet been identified for the dorsal-ventral axis, although Wnt-7a is expressed in the dorsal ectoderm, suggesting that it may play such a role. To test this possibility, we have generated mice lacking Wnt-7a activity. The limb mesoderm of these mice shows dorsal-to-ventral transformations of cell fate, indicating that Wnt-7a is a dorsalizing signal. Many mutant mice also lack posterior digits, demonstrating that Wnt-7a is also required for anterior-posterior patterning. We propose that normal limb development requires interactions between the signalling systems for these two axes.

Promoter structure and protein sequence of msp130, a lipid-anchored sea urchin glycoprotein.

The early fate specification of primary mesenchyme cells in sea urchin embryos makes them an attractive system for studying alterations in gene expression and protein synthesis during cell lineage determination and differentiation. To analyze the developmental regulation of gene expression in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, we have isolated and sequenced genomic and cDNA clones encoding msp 130, a mesenchyme-specific cell surface glycoprotein. We have located the transcription initiation site of the msp130 gene and sequenced several kilobases of the promoter region. The region of the gene that encodes the protein is divided into numerous small (less than 500 base pairs) exons. The msp130 protein possesses two novel glycine-rich domains and a signal peptide, but apparently lacks a transmembrane domain. The carboxyl-terminal sequence suggests that msp130 may be phosphatidylinositol-linked to the cell membrane, and experiments with phospholipases support this conclusion. The implications of the msp130 sequence for its possible functions are discussed.

The classical mouse mutant postaxial hemimelia results from a mutation in the Wnt 7a gene.

The study of spontaneous mutations has aided the understanding of developmental processes. A large collection of spontaneous or "classical" mouse mutations has been accumulated over many decades. One of the mutations causes the postaxial hemimelia (px) phenotype, which consists of limb patterning defects accompanied by Müllerian duct-associated sterility in both sexes. We were intrigued that both the limb and the Müllerian duct px phenotypes are similar to those caused by mutations in the gene encoding the Wnt 7a signaling molecule. In this paper, we investigate the nature of the px mutation. Morphological analysis and breeding experiments demonstrate that the px phenotype indeed results from a mutation in the Wnt 7a gene. Molecular analysis demonstrates that px results from a 515-bp deletion in the Wnt 7a gene. This generates an abnormal splicing event, which ultimately produces a truncated Wnt 7a protein of half the normal size. Thus, the px mutation is predicted to be a likely null allele of the Wnt 7a gene. Our results provide another interesting example of a classical mutation that disrupts an important patterning gene in development.

Mouse Wnt genes exhibit discrete domains of expression in the early embryonic CNS and limb buds.

Mutation and expression studies have implicated the Wnt gene family in early developmental decision making in vertebrates and flies. In a detailed comparative analysis, we have used in situ hybridization of 8.0- to 9.5-day mouse embryos to characterize expression of all ten published Wnt genes in the central nervous system (CNS) and limb buds. Seven of the family members show restricted expression patterns in the brain. At least three genes (Wnt-3, Wnt-3a, and Wnt-7b) exhibit sharp boundaries of expression in the forebrain that may predict subdivisions of the region later in development. In the spinal cord, Wnt-1, Wnt-3, and Wnt-3a are expressed dorsally, Wnt-5a, Wnt-7a, and Wnt-7b more ventrally, and Wnt-4 both dorsally and in the floor plate. In the forelimb primordia, Wnt-3, Wnt-4, Wnt-6 and Wnt-7b are expressed fairly uniformly throughout the limb ectoderm. Wnt-5a RNA is distributed in a proximal to distal gradient through the limb mesenchyme and ectoderm. Along the limb's dorsal-ventral axis, Wnt-5a is expressed in the ventral ectoderm and Wnt-7a in the dorsal ectoderm. We discuss the significance of these patterns of restricted and partially overlapping domains of expression with respect to the putative function of Wnt signalling in early CNS and limb development.

Wnt7b regulates placental development in mice.

Secreted Wnt proteins regulate many developmental processes in multicellular organisms. We have generated a targeted mutation in the mouse Wnt7b gene. Homozygous Wnt7b mutant mice die at midgestation stages as a result of placental abnormalities. Wnt7b expression in the chorion is required for fusion of the chorion and allantois during placental development. The alpha4 integrin protein, required for chorioallantoic fusion, is not expressed by cells in the mutant chorion. Wnt7b also is required for normal organization of cells in the chorionic plate. Thus, Wnt7b signaling is central to the early stages of placental development in mammals.