Abstract
Genetic analyses in Drosophila have demonstrated that the multipass membrane protein Smoothened (Smo) is essential for all Hedgehog signaling. We show that Smo acts epistatic to Ptc1 to mediate Shh and Ihh signaling in the early mouse embryo. Smo and Shh/Ihh compound mutants have identical phenotypes: embryos fail to turn, arresting at somite stages with a small, linear heart tube, an open gut and cyclopia. The absence of visible left/right (L/R) asymmetry led us to examine the pathways controlling L/R situs. We present evidence consistent with a model in which Hedgehog signaling within the node is required for activation of Gdf1, and induction of left-side determinants. Further, we demonstrate an absolute requirement for Hedgehog signaling in sclerotomal development and a role in cardiac morphogenesis.[Dedicated to Rosa Beddington, a pioneer in mammalian embryology].
MeSH Terms
Animals
Body Patterning
DNA-Binding Proteins
Drosophila Proteins
Embryo, Mammalian/embryology,metabolism
Embryonic Induction
Epistasis, Genetic
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Growth Differentiation Factor 1
Growth Substances/genetics
Heart/embryology,physiology
Hedgehog Proteins
Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5
Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
In Situ Hybridization
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Membrane Proteins/genetics
Mice
Models, Biological
Muscle Proteins/genetics
Mutation/genetics
Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5
Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
Patched Receptors
Patched-1 Receptor
Proteins/genetics,metabolism
RNA, Messenger/genetics,metabolism
Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics,metabolism
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
Signal Transduction
Smoothened Receptor
Somites/metabolism
Trans-Activators
Transcription Factors/genetics
Xenopus Proteins
Chemicals
CFC1 protein, human
Cfc1 protein, mouse
DNA-Binding Proteins
Drosophila Proteins
Gdf1 protein, mouse
Growth Differentiation Factor 1
Growth Substances
Hedgehog Proteins
Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5
Homeodomain Proteins
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Membrane Proteins
Muscle Proteins
Myf5 protein, mouse
Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5
NKX2-5 protein, human
Nerve Tissue Proteins
Nkx2-5 protein, mouse
Patched Receptors
Patched-1 Receptor
Proteins
Ptch1 protein, mouse
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Cell Surface
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
SHH protein, human
Smo protein, mouse
Smoothened Receptor
Trans-Activators
Transcription Factors
Xenopus Proteins
smo protein, Drosophila
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Zhang X M
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Biolabs, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Ramalho-Santos M
McMahon A P