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Published Online December 6, 2007
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1150029

Reports

Submitted on September 4, 2007
Accepted on November 28, 2007

{beta}-Catenin Defines Head Versus Tail Identity During Planarian Regeneration and Homeostasis

Kyle A. Gurley 1, Jochen C. Rink 1, Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado 1*

1 Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, 401 MREB, 20N 1900E, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado , E-mail: sanchez{at}neuro.utah.edu

Following amputation, freshwater planarians properly regenerate a head or tail from the resulting anterior or posterior wound. The mechanisms that differentiate anterior from posterior and direct the replacement of the appropriate missing body parts are unknown. Here we report that RNA interference (RNAi) of {beta}-catenin or dishevelled causes the inappropriate regeneration of a head instead of a tail at posterior amputations. Conversely, RNAi of the {beta}-catenin antagonist adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) results in the regeneration of a tail at anterior wounds. In addition, the silencing of {beta}-catenin is sufficient to transform the tail of uncut adult animals into a head. We suggest that {beta}-catenin functions as a molecular switch to specify and maintain anteroposterior (A/P) identity during regeneration and homeostasis in planarians.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The Role of Stromal Stem Cells in Tissue Regeneration and Wound Repair.
T. S. Stappenbeck and H. Miyoshi (2009)
Science 324, 1666-1669
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Smed-Evi/Wntless is required for {beta}-catenin-dependent and -independent processes during planarian regeneration.
T. Adell, E. Salo, M. Boutros, and K. Bartscherer (2009)
Development 136, 905-910
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Silencing of Smed-{beta}catenin1 generates radial-like hypercephalized planarians.
M. Iglesias, J. L. Gomez-Skarmeta, E. Salo, and T. Adell (2008)
Development 135, 1215-1221
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)