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Science 22 May 1998:
Vol. 280. no. 5367, pp. 1274 - 1277
DOI: 10.1126/science.280.5367.1274
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Reports

Distinct WNT Pathways Regulating AER Formation and Dorsoventral Polarity in the Chick Limb Bud

Mineko Kengaku, *dagger Javier Capdevila, * Concepción Rodriguez-Esteban, * Jennifer De La Peña, Randy L. Johnson, Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte, ddagger § Clifford J. Tabin §

The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) is an essential structure for vertebrate limb development. Wnt3a is expressed during the induction of the chick AER, and misexpression of Wnt3a induces ectopic expression of AER-specific genes in the limb ectoderm. The genes beta -catenin and Lef1 can mimic the effect of Wnt3a, and blocking the intrinsic Lef1 activity disrupts AER formation. Hence, Wnt3a functions in AER formation through the beta -catenin/LEF1 pathway. In contrast, neither beta -catenin nor Lef1 affects the Wnt7a-regulated dorsoventral polarity of the limb. Thus, two related Wnt genes elicit distinct responses in the same tissues by using different intracellular pathways.

M. Kengaku and C. J. Tabin, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
J. Capdevila, C. Rodriguez-Esteban, J. De La Peña, J. C. I. Belmonte, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
R. L. Johnson, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
*   These authors contributed equally to this work.

dagger    Present address: Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan.

ddagger    To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: belmonte{at}salk.edu

§   The laboratories of these authors contributed equally to this study.

The Wnt gene family encodes a group of signaling molecules that are implicated in numerous aspects of morphogenesis in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Several chick Wnt genes are expressed in a specialized epithelial structure running along the distal margin of the limb bud, called the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), which is essential for limb morphogenesis (1, 2). Wnt3a is the first of these genes to be expressed in the limb. We therefore examined the spatiotemporal pattern of expression of Wnt3a in developing limb buds with respect to that of Fgf8, the earliest known AER marker during chick development (3, 4) (Fig. 1, A through D) (5).
Fig. 1. Wnt3a induces AER gene expression and regulates AER formation. (A through D) Spatiotemporal relationship between Wnt3a and Fgf8 expression during early limb development. Images are of whole-mount in situ hybridization showing expression patterns of Wnt3a [(A) and (B)] and Fgf8 [(C) and (D)]. At stage 15, Wnt3a expression is detected in the surface ectoderm overlying the lateral plate mesoderm at approximately the level of somites 14 to 18 [between arrowheads in (A)], whereas Fgf8 expression is not detected in the limb field [between arrowheads in (C)] before stage 16 (5). As the limb buds emerge, expression of Wnt3a becomes elevated in the distal limb ectoderm forming the AER, whereas it is maintained at a lower level in the proximal dorsal ectoderm and is reduced in the proximal ventral ectoderm of the limb (8). Once the AER has formed, both Wnt3a (B) and Fgf8 (D) are primarily confined to the AER through at least stage 26. (E and F) Misexpression of Wnt3a induces ectopic expression of an AER-specific gene, Fgf8, in patches on both the dorsal and ventral ectoderm. Occasionally there are also morphological effects on the AER. In some cases, the AER appears wider in places, giving it an irregular appearance [green arrowhead in (E)]. In other cases, the AER is disrupted [red arrowhead in (F)] or ectopic AERs form, branching toward the ventral side [yellow arrowhead in (F)]. Panels show lateral views of the limbs, dorsal side up. Single- and double-color whole-mount in situ hybridizations of chick embryos were performed as described (36). The probes used were Wnt3a [372 base pairs (bp) (32)] and Fgf8 [800 bp (4)]. [View Larger Version of this Image (83K GIF file)]

Wnt3a transcripts are detected before Fgf8 transcripts in the limb field ectoderm but not in the flank outside the limb fields. Subsequently, Wnt3a expression is up-regulated in the ectoderm cells near the dorsoventral (DV) border. Fgf8 expression is initiated and then up-regulated within the region of high Wnt3a expression during AER formation. From stage 20 on, Wnt3a and Fgf8 expression are confined primarily to the mature AER. Thus, Wnt3a expression appears to presage Fgf8 expression and AER formation.

To verify the epistatic relationship between Wnt3a and Fgf8 that is suggested by the expression data, we ectopically delivered each factor to developing limb buds. We misexpressed Wnt3a in the limb ectoderm using a replication-competent retroviral vector and assayed for the expression patterns of the various AER markers (6). Misexpression of Wnt3a induced ectopic expression of AER-specific genes, including Bmp2, Fgf4, and Fgf8, in broad patchy domains in the ectoderm of nearly 100% of infected limbs (Fig. 1E) (5). However, Wnt3a expression was not induced in the ectoderm by either fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) protein or Fgf8-virus (5). This suggests that Wnt3a acts upstream of FGFs in establishing AER gene expression.

In addition to its effect on AER gene expression, Wnt3a misexpression occasionally led to disruption of the AER or to formation of an ectopic AER extending ventrally, or both (Fig. 1, E and F). These morphological effects on the AER are reminiscent of those seen after misexpression of Radical fringe (7). We therefore examined Radical fringe expression and found that it was ectopically expressed in Wnt3a-infected limbs (8). Disruption of the AER morphology was only seen in a subset of Wnt3a-infected limb buds, which is consistent with the finding that Radical fringe only affects AER formation when it is misexpressed at the earliest stages of limb development (7).

The FGFs produced in the AER are responsible for maintaining the proliferative state of the undifferentiated mesoderm at the distal tip of the limb bud, the progress zone (PZ) (1). To verify that the FGFs induced in the limb bud ectoderm by Wnt3a are functional signals, we examined the expression of several PZ markers: Fgf10 (9), Msx1 (10), Nmyc (11), and Slug (12). Equivalent results were obtained with each of these markers (Fig. 2) (8). When the AERs were removed from experimental limb buds, expression of the PZ markers was rapidly lost (Fig. 2, C and D). Application of Wnt3a-expressing cells to the AER-deprived limbs induced Fgf8 expression and restored expression of the PZ markers (Fig. 2, E and F). To show that this response was due to the ectopic expression of FGFs and not to a direct action of Wnt3a itself, we removed the adjacent distal ectoderm as well as the AER so that the Wnt3a cells could not induce ectodermal Fgf8 expression (Fig. 2G). Under these conditions, Wnt3a induced little or no expression of the PZ genes (Fig. 2H). The maintenance of the PZ is critical for outgrowth of the limb bud. The long-term effects of virally mediated Wnt3a misexpression, and consequent ectopic FGF production by the ectoderm, included some cases in which extra outgrowth formed digitlike structures (5). Wnt3a thus appears to influence both morphological AER formation and induction of AER-specific genes in the early limb bud.

Fig. 2. Induction of PZ gene expression by Wnt3a requires the ectoderm expressing Fgf8. Embryos were manipulated at stage 20 and harvested after 24 hours for in situ hybridization for Fgf8 [(A), (C), (E), and (G)] and Fgf10 (probed with a 555-bp fragment; a gift from H. Ohuchi) [(B), (D), (F), and (H)]. (A and B) Normal expression patterns in the contralateral limbs. Fgf8 (A) is specifically expressed in the AER, whereas Fgf10 (B) is strongly expressed in the PZ. (C and D) The AERs were removed with fine tungsten needles and forceps and replaced with control line 0 cell pellets fixed with a platinum staple at the distal rim of the mesoderm. In the absence of the AER, there is no expression of Fgf8 (C) or of other members of the Fgf family, and expression of Fgf10 disappears within 20 hours (D). (E and F) The AERs were removed and replaced with Wnt3a cell pellets. (E) Wnt3a induces Fgf8 expression (purple staining) in the ectoderm adjacent to implanted cell pellets expressing Wnt3a (pink staining pointed to by an arrow, reflecting a second hybridization with a 900-bp probe detecting the viral vector). (F) Expression of Fgf10 is restored in the distal mesenchyme next to Wnt3a cell pellets. (G and H) The limb buds were denuded of the distal ectoderm on both the dorsal and the ventral sides as well as the AERs, and then Wnt3a cell pellets were implanted. The proximal ectoderm was left intact. Wnt3a cell pellets induced neither Fgf8 (G) nor Fgf10 expression (H). [View Larger Version of this Image (55K GIF file)]

The members of the vertebrate Wnt gene family have been categorized by their relative ability to transform murine mammary epithelial cells (13). A similar classification can be made on the basis of the ability to promote axis duplications in early Xenopus embryos (14). Yet even Wnt genes categorized into the same functional group can play distinct roles during limb development. During the period of AER formation, Wnt7a, which is placed in the same highly transforming axis-duplicating class as Wnt3a, is exclusively expressed in the dorsal limb ectoderm (15, 16) and functions as the signal for DV patterning in the distal limb (17-19). In early stages of limb development, expression domains of Wnt3a and Wnt7a overlap in the dorsal ectoderm. To assess whether the two Wnt family genes are functionally redundant, we compared their abilities to induce expression of AER markers and affect DV patterning. Early limb buds were infected with either Wnt3a or Wnt7a virus (5) and examined for Fgf8 expression (Fig. 3, A, C, and E). Unlike misexpression of Wnt3a, misexpression of Wnt7a never affected the expression pattern of Fgf8 or the morphology of the AER, which suggests that Wnt7a is not involved in AER formation. The effects of Wnt3a and Wnt7a on DV patterning were assayed by monitoring expression of the dorsal mesenchymal marker Lmx1 (Fig. 3B). Misexpression of Wnt7a induced strong ectopic expression of Lmx1 in the distal half of ventral mesenchyme (Fig. 3F), and produced a biconvex-shaped limb bud, in contrast to the normal ventrally curving limb bud morphology (Fig. 3, B and F) (17, 18). Wnt3a misexpression did not produce the morphological bidorsal phenotype and had little or no effect on Lmx1 expression (Fig. 3D).

Fig. 3. WNT3a and WNT7a elicit distinct activities that are differentially mediated by beta -catenin. Embryos were infected with virus carrying Wnt3a [(C) and (D)], Wnt7a (16) [(E) and (F)], or an activated form of beta -catenin (6) [(G) and (H)] at stage 10 and harvested at stage 24 to analyze expression of Fgf8 [(A), (C), (E) and (G)] and Lmx1 (17) [(B), (D), (F), and (H)]. The different viruses all resulted in comparable infections, spread throughout the limb ectoderm and mesoderm (5). Ectodermal targets are, in general, induced in a patchy pattern, whereas mesodermal targets are more uniformly induced, perhaps reflecting the relative kinetics of viral spread in the two tissues. (A and B) Normal expression of Fgf8 and Lmx1. Fgf8 expression is ectopically induced in the limb ectoderm by Wnt3a (C) in nearly 100% of infections, but never by Wnt7a (E). In contrast, Lmx1 expression is strongly induced throughout the ventral mesenchyme by Wnt7a in nearly 100% of infections (F) but not by Wnt3a (D). (D) In 20 to 30% of infected limbs, Wnt3a induces patchy weak expression in the ventral mesenchyme and shifts the distal border of Lmx1 expression slightly ventral to the AER (5), which appeared to be correlated with the formation of widened and ectopic AERs. Activated beta -catenin is able to mimic Wnt3a in inducing ectopic Fgf8 expression in the dorsal and the ventral ectoderm (G) and both the punctate ventral expression and the ventral shift in the distal border of Lmx1 expression (H) (5) at a comparable frequency. However, activated beta -catenin does not induce strong ventral expression of the Wnt7a target Lmx1 in the mesenchyme. [View Larger Version of this Image (50K GIF file)]

To understand how these two Wnt genes elicit distinct responses, we investigated whether Wnt3a and Wnt7a act through the same signaling pathway. In other systems, signaling by the highly transforming Wnt genes, including Wnt3a, has been shown to be transduced by preventing degradation of cytoplasmic beta -catenin, a protein that is ubiquitously expressed in vertebrate embryos (20-22). We misexpressed an activated mutant form of beta -catenin (20, 23, 24) in limb buds (5) and found that beta -catenin activity simulated the effect of Wnt3a but not of Wnt7a. Misexpression of the activated form of beta -catenin induced ectopic expression of Fgf8 (Fig. 3G) and expression of other AER markers, including Fgf4 and Bmp2, in the ectoderm and up-regulated the downstream PZ markers Msx1 and Nmyc in the mesoderm (8). In contrast, misexpression of beta -catenin did not induce the strong mesenchymal expression of Lmx1 seen in response to Wnt7a (Fig. 3H). Moreover, like Wnt3a-infected limb buds, activated beta -catenin-infected limbs retain a concave ventral morphology in contrast to the biconvex morphology of Wnt7a-infected ones (Fig. 3, D, F, and H). Thus, Wnt3a and Wnt7a function in limb morphogenesis through beta -catenin-dependent and -independent pathways, respectively.

beta -catenin forms a complex with members of the LEF/XTCF family to activate transcription of downstream genes (25-28). To explore the possible involvement of LEF in WNT3a signaling, we cloned a chick homolog of Lef1. Lef1 is strongly expressed in the AER and distal mesenchyme of the chick limb primordia (Fig. 4A). In addition to the limb buds, intense expression is observed in the developing medial somites and in the tail bud (8), both of which are regions believed to be targets of Wnt3a signaling (29, 30).

Fig. 4. LEF1 mediates signaling by WNT3a but not WNT7a. (A) Expression of chick Lef1 in a stage-23 limb bud. (B and C) Lef1 expression is enhanced and ectopically induced in the entire limb bud by Wnt3a misexpression [(B), dorsal view] but not by Wnt7a misexpression (C). (D) Misexpression of Lef1 in the limb bud induces ectopic expression of Fgf8 (arrowheads). (E) Blocking Lef1 activity by Delta Lef1 misexpression suppresses Fgf8 expression in the AER and disrupts formation of the morphological AER. Gaps in Fgf8 expression (between arrowheads) are seen where the morphological AER is disrupted. Limb outgrowth at the gaps is markedly retarded. (F) Expression of Lmx1 in the dorsal mesenchyme is not suppressed by misexpression of Delta Lef1 in the infected limb, which is reduced in size because of disruption of the AER. The full-length chick Lef1 gene was cloned by screening a cDNA library of a chick limb bud at stage 20 to 22 under reduced stringency conditions by hybridization with an approximately 1.0-kb Lef1 mouse cDNA. The full-length sequence has been deposited in the GenBank database under accession number A-F 064462. The entire coding frame of chick Lef1 and the deletion mutant of chick Lef1 deprived of 31 NH2-terminal amino acids (Delta Lef1) were cloned into RCAS(BP)A as described in (6). [View Larger Version of this Image (54K GIF file)]

To examine whether Wnt3a regulates Lef1 expression during chick development, embryos were injected with Wnt3a virus at stage 10 and assayed for Lef1 expression at stages 22 to 24. Misexpression of Wnt3a markedly enhanced Lef1 expression in both the ectoderm and mesoderm of the limb bud and also in the tail bud (Fig. 4B) (8). Misexpression of Wnt7a had no effect on Lef1 expression (Fig. 4C). Thus, Lef1 is a specific target of WNT3a signaling.

To test whether the up-regulation of Lef1 mediates the WNT3a effects on AER marker genes, we misexpressed a retrovirus carrying Lef1 in the ectoderm of developing limb buds. Fgf8 expression was ectopically induced in the infected limb ectoderm (Fig. 4D). However, like Wnt3a and beta -catenin, Lef1 was unable to mimic the ability of Wnt7a to induce Lmx1 expression (8).

To assess whether LEF1 activity is necessary for the induction of AER morphogenesis by WNT3a, we constructed a retrovirus carrying a deleted form of Lef1 cDNA (Delta Lef1) that binds to DNA but not to beta -catenin, thereby blocking intrinsic Lef1 activity as a dominant negative mutant (27, 28). Misexpression of Delta Lef1 disrupted the AER and subsequently perturbed normal growth of the underlying mesenchyme, resulting in severe defects in limb outgrowth and patterning (Fig. 4E). However, expression of the WNT7a target Lmx1 was not suppressed by misexpression of Delta Lef1 (Fig. 4F). Thus the beta -catenin/LEF1 pathway is necessary and sufficient to induce a WNT3a response but not a WNT7a response.

Apparently, Lef1 is both a target and a mediator of WNT3a signaling. In the early Xenopus embryo, the preexisting level of the Lef1 homolog XTCF3 is effectively saturating (25, 27). In contrast, we find that in the chick limb bud, increased expression of LEF1 activates Wnt3a targets. Obviously, ectodermal cells must be capable of responding to WNT3a before LEF1 up-regulation. This could be mediated by the low preexisting levels of LEF1, which we observe throughout the ectoderm, in which case the LEF1 induction would constitute a positively reinforcing feedback loop. Alternatively, the induction of Lef1 could be supported by another member of the LEF1 family (31).

Our results suggest that WNT3A/beta -catenin/LEF1 signaling plays a key role in endogenous chick AER formation. Surprisingly, Wnt3a is neither expressed in the AER nor implicated in its formation during mouse limb development (15, 30). Several other Wnt genes have also been shown to be expressed differentially between mouse and chick embryos, both in the developing central nervous system and in limb buds, including some in the murine AER (15, 32). Different Wnt genes could substitute for one another as long as they activate the same intracellular signaling pathway mediated by beta -catenin/LEF1. It is therefore probable that another species of Wnt that is expressed in the mouse AER plays the same role as Wnt3a in the chick.

Both WNT3a and WNT7a proteins act, at least in part, on the mesoderm, where they activate distinct targets; WNT3a induces Lef1 whereas WNT7a induces Lmx1, which implies that receptors for both factors must be present on the surface of mesenchymal cells. In spite of previous data suggesting that all members of the highly transforming class of Wnt genes act through beta -catenin, our results indicate that the induction of Lmx1 expression by WNT7a signaling is not mediated by beta -catenin and LEF1. Precedent exists for more divergent Wnt genes, such as Wnt5a, to act through distinct signaling cascades (33). Transcriptional activation of downstream genes by distinct WNT pathways allows for their different inductive roles in the same tissue during development.

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26 November 1997; accepted 21 April 1998


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D. Spater, T. P. Hill, R. J. O'Sullivan, M. Gruber, D. A. Conner, and C. Hartmann (2006)
Development 133, 3039-3049
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Differential Expression Patterns of Wnt and {beta}-Catenin/TCF Target Genes in the Uterus of Immature Female Rats Exposed to 17{alpha}-Ethynyl Estradiol.
S. Katayama, K. Ashizawa, T. Fukuhara, M. Hiroyasu, Y. Tsuzuki, H. Tatemoto, T. Nakada, and K. Nagai (2006)
Toxicol. Sci. 91, 419-430
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Multiple roles of mesenchymal {beta}-catenin during murine limb patterning.
T. P. Hill, M. M. Taketo, W. Birchmeier, and C. Hartmann (2006)
Development 133, 1219-1229
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Increased Wnt signaling triggers oncogenic conversion of human breast epithelial cells by a Notch-dependent mechanism.
A. Ayyanan, G. Civenni, L. Ciarloni, C. Morel, N. Mueller, K. Lefort, A. Mandinova, W. Raffoul, M. Fiche, G. P. Dotto, et al. (2006)
PNAS 103, 3799-3804
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The dissociation of the Fgf-feedback loop controls the limbless state of the neck.
C. Lours and S. Dietrich (2005)
Development 132, 5553-5564
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
{beta}-Catenin-dependent Wnt signalling controls the epithelial organisation of somites through the activation of paraxis.
C. Linker, C. Lesbros, J. Gros, L. W. Burrus, A. Rawls, and C. Marcelle (2005)
Development 132, 3895-3905
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt-7a Up-regulates Matrix Metalloproteinase-12 Expression and Promotes Cell Proliferation in Corneal Epithelial Cells during Wound Healing.
J. Lyu and C.-K. Joo (2005)
J. Biol. Chem. 280, 21653-21660
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Developmental Regulation of Wnt/{beta}-Catenin Signals Is Required for Growth Plate Assembly, Cartilage Integrity, and Endochondral Ossification.
Y. Tamamura, T. Otani, N. Kanatani, E. Koyama, J. Kitagaki, T. Komori, Y. Yamada, F. Costantini, S. Wakisaka, M. Pacifici, et al. (2005)
J. Biol. Chem. 280, 19185-19195
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 1 Modulates Glucocorticoid Attenuation of Osteogenic Activities and Bone Mass.
F.-S. Wang, C.-L. Lin, Y.-J. Chen, C.-J. Wang, K. D. Yang, Y.-T. Huang, Y.-C. Sun, and H.-C. Huang (2005)
Endocrinology 146, 2415-2423
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) Is Regulated by Wnt and Bone Morphogenetic Proteins Signaling in Osteoblast Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
Q. Luo, Q. Kang, W. Si, W. Jiang, J. K. Park, Y. Peng, X. Li, H. H. Luu, J. Luo, A. G. Montag, et al. (2004)
J. Biol. Chem. 279, 55958-55968
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Canonical Wnt activity regulates trunk neural crest delamination linking BMP/noggin signaling with G1/S transition.
T. Burstyn-Cohen, J. Stanleigh, D. Sela-Donenfeld, and C. Kalcheim (2004)
Development 131, 5327-5339
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sp8 and Sp9, two closely related buttonhead-like transcription factors, regulate Fgf8 expression and limb outgrowth in vertebrate embryos.
Y. Kawakami, C. R. Esteban, T. Matsui, J. Rodriguez-Leon, S. Kato, and J. C. I. Belmonte (2004)
Development 131, 4763-4774
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt-7a Causes Loss of Differentiated Phenotype and Inhibits Apoptosis of Articular Chondrocytes via Different Mechanisms.
S.-G. Hwang, J.-H. Ryu, I.-C. Kim, E.-H. Jho, H.-C. Jung, K. Kim, S.-J. Kim, and J.-S. Chun (2004)
J. Biol. Chem. 279, 26597-26604
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Wnt/{beta}-catenin pathway directs neuronal differentiation of cortical neural precursor cells.
Y. Hirabayashi, Y. Itoh, H. Tabata, K. Nakajima, T. Akiyama, N. Masuyama, and Y. Gotoh (2004)
Development 131, 2791-2801
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
nemo-like kinase is an essential co-activator of Wnt signaling during early zebrafish development.
C. J. Thorpe and R. T. Moon (2004)
Development 131, 2899-2909
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt5a is required for proper epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in the uterus.
M. Mericskay, J. Kitajewski, and D. Sassoon (2004)
Development 131, 2061-2072
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Finger or toe: the molecular basis of limb identity.
M. Logan (2003)
Development 130, 6401-6410
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
mBtd is required to maintain signaling during murine limb development.
D. Treichel, F. Schock, H. Jackle, P. Gruss, and A. Mansouri (2003)
Genes & Dev. 17, 2630-2635
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Transforming Growth Factor-{beta}-mediated Chondrogenesis of Human Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells Involves N-cadherin and Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase and Wnt Signaling Cross-talk.
R. Tuli, S. Tuli, S. Nandi, X. Huang, P. A. Manner, W. J. Hozack, K. G. Danielson, D. J. Hall, and R. S. Tuan (2003)
J. Biol. Chem. 278, 41227-41236
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Dissimilar regulation of cell differentiation in mesencephalic (cranial) and sacral (trunk) neural crest cells in vitro.
A. Abzhanov, E. Tzahor, A. B. Lassar, and C. J. Tabin (2003)
Development 130, 4567-4579
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
WNT7a induces E-cadherin in lung cancer cells.
T. Ohira, R. M. Gemmill, K. Ferguson, S. Kusy, J. Roche, E. Brambilla, C. Zeng, A. Baron, L. Bemis, P. Erickson, et al. (2003)
PNAS 100, 10429-10434
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Genetic interaction between Wnt/{beta}-catenin and BMP receptor signaling during formation of the AER and the dorsal-ventral axis in the limb.
N. Soshnikova, D. Zechner, J. Huelsken, Y. Mishina, R. R. Behringer, M. M. Taketo, E. B. Crenshaw III, and W. Birchmeier (2003)
Genes & Dev. 17, 1963-1968
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt signalling regulates myogenic differentiation in the developing avian wing.
K. Anakwe, L. Robson, J. Hadley, P. Buxton, V. Church, S. Allen, C. Hartmann, B. Harfe, T. Nohno, A. M. C. Brown, et al. (2003)
Development 130, 3503-3514
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The zebrafish fgf24 mutant identifies an additional level of Fgf signaling involved in vertebrate forelimb initiation.
S. Fischer, B. W. Draper, and C. J. Neumann (2003)
Development 130, 3515-3524
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Synergistic Cooperation between the {beta}-Catenin Signaling Pathway and Steroidogenic Factor 1 in the Activation of the Mullerian Inhibiting Substance Type II Receptor.
A. Hossain and G. F. Saunders (2003)
J. Biol. Chem. 278, 26511-26516
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt Regulation of Progenitor Maturation in the Cortex Depends on Shh or Fibroblast Growth Factor 2.
J. Viti, A. Gulacsi, and L. Lillien (2003)
J. Neurosci. 23, 5919-5927
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Tbx5 and Tbx4 trigger limb initiation through activation of the Wnt/Fgf signaling cascade.
J. K. Takeuchi, K. Koshiba-Takeuchi, T. Suzuki, M. Kamimura, K. Ogura, and T. Ogura (2003)
Development 130, 2729-2739
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt signaling mediates reorientation of outer hair cell stereociliary bundles in the mammalian cochlea.
A. Dabdoub, M. J. Donohue, A. Brennan, V. Wolf, M. Montcouquiol, D. A. Sassoon, J.-C. Hseih, J. S. Rubin, P. C. Salinas, and M. W. Kelley (2003)
Development 130, 2375-2384
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Two tcf3 genes cooperate to pattern the zebrafish brain.
R. I. Dorsky, M. Itoh, R. T. Moon, and A. Chitnis (2003)
Development 130, 1937-1947
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Cellular Signaling in Developmental Chondrogenesis: N-Cadherin, Wnts, and BMP-2.
R. S. Tuan (2003)
J. Bone Joint Surg. Am. 85, 137-141
   Full Text »
A role for the mesenchymal T-box gene Brachyury in AER formation during limb development.
C. Liu, E. Nakamura, V. Knezevic, S. Hunter, K. Thompson, and S. Mackem (2003)
Development 130, 1327-1337
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt regulation of chondrocyte differentiation.
V. Church, T. Nohno, C. Linker, C. Marcelle, and P. Francis-West (2003)
J. Cell Sci. 115, 4809-4818
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The limb identity gene Tbx5 promotes limb initiation by interacting with Wnt2b and Fgf10.
J. K. Ng, Y. Kawakami, D. Buscher, A. Raya, T. Itoh, C. M. Koth, C. R. Esteban, J. Rodriguez-Leon, D. M. Garrity, M. C. Fishman, et al. (2003)
Development 129, 5161-5170
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt2b controls retinal cell differentiation at the ciliary marginal zone.
F. Kubo, M. Takeichi, and S. Nakagawa (2003)
Development 130, 587-598
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Tbx5 is essential for forelimb bud initiation following patterning of the limb field in the mouse embryo.
P. Agarwal, J. N. Wylie, J. Galceran, O. Arkhitko, C. Li, C. Deng, R. Grosschedl, and B. G. Bruneau (2003)
Development 130, 623-633
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Ectodermal Wnt3/beta -catenin signaling is required for the establishment and maintenance of the apical ectodermal ridge.
J. R. Barrow, K. R. Thomas, O. Boussadia-Zahui, R. Moore, R. Kemler, M. R. Capecchi, and A. P. McMahon (2003)
Genes & Dev. 17, 394-409
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt-3A/beta -Catenin Signaling Induces Transcription from the LEF-1 Promoter.
M. Filali, N. Cheng, D. Abbott, V. Leontiev, and J. F. Engelhardt (2002)
J. Biol. Chem. 277, 33398-33410
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt-3A Enhances Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2-mediated Chondrogenesis of Murine C3H10T1/2 Mesenchymal Cells.
L. Fischer, G. Boland, and R. S. Tuan (2002)
J. Biol. Chem. 277, 30870-30878
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Functional Diversity of Xenopus Lymphoid Enhancer Factor/T-cell Factor Transcription Factors Relies on Combinations of Activating and Repressing Elements.
D. Gradl, A. Konig, and D. Wedlich (2002)
J. Biol. Chem. 277, 14159-14171
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification of a Wnt/{beta}-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Human Thyroid Cells.
K. Helmbrecht, A. Kispert, R. von Wasielewski, and G. Brabant (2001)
Endocrinology 142, 5261-5266
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
BMP controls proximodistal outgrowth, via induction of the apical ectodermal ridge, and dorsoventral patterning in the vertebrate limb.
S. Pizette, C. Abate-Shen, and L. Niswander (2001)
Development 128, 4463-4474
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Interactions between Wnt and Vg1 signalling pathways initiate primitive streak formation in the chick embryo.
I. Skromne and C. D. Stern (2001)
Development 128, 2915-2927
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Difference in XTcf-3 dependency accounts for change in response to {beta}-catenin-mediated Wnt signalling in Xenopus blastula.
F. S. Hamilton, G. N. Wheeler, and S. Hoppler (2001)
Development 128, 2063-2073
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Inhibition of Wnt activity induces heart formation from posterior mesoderm.
M. J. Marvin, G. Di Rocco, A. Gardiner, S. M. Bush, and A. B. Lassar (2001)
Genes & Dev. 15, 316-327
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Signaling Specificity by Frizzled Receptors in Drosophila.
M. Boutros, J. Mihaly, T. Bouwmeester, and M. Mlodzik (2000)
Science 288, 1825-1828
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Two lineage boundaries coordinate vertebrate apical ectodermal ridge formation.
R. A. Kimmel, D. H. Turnbull, V. Blanquet, W. Wurst, C. A. Loomis, and A. L. Joyner (2000)
Genes & Dev. 14, 1377-1389
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Wnt signaling maintains the hair-inducing activity of the dermal papilla.
J. Kishimoto, R. E. Burgeson, and B. A. Morgan (2000)
Genes & Dev. 14, 1181-1185
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Special Feature: Wnt/Shh interactions regulate ectodermal boundary formation during mammalian tooth development.
L. Sarkar, M. Cobourne, S. Naylor, M. Smalley, T. Dale, and P. T. Sharpe (2000)
PNAS 97, 4520-4524
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase II Is Stimulated by Wnt and Frizzled Homologs and Promotes Ventral Cell Fates in Xenopus.
M. Kuhl, L. C. Sheldahl, C. C. Malbon, and R. T. Moon (2000)
J. Biol. Chem. 275, 12701-12711
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evidence that members of the Cut/Cux/CDP family may be involved in AER positioning and polarizing activity during chick limb development.
A. Tavares, T Tsukui, and J. Izpisua Belmonte (2000)
Development 127, 5133-5144
   Abstract »    PDF »
The WNT antagonist cSFRP2 modulates programmed cell death in the developing hindbrain.
D. Ellies, V Church, P Francis-West, and A Lumsden (2000)
Development 127, 5285-5295
   Abstract »    PDF »
Expression of (beta)-catenin in the developing chick myotome is regulated by myogenic signals.
M Schmidt, M Tanaka, and A Munsterberg (2000)
Development 127, 4105-4113
   Abstract »    PDF »
Jun mediates Frizzled-induced R3/R4 cell fate distinction and planar polarity determination in the Drosophila eye.
U Weber, N Paricio, and M Mlodzik (2000)
Development 127, 3619-3629
   Abstract »    PDF »
Dual roles of Wnt signaling during chondrogenesis in the chicken limb.
C Hartmann and C. Tabin (2000)
Development 127, 3141-3159
   Abstract »    PDF »
Combinatorial signaling through BMP receptor IB and GDF5: shaping of the distal mouse limb and the genetics of distal limb diversity.
S. Baur, J. Mai, and S. Dymecki (2000)
Development 127, 605-619
   Abstract »    PDF »
Activation of a Frizzled-2/beta -adrenergic receptor chimera promotes Wnt signaling and differentiation of mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells via Galpha o and Galpha t.
X. Liu, T. Liu, D. C. Slusarski, J. Yang-Snyder, C. C. Malbon, R. T. Moon, and H.-y. Wang (1999)
PNAS 96, 14383-14388
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Activation of Rat Frizzled-1 Promotes Wnt Signaling and Differentiation of Mouse F9 Teratocarcinoma Cells via Pathways That Require Galpha q and Galpha o Function.
T. Liu, X. Liu, H.-y. Wang, R. T. Moon, and C. C. Malbon (1999)
J. Biol. Chem. 274, 33539-33544
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification of a Domain of Axin That Binds to the Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatase 2A and a Self-binding Domain.
W. Hsu, L. Zeng, and F. Costantini (1999)
J. Biol. Chem. 274, 3439-3445
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt-7a in feather morphogenesis: involvement of anterior-posterior asymmetry and proximal-distal elongation demonstrated with an in vitro reconstitution model.
R. Widelitz, T. Jiang, C. Chen, N. Stott, and C. Chuong (1999)
Development 126, 2577-2587
   Abstract »    PDF »
Control of digit formation by activin signalling.
R Merino, D Macias, Y Ganan, J Rodriguez-Leon, A. Economides, C Rodriguez-Esteban, J. Izpisua-Belmonte, and J. Hurle (1999)
Development 126, 2161-2170
   Abstract »    PDF »
A developmental pathway controlling outgrowth of the Xenopus tail bud.
C. Beck and J. Slack (1999)
Development 126, 1611-1620
   Abstract »    PDF »
Differential recruitment of Dishevelled provides signaling specificity in the planar cell polarity and Wingless signaling pathways.
J. D. Axelrod, J. R. Miller, J. M. Shulman, R. T. Moon, and N. Perrimon (1998)
Genes & Dev. 12, 2610-2622
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Lhx2, a vertebrate homologue of apterous, regulates vertebrate limb outgrowth.
C Rodriguez-Esteban, J. Schwabe, J. Pena, D. Rincon-Limas, J Magallon, J Botas, and J. Belmonte (1998)
Development 125, 3925-3934
   Abstract »    PDF »


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