New Study Reveals AP2γ as A Novel BMP Downstream Target in Ectodermal Patterning
Source:
Time: 2012-09-10
BMP inhibits neural specification and induces epidermal differentiation during ectodermal patterning of vertebrates. A new study by researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences reveals AP2γ as a novel BMP downstream target in neural and epidermal fate determination, which is helpful for understanding the mechanism of BMP functions in neural development of early embryos.
Dr. QIAO Yunbo from Prof. JING Naihe’s lab at Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sceinces reported that AP2γ, a transcription factor activator protein (AP)-2 family member, was identified as a novel target of BMP signaling. Functional analysis showed that AP2γ inhibited neural determination and promoted epidermal cell lineage during embryonic stem cell differentiation. Additionally, AP2γ knockdown partially impaired BMP effects of neural inhibition and epidermal induction, suggesting that AP2γ is a functional effector of BMP signaling pathway in ectodermal patterning.
In early chick embryo, AP2γ expression shifted from the epiblast to the future epidermal ectoderm during neural induction stage. In the future neural plate AP2γ inhibited excessive neural expansion, while it also promoted epidermal development in the surface ectoderm. Furthermore, AP2γ expression level was significantly upregulated by BMP in vivo, and AP2γ mediated BMP functions of suppressing neural plate expansion in the central epiblast and promoting epidermal commitment in periphery ectoderm. Thus, AP2γ restricts the precocious neural expansion to guarantee normal ectodermal patterning in early embryos.
This work entitled “AP2γ regulates neural and epidermal development downstream of the BMP pathway at early stages of ectodermal patterning” was published online in Cell Research on September 4th, 2012.
This study was funded by grants from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, National Natural Science Foundation of China and Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality.
CONTACT:
Prof. JING Naihe
Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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