An atlas of Wnt activity during embryogenesis in Xenopus tropicalis

PLoS One. 2018 Apr 19;13(4):e0193606. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193606. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Wnt proteins form a family of highly conserved secreted molecules that are critical mediators of cell-cell signaling during embryogenesis. Partial data on Wnt activity in different tissues and at different stages have been reported in frog embryos. Our objective here is to provide a coherent and detailed description of Wnt activity throughout embryo development. Using a transgenic Xenopus tropicalis line carrying a Wnt-responsive reporter sequence, we depict the spatial and temporal dynamics of canonical Wnt activity during embryogenesis. We provide a comprehensive series of in situ hybridization in whole-mount embryos and in cross-sections, from gastrula to tadpole stages, with special focus on neural tube, retina and neural crest cell development. This collection of patterns will thus constitute a valuable resource for developmental biologists to picture the dynamics of Wnt activity during development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Embryonic Development / physiology*
  • Gastrula / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Neural Crest / metabolism
  • Neural Tube / metabolism
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / physiology*
  • Xenopus / embryology*
  • Xenopus / genetics
  • Xenopus / metabolism
  • Xenopus Proteins / genetics
  • Xenopus Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Wnt Proteins
  • Xenopus Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale [https://www.frm.org/] (grant number DEQ20150331733), Funding to AHMB; Agence Nationale de la Recherche [www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr] (grant number ANR-Blanc e SVSE2 -2011-CRESTNET, ANR-15-CE13-0012-01-CRESTNETMETABO), Funding to AHMB; Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale [https://www.frm.org/] (grant number DEQ20150331739), Funding to MP. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.