Canonical Wnt signalling from the area opaca induces and maintains the marginal zone in pre-primitive-streak stage chick embryos.

ABSTRACT: In chick embryos before primitive streak formation, the outermost extra-embryonic region, known as the area opaca (AO), was generally thought to act only by providing nutrients and mechanical support to the embryo. Immediately internal to the AO is a ring of epiblast called the marginal zone (MZ), separating the former from the inner area pellucida (AP) epiblast. The MZ does not contribute cells to any part of the embryo but is involved in determining the position of primitive streak formation from the adjacent AP epiblast. Recently, it was discovered that the AO can induce an MZ from AP epiblast. Here, we explore the nature of this inductive signal. We find that WNT8C is highly expressed in the AO, whereas canonical Wnt pathway targets are enriched in the MZ, along with strong nuclear β-c

SUBMITTER: Fadaili Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11829775 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature