Tailbud-derived Bmp4 drives proliferation and inhibits maturation of zebrafish chordamesoderm.

ABSTRACT: In zebrafish, BMP signaling establishes cell identity along the dorsoventral (DV) axis during gastrulation. Owing to the early requirements of BMP activity in DV patterning, it has been difficult to assign later roles in cell fate specification to specific BMP ligands. In this study, we have taken advantage of two follistatin-like genes (fstl1 and fstl2), as well as a transgenic zebrafish line carrying an inducible truncated form of the BMP-type 1 receptor to study the role of Bmp4 outside of the context of DV specification. Characterization of fstl1/2 suggests that they exert a redundant role as BMP antagonists during late gastrulation, regulating BMP activity in axial mesoderm. Maintenance of appropriate levels of BMP signaling is crucial for the proper development of chordamesoderm, a s

SUBMITTER: Esterberg R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2765817 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature