Zili inhibits transforming growth factor-beta signaling by interacting with Smad4.

ABSTRACT: Piwi proteins are required for germ cell proliferation, differentiation, and germ line stem cell maintenance. In normal tissues, human and mouse Piwil2 are primarily expressed in testis but widely expressed in tumors. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. In vertebrates, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling plays an important role in patterning embryo and control of cell growth and differentiation. A previous study has shown a role for Zili, a Piwil2 gene in zebrafish, in germ cells in zebrafish. Here we report that zili functions in patterning the early embryo and inhibits TGF-beta signaling. Whole mount expression analysis shows that zili expresses not only in PGCs but also in axis. Ectopic expression of zili causes fusion of the eyes and reduction of meso

SUBMITTER: Sun H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2823563 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature