Distinct phases of Wnt/β-catenin signaling direct cardiomyocyte formation in zebrafish.

ABSTRACT: Normal heart formation requires reiterative phases of canonical Wnt/β-catenin (Wnt) signaling. Understanding the mechanisms by which Wnt signaling directs cardiomyocyte (CM) formation in vivo is critical to being able to precisely direct differentiated CMs from stem cells in vitro. Here, we investigate the roles of Wnt signaling in zebrafish CM formation using heat-shock inducible transgenes that increase and decrease Wnt signaling. We find that there are three phases during which CM formation is sensitive to modulation of Wnt signaling through the first 24 h of development. In addition to the previously recognized roles for Wnt signaling during mesoderm specification and in the pre-cardiac mesoderm, we find a previously unrecognized role during CM differentiation where Wnt signaling is ne

SUBMITTER: Dohn TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3246556 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature