Lens morphogenesis is dependent on Pax6-mediated inhibition of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in the lens surface ectoderm

0347001 - ÚMG 2011 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Machoň, Ondřej - Krešlová, Jana - Růžičková, Jana - Vacík, Tomáš - Klímová, Lucie - Fujimura, Naoko - Láchová, Jitka - Kozmik, Zbyněk
Lens morphogenesis is dependent on Pax6-mediated inhibition of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in the lens surface ectoderm.
Genesis. Roč. 48, č. 2 (2010), s. 86-95. ISSN 1526-954X. E-ISSN 1526-968X
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA204/08/1618; GA MŠMT(CZ) 1M0520
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50520514
Keywords : Wnt, Pax6 * lens * eye
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 2.395, year: 2010

Lens formation in mouse is critically dependent on proper development of the retinal neuroectoderm that is located close beneath the head surface ectoderm. Signaling from the prospective retina triggers lens-specific gene expression in the surface-ectoderm. Supression of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the surface ectoderm is one of the prerequisites for lens development because, as we show here, ectopic Wnt activation in the retina and lens abrogates lens formation. Wnt inhibiton is mediated by signals coming from the retina but its exact mechanism is unknown. We show that Pax6 directly controls expression of several Wnt inhibitors such as Sfrp1, Sfrp2, and Dkk1 in the presumptive lens. In accordance, absence of Pax6 function leads to aberrant canonical Wnt activity in the presumptive lens that subsequently impairs lens development. Thus Pax6 is required for down-regulation of canonical Wnt signaling in the presumptive lens ectoderm.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0187879