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Increased Wnt levels in the neural tube impair the function of adherens junctions during neurulation

  • Maria Shariatmadari
  • , Julie Peyronnet
  • , Panagiotis Papachristou
  • , Zachi Horn
  • , Kyle M. Sousa
  • , Ernest Arenas
  • , Thomas Ringstedt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Wnt7a has been reported to signal via the canonical pathway, but also in non-canonical pathways acting on the cytoskeleton. Since Wnt7a is expressed after neurulation, we set to investigate the effects of Wnt7a on brain regionalization. We engineered transgenic mouse embryos that, under control of the nestin second intron, overexpressed Wnt7a in neural stem/progenitor cells. Surprisingly, transgenic embryos failed to complete cranial neurulation due to reduced levels and an impaired distribution of actin microfilaments, β-catenin, and N-cadherin at the neural tube adherens junctions. These transgenic embryos expressed high levels of Vangl2, an essential component of non-canonical Wnt signaling. In agreement with a disregulation of this pathway, aberrant spinal neurulation was detected in the transgenic embryos, revealing a novel function regulated by Wnts. Thus, our findings suggest that Wnt7a overexpression disrupts normal Wnt signaling in the neural tube, resulting in defective adherens junctions and neurulation. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)437-451
Number of pages15
JournalMolecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Volume30
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

Keywords

  • Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neurons/cytology
  • Signal Transduction/physiology
  • Cell Adhesion/genetics
  • Neural Tube Defects/genetics
  • Adherens Junctions/metabolism
  • Animals
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
  • Cell Communication/genetics
  • Cadherins/metabolism
  • beta Catenin/metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics
  • Cell Differentiation/genetics
  • Mice
  • Wnt Proteins/genetics
  • Up-Regulation/genetics
  • Stem Cells/cytology
  • Central Nervous System/cytology

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