PUBLICATION

Notch Signalling Synchronizes the Zebrafish Segmentation Clock but Is Not Needed To Create Somite Boundaries

Authors
Ozbudak, E.M., and Lewis, J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-080227-4
Date
2008
Source
PLoS Genetics   4(2): e15 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Lewis, Julian, Ozbudak, Ertugrul
Keywords
Notch signaling, Somites, Embryos, Genetic oscillators, Morphogenic segmentation, Gene expression, Zebrafish, Mathematical models
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/physiology
  • Body Patterning/genetics
  • Body Patterning/physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
  • Heat-Shock Response/genetics
  • Heat-Shock Response/physiology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins/genetics
  • Membrane Proteins/physiology
  • Mesoderm/embryology
  • Mesoderm/physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Receptors, Notch/genetics
  • Receptors, Notch/physiology*
  • Signal Transduction/drug effects
  • Somites/drug effects
  • Somites/embryology
  • Somites/physiology
  • Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Transcription Factors/physiology
  • Triglycerides/administration & dosage
  • Triglycerides/pharmacology
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/physiology*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/administration & dosage
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/analogs & derivatives
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/pharmacology
(all 37)
PubMed
18248098 Full text @ PLoS Genet.
Abstract
Somite segmentation depends on a gene expression oscillator or clock in the posterior presomitic mesoderm (PSM) and on read-out machinery in the anterior PSM to convert the pattern of clock phases into a somite pattern. Notch pathway mutations disrupt somitogenesis, and previous studies have suggested that Notch signalling is required both for the oscillations and for the read-out mechanism. By blocking or overactivating the Notch pathway abruptly at different times, we show that Notch signalling has no essential function in the anterior PSM and is required only in the posterior PSM, where it keeps the oscillations of neighbouring cells synchronized. Using a GFP reporter for the oscillator gene her1, we measure the influence of Notch signalling on her1 expression and show by mathematical modelling that this is sufficient for synchronization. Our model, in which intracellular oscillations are generated by delayed autoinhibition of her1 and her7 and synchronized by Notch signalling, explains the observations fully, showing that there are no grounds to invoke any additional role for the Notch pathway in the patterning of somite boundaries in zebrafish.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (5 images)
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Expression
Phenotype
No data available
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
cj1TgTransgenic Insertion
    kca3TgTransgenic Insertion
      vu22TgTransgenic Insertion
        1 - 3 of 3
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        Human Disease / Model
        No data available
        Sequence Targeting Reagents
        No data available
        Fish
        Fish
        cj1Tg/cj1Tg
        kca3Tg; vu22Tg
        WT
        1 - 3 of 3
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        Antibodies
        No data available
        Orthology
        No data available
        Engineered Foreign Genes
        Marker Marker Type Name
        d1EGFPEFGd1EGFP
        GAL4EFGGAL4
        1 - 2 of 2
        Show
        Mapping
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        Citation
        Ozbudak, E.M., and Lewis, J. (2008) Notch Signalling Synchronizes the Zebrafish Segmentation Clock but Is Not Needed To Create Somite Boundaries. PLoS Genetics. 4(2):e15.