Visualization and exploration of Tcf/Lef function using a highly responsive Wnt/beta-catenin signaling-reporter transgenic zebrafish
- Authors
- Shimizu, N., Kawakami, K., and Ishitani, T.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-120807-4
- Date
- 2012
- Source
- Developmental Biology 370(1): 71-85 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Ishitani, Tohru, Kawakami, Koichi, Shimizu, Nobuyuki
- Keywords
- Tcf/Lef, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified/embryology*
- Blotting, Southern
- Cell Culture Techniques
- DNA Primers/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology*
- Genes, Reporter/genetics
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- In Situ Hybridization
- Lateral Line System/embryology*
- Plasmids/genetics
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- Signal Transduction/physiology*
- TCF Transcription Factors/genetics
- TCF Transcription Factors/physiology*
- Wnt Proteins/genetics
- Wnt Proteins/metabolism
- Zebrafish/embryology*
- beta Catenin/genetics
- beta Catenin/metabolism
- PubMed
- 22842099 Full text @ Dev. Biol.
Evolutionarily conserved Tcf/Lef transcription factors (Lef1, Tcf7, Tcf7l1, and Tcf7l2) mediate gene expression regulated by Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which has multiple roles in early embryogenesis, organogenesis, adult tissue homeostasis, and tissue regeneration. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of Tcf/Lef activity during these events remain poorly understood. We generated stable transgenic zebrafish lines carrying a new Wnt/β-catenin signaling reporter, Tcf/Lef-miniP:dGFP. The reporter revealed the transcriptional activities of four Tcf/Lef members controlled by Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which were expressed in known Wnt/β-catenin signaling-active sites during embryogenesis, organ development and growth, and tissue regeneration. We used the transgenic lines to demonstrate the contribution of Tcf/Lef-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling to the development of the anterior lateral line, dorsal and secondary posterior lateral lines, and gill filaments. Thus, these reporter lines are highly useful tools for studying Tcf/Lef-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling-dependent processes.