Abstract
Wnt signaling regulates a wide range of developmental processes such as proliferation, cell migration, axon guidance, and cell fate determination. In this report, we studied the expression of secreted frizzled related protein-2 (SFRP-2), which codes for a putative Wnt inhibitor, in the developing nervous system. SFRP-2 is expressed in several discrete neuroepithelial domains, including the diencephalon, the insertion of the eminentia thalami into the caudal telencephalon, and the pallial-subpallial boundary (PSB). We also noted that Wnt-7b expression was similar to SFRP-2 expression. Because many of these structures are disrupted in Pax-6 mutant mice, we examined SFRP-2 and Wnt-7b expression in the forebrains of Pax-6 Sey/Sey mice. We found that Pax-6 mutants lack SFRP-2 expression in the PSB and diencephalon. Interestingly, Pax-6 mutants also lack Wnt-7b expression in the PSB, but Wnt-7b expression in the diencephalon is preserved. Furthermore, in the spinal cord of Pax-6 mutants, SFRP-2 and Wnt-7b expression was greatly reduced. Our results suggest that by virtue of its apposition to Wnt-7b expression, SFRP-2 may modulate its function, particularly at boundaries such as the PSB, and that changes in Wnt signaling contribute to the phenotype of Pax-6 mutants.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Central Nervous System / cytology
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Central Nervous System / embryology
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Central Nervous System / metabolism*
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Eye Proteins / metabolism
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology*
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Glycoproteins*
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
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Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
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Homeodomain Proteins / pharmacology
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In Situ Hybridization
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Membrane Proteins*
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Mice
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Mice, Mutant Strains
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Mutation
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Organ Specificity
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PAX6 Transcription Factor
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Paired Box Transcription Factors
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Phenotype
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Proteins / genetics
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Proteins / metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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RNA-Binding Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Transcription Factors
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Wnt Proteins
Substances
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Distal-less homeobox proteins
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Eye Proteins
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Glycoproteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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PAX6 Transcription Factor
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PAX6 protein, human
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Paired Box Transcription Factors
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Pax6 protein, mouse
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Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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RNA-Binding Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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Sfrp2 protein, mouse
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Tes protein, mouse
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Transcription Factors
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WNT7B protein, human
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Wnt Proteins
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Wnt7b protein, mouse