spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    


This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Slack, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Tannahill, D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Slack, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Tannahill, D.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Development, Vol 114, Issue 2 285-302, Copyright © 1992 by Company of Biologists


JOURNAL ARTICLES

Mechanism of anteroposterior axis specification in vertebrates. Lessons from the amphibians

JM Slack and D Tannahill
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK.

Interest in the problem of anteroposterior specification has quickened because of our near understanding of the mechanism in Drosophila and because of the homology of Antennapedia-like homeobox gene expression patterns in Drosophila and vertebrates. But vertebrates differ from Drosophila because of morphogenetic movements and interactions between tissue layers, both intimately associated with anteroposterior specification. The purpose of this article is to review classical findings and to enquire how far these have been confirmed, refuted or extended by modern work. The "pre-molecular" work suggests that there are several steps to the process: (i) Formation of anteroposterior pattern in mesoderm during gastrulation with posterior dominance. (ii) Regional specific induction of ectoderm to form neural plate. (iii) Reciprocal interactions from neural plate to mesoderm. (iv) Interactions within neural plate with posterior dominance. Unfortunately, almost all the observable markers are in the CNS rather than in the mesoderm where the initial specification is thought to occur. This has meant that the specification of the mesoderm has been assayed indirectly by transplantation methods such as the Einsteckung. New molecular markers now supplement morphological ones but they are still mainly in the CNS and not the mesoderm. A particular interest attaches to the genes of the Antp-like HOX clusters since these may not only be markers but actual coding factors for anteroposterior levels. We have a new understanding of mesoderm induction based on the discovery of activins and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) as candidate inducing factors. These factors have later consequences for anteroposterior pattern with activin tending to induce anterior, and FGF posterior structures. Recent work on neural induction has implicated cAMP and protein kinase C (PKC) as elements of the signal transduction pathway and has provided new evidence for the importance of tangential neural induction. The regional specificity of neural induction has been reinvestigated using molecular markers and provides conclusions rather similar to the classical work. Defects in the axial pattern may be produced by retinoic acid but it remains unclear whether its effects are truly coordinate ones or are concentrated in certain regions of high sensitivity. In general the molecular studies have supported and reinforced the "pre-molecular ones". Important questions still remain: (i) How much pattern is there in the mesoderm (how many states?) (ii) How is this pattern generated by the invaginating organizer? (iii) Is there one-to-one transmission of codings to the neural plate? (iv) What is the nature of the interactions within the neural plate? (v) Are the HOX cluster genes really the anteroposterior codings?
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
V. Ribes, I. Le Roux, M. Rhinn, B. Schuhbaur, and P. Dolle
Early mouse caudal development relies on crosstalk between retinoic acid, Shh and Fgf signalling pathways
Development, February 15, 2009; 136(4): 665 - 676.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
T. Haremaki, Y. Tanaka, I. Hongo, M. Yuge, and H. Okamoto
Integration of multiple signal transducing pathways on Fgf response elements of the Xenopus caudal homologue Xcad3
Development, October 15, 2003; 130(20): 4907 - 4917.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
S. Bel-Vialar, N. Itasaki, and R. Krumlauf
Initiating Hox gene expression: in the early chick neural tube differential sensitivity to FGF and RA signaling subdivides the HoxB genes in two distinct groups
Development, March 13, 2003; 129(22): 5103 - 5115.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
R. Maeda, A. Ishimura, K. Mood, E. K. Park, A. M. Buchberg, and I. O. Daar
Xpbx1b and Xmeis1b play a collaborative role in hindbrain and neural crest gene expression in Xenopus embryos
PNAS, April 16, 2002; 99(8): 5448 - 5453.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
T. Inazawa, Y. Okamura, and K. Takahashi
Basic fibroblast growth factor induction of neuronal ion channel expression in ascidian ectodermal blastomeres
J. Physiol., September 1, 1998; 511(2): 347 - 359.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Physiol. Rev.Home page
K. TAKAHASHI and Y. OKAMURA
Ion Channels and Early Development of Neural Cells
Physiol Rev, April 1, 1998; 78(2): 307 - 337.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
M. Levin and M. Mercola
The compulsion of chirality: toward an understanding of left-right asymmetry
Genes & Dev., March 15, 1998; 12(6): 763 - 769.
[Full Text]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
S Wacker, A Brodbeck, P Lemaire, C Niehrs, and R Winklbauer
Patterns and control of cell motility in the Xenopus gastrula
Development, January 5, 1998; 125(10): 1931 - 1942.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
K. Storey, A Goriely, C. Sargent, J. Brown, H. Burns, H. Abud, and J. Heath
Early posterior neural tissue is induced by FGF in the chick embryo
Development, January 2, 1998; 125(3): 473 - 484.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
D Henrique, D Tyler, C Kintner, J K Heath, J H Lewis, D Ish-Horowicz, and K G Storey
cash4, a novel achaete-scute homolog induced by Hensen's node during generation of the posterior nervous system.
Genes & Dev., March 1, 1997; 11(5): 603 - 615.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
M. Taira, J.-P. Saint-Jeannet, and I. B. Dawid
Role of the Xlim-1 and Xbra genes in anteroposterior patterning of neural tissue by the head and trunk organizer
PNAS, February 4, 1997; 94(3): 895 - 900.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
M Epstein, G Pillemer, R Yelin, J. Yisraeli, and A Fainsod
Patterning of the embryo along the anterior-posterior axis: the role of the caudal genes
Development, January 10, 1997; 124(19): 3805 - 3814.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
E. Pera and M Kessel
Patterning of the chick forebrain anlage by the prechordal plate
Development, January 10, 1997; 124(20): 4153 - 4162.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
A. Bang, N Papalopulu, C Kintner, and M. Goulding
Expression of Pax-3 is initiated in the early neural plate by posteriorizing signals produced by the organizer and by posterior non-axial mesoderm
Development, January 5, 1997; 124(10): 2075 - 2085.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant BiolHome page
P. J. Kolm and H. L. Sive
Retinoids and Posterior Neural Induction: A Reevaluation of Nieuwkoop's Two-step Hypothesis
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol, January 1, 1997; 62(0): 511 - 521.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant BiolHome page
I. Matsuo, Y. Suda, M. Yoshida, T. Ueki, C. Kimura, S. Kuratani, and S. Aizawa
Otx and Emx Functions in Patterning of the Vertebrate Rostral Head
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol, January 1, 1997; 62(0): 545 - 553.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
L. Gammill and H Sive
Identification of otx2 target genes and restrictions in ectodermal competence during Xenopus cement gland formation
Development, January 1, 1997; 124(2): 471 - 481.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
M Brand, C. Heisenberg, R. Warga, F Pelegri, R. Karlstrom, D Beuchle, A Picker, Y. Jiang, M Furutani-Seiki, F. van Eeden, et al.
Mutations affecting development of the midline and general body shape during zebrafish embryogenesis
Development, January 12, 1996; 123(1): 129 - 142.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
M. Pownall, A. Tucker, J. Slack, and H. Isaacs
eFGF, Xcad3 and Hox genes form a molecular pathway that establishes the anteroposterior axis in Xenopus
Development, January 12, 1996; 122(12): 3881 - 3892.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
K. Kroll and E Amaya
Transgenic Xenopus embryos from sperm nuclear transplantations reveal FGF signaling requirements during gastrulation
Development, January 10, 1996; 122(10): 3173 - 3183.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
J. Nicolas, L Mathis, C Bonnerot, and W Saurin
Evidence in the mouse for self-renewing stem cells in the formation of a segmented longitudinal structure, the myotome
Development, January 9, 1996; 122(9): 2933 - 2946.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
C. Sagerstrom, Y Grinbalt, and H Sive
Anteroposterior patterning in the zebrafish, Danio rerio: an explant assay reveals inductive and suppressive cell interactions
Development, January 6, 1996; 122(6): 1873 - 1883.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
S. Ang, O Jin, M Rhinn, N Daigle, L Stevenson, and J Rossant
A targeted mouse Otx2 mutation leads to severe defects in gastrulation and formation of axial mesoderm and to deletion of rostral brain
Development, January 1, 1996; 122(1): 243 - 252.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
ScienceHome page
J. Lee, S. Hollenberg, L Snider, D. Turner, N Lipnick, and H Weintraub
Conversion of Xenopus ectoderm into neurons by NeuroD, a basic helix-loop-helix protein
Science, May 12, 1995; 268(5212): 836 - 844.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
K Itoh, T. Tang, B. Neel, and S. Sokol
Specific modulation of ectodermal cell fates in Xenopus embryos by glycogen synthase kinase
Development, January 12, 1995; 121(12): 3979 - 3988.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
M Moos, S Wang, and M Krinks
Anti-dorsalizing morphogenetic protein is a novel TGF-beta homolog expressed in the Spemann organizer
Development, January 12, 1995; 121(12): 4293 - 4301.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
A Grapin-Botton, M. Bonnin, L. McNaughton, R Krumlauf, and N. Le Douarin
Plasticity of transposed rhombomeres: Hox gene induction is correlated with phenotypic modifications
Development, January 9, 1995; 121(9): 2707 - 2721.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
M Kengaku and H Okamoto
bFGF as a possible morphogen for the anteroposterior axis of the central nervous system in Xenopus
Development, January 9, 1995; 121(9): 3121 - 3130.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
K Woo and S. Fraser
Order and coherence in the fate map of the zebrafish nervous system
Development, January 8, 1995; 121(8): 2595 - 2609.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
A. Knecht, P. Good, I. Dawid, and R. Harland
Dorsal-ventral patterning and differentiation of noggin-induced neural tissue in the absence of mesoderm
Development, January 6, 1995; 121(6): 1927 - 1935.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
C Faust, A Schumacher, B Holdener, and T Magnuson
The eed mutation disrupts anterior mesoderm production in mice
Development, January 2, 1995; 121(2): 273 - 285.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
ScienceHome page
D. Kessler and D. Melton
Vertebrate embryonic induction: mesodermal and neural patterning
Science, October 28, 1994; 266(5185): 596 - 604.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
ScienceHome page
R. Jacobs and S. Fraser
Magnetic resonance microscopy of embryonic cell lineages and movements
Science, February 4, 1994; 263(5147): 681 - 684.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
S Takada, K L Stark, M J Shea, G Vassileva, J A McMahon, and A P McMahon
Wnt-3a regulates somite and tailbud formation in the mouse embryo.
Genes & Dev., January 15, 1994; 8(2): 174 - 189.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
B Ferreiro, C Kintner, K Zimmerman, D Anderson, and W. Harris
XASH genes promote neurogenesis in Xenopus embryos
Development, January 12, 1994; 120(12): 3649 - 3655.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
T Yamada
Caudalization by the amphibian organizer: brachyury, convergent extension and retinoic acid
Development, January 11, 1994; 120(11): 3051 - 3062.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
S. Pruitt
Discrete endogenous signals mediate neural competence and induction in P19 embryonal carcinoma stem cells
Development, January 11, 1994; 120(11): 3301 - 3312.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
S. Ang, R. Conlon, O Jin, and J Rossant
Positive and negative signals from mesoderm regulate the expression of mouse Otx2 in ectoderm explants
Development, January 10, 1994; 120(10): 2979 - 2989.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
Y Echelard, G Vassileva, and A. McMahon
Cis-acting regulatory sequences governing Wnt-1 expression in the developing mouse CNS
Development, January 8, 1994; 120(8): 2213 - 2224.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
D Strehlow, G Heinrich, and W Gilbert
The fates of the blastomeres of the 16-cell zebrafish embryo
Development, January 7, 1994; 120(7): 1791 - 1798.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
D Nardelli-Haefliger, A. Bruce, and M Shankland
An axial domain of HOM/Hox gene expression is formed by morphogenetic alignment of independently specified cell lineages in the leech Helobdella
Development, January 7, 1994; 120(7): 1839 - 1849.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
Q Xu, N Holder, R Patient, and S. Wilson
Spatially regulated expression of three receptor tyrosine kinase genes during gastrulation in the zebrafish
Development, January 2, 1994; 120(2): 287 - 299.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
S. Pruitt
Primitive streak mesoderm-like cell lines expressing Pax-3 and Hox gene autoinducing activities
Development, January 1, 1994; 120(1): 37 - 47.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
ScienceHome page
T. Lamb, A. Knecht, W. Smith, S. Stachel, A. Economides, N Stahl, G. Yancopolous, and R. Harland
Neural induction by the secreted polypeptide noggin
Science, October 29, 1993; 262(5134): 713 - 718.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
U Strahle, P Blader, D Henrique, and P W Ingham
Axial, a zebrafish gene expressed along the developing body axis, shows altered expression in cyclops mutant embryos.
Genes & Dev., July 1, 1993; 7(7b): 1436 - 1446.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
E. Davidson
Later embryogenesis: regulatory circuitry in morphogenetic fields
Development, January 7, 1993; 118(3): 665 - 690.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
V Korzh, T Edlund, and S Thor
Zebrafish primary neurons initiate expression of the LIM homeodomain protein Isl-1 at the end of gastrulation
Development, January 6, 1993; 118(2): 417 - 425.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
A Frumkin, R Haffner, E Shapira, N Tarcic, Y Gruenbaum, and A Fainsod
The chicken CdxA homeobox gene and axial positioning during gastrulation
Development, January 6, 1993; 118(2): 553 - 562.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
H Sasaki and B. Hogan
Differential expression of multiple fork head related genes during gastrulation and axial pattern formation in the mouse embryo
Development, January 5, 1993; 118(1): 47 - 59.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
L Bally-Cuif, C Goridis, and M. Santoni
The mouse NCAM gene displays a biphasic expression pattern during neural tube development
Development, January 2, 1993; 117(2): 543 - 552.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
H L Sive
The frog prince-ss: a molecular formula for dorsoventral patterning in Xenopus.
Genes & Dev., January 1, 1993; 7(1): 1 - 12.
[PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
M. J. Donoghue, B. L. Patton, J. R. Sanes, and J. P. Merlie
An axial gradient of transgene methylation in murine skeletal muscle: genomic imprint of rostrocaudal position
Development, December 1, 1992; 116(4): 1101 - 1112.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
D. Kimelman, J. L. Christian, and R. T. Moon
Synergistic principles of development: overlapping patterning systems in Xenopus mesoderm induction
Development, September 1, 1992; 116(1): 1 - 9.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
D Tannahill, H. Isaacs, M. Close, G Peters, and J. Slack
Developmental expression of the Xenopus int-2 (FGF-3) gene: activation by mesodermal and neural induction
Development, January 7, 1992; 115(3): 695 - 702.
[Abstract] [PDF]




© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1992