PUBLICATION

fast1 is required for the development of dorsal axial structures in zebrafish

Authors
Sirotkin, H.I., Gates, M.A., Kelly, P.D., Schier, A.F., and Talbot, W.S.
ID
ZDB-PUB-001003-2
Date
2000
Source
Current biology : CB   10(17): 1051-1054 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Gates, Michael A., Kelly, Peter D., Schier, Alexander, Sirotkin, Howard, Talbot, William S.
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Body Patterning*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/physiology*
  • Embryonic Development
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Transcription Factors/chemistry
  • Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Transcription Factors/physiology*
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish Proteins*
PubMed
10996072 Full text @ Curr. Biol.
Abstract
Nodal-related signals comprise a subclass of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily and regulate key events in vertebrate embryogenesis, including mesoderm formation, establishment of left-right asymmetry and neural patterning [1-8]. Nodal ligands are thought to act with EGF-CFC protein co-factors to activate activin type I and II or related receptors, which phosphorylate Smad2 and trigger nuclear translocation of a Smad2/4 complex [8-12]. The winged-helix transcription factor forkhead activin signal transducer-1 (Fast-1) acts as a co-factor for Smad2 [12-20]. Xenopus Fast-1 is thought to function as a transcriptional effector of Nodal signals during mesoderm formation [17], but no mutations in the Fast-1 gene have been identified. We report the identification of the zebrafish fast1 gene and show that it is disrupted in schmalspur (sur) mutants, which have defects in the development of dorsal midline cell types and establishment of left-right asymmetry [21-25]. We find that prechordal plate and notochord are strongly reduced in maternal-zygotic sur mutants, whereas other mesendodermal structures are present - a less severe phenotype than that caused by complete loss of Nodal signaling. These results show that fast1 is required for development of dorsal axial structures and left-right asymmetry, and suggest that Nodal signals act through Fast1-dependent and independent pathways.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping