The Wnt code: cnidarians signal the way
- PMID:17143289
- DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210052
The Wnt code: cnidarians signal the way
Abstract
Cnidarians are the simplest metazoans with a nervous system. They are well known for their regeneration capacity, which is based on the restoration of a signalling centre (organizer). Recent work has identified the canonical Wnt pathway in the freshwater polyp Hydra, where it acts in organizer formation and regeneration. Wnt signalling is also essential for cnidarian embryogenesis. In the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis 11 of the 12 known wnt gene subfamilies were identified. Different wnt genes exhibit serial and overlapping expression domains along the oral-aboral axis of the embryo (the 'wnt code'). This is reminiscent of the hox code (cluster) in bilaterian embryogenesis that is, however, absent in cnidarians. It is proposed that the common ancestor of cnidarians and bilaterians invented a set of wnt genes that patterned the ancient main body axis. Major antagonists of Wnt ligands (e.g. Dkk 1/2/4) that were previously known only from chordates, are also present in cnidarians and exhibit a similar conserved function. The unexpectedly high level of genetic complexity of wnt genes evolved in early multi-cellular animals about 650 Myr ago and suggests a radical expansion of the genetic repertoire, concurrent with the evolution of multi-cellularity and the diversification of eumetazoan body plans.
Similar articles
- Wnt signaling in cnidarians.Holstein TW.Holstein TW.Methods Mol Biol. 2008;469:47-54. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60327-469-5.Methods Mol Biol. 2008.PMID:19109702Review.
- Unexpected complexity of the Wnt gene family in a sea anemone.Kusserow A, Pang K, Sturm C, Hrouda M, Lentfer J, Schmidt HA, Technau U, von Haeseler A, Hobmayer B, Martindale MQ, Holstein TW.Kusserow A, et al.Nature. 2005 Jan 13;433(7022):156-60. doi: 10.1038/nature03158.Nature. 2005.PMID:15650739
- Multiple Wnts are involved in Hydra organizer formation and regeneration.Lengfeld T, Watanabe H, Simakov O, Lindgens D, Gee L, Law L, Schmidt HA, Ozbek S, Bode H, Holstein TW.Lengfeld T, et al.Dev Biol. 2009 Jun 1;330(1):186-99. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.02.004. Epub 2009 Feb 13.Dev Biol. 2009.PMID:19217898
- Structure and expression of conserved Wnt pathway components in the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica.Adamska M, Larroux C, Adamski M, Green K, Lovas E, Koop D, Richards GS, Zwafink C, Degnan BM.Adamska M, et al.Evol Dev. 2010 Sep-Oct;12(5):494-518. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-142X.2010.00435.x.Evol Dev. 2010.PMID:20883218
- A WNT of things to come: evolution of Wnt signaling and polarity in cnidarians.Lee PN, Pang K, Matus DQ, Martindale MQ.Lee PN, et al.Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2006 Apr;17(2):157-67. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2006.05.002. Epub 2006 May 7.Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2006.PMID:16765608Review.
Cited by
- β-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling in C. elegans: teaching an old dog a new trick.Jackson BM, Eisenmann DM.Jackson BM, et al.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2012 Aug 1;4(8):a007948. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a007948.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2012.PMID:22745286Free PMC article.Review.
- Wnt affects symmetry and morphogenesis during post-embryonic development in colonial chordates.Di Maio A, Setar L, Tiozzo S, De Tomaso AW.Di Maio A, et al.Evodevo. 2015 May 1;6:17. doi: 10.1186/s13227-015-0009-3. eCollection 2015.Evodevo. 2015.PMID:26171140Free PMC article.
- Planarian GSK3s are involved in neural regeneration.Adell T, Marsal M, Saló E.Adell T, et al.Dev Genes Evol. 2008 Feb;218(2):89-103. doi: 10.1007/s00427-007-0199-3. Epub 2008 Jan 16.Dev Genes Evol. 2008.PMID:18202849
- Neuroblast migration along the anteroposterior axis of C. elegans is controlled by opposing gradients of Wnts and a secreted Frizzled-related protein.Harterink M, Kim DH, Middelkoop TC, Doan TD, van Oudenaarden A, Korswagen HC.Harterink M, et al.Development. 2011 Jul;138(14):2915-24. doi: 10.1242/dev.064733. Epub 2011 Jun 8.Development. 2011.PMID:21653614Free PMC article.
- Development and myogenesis of the vermiform Buddenbrockia (Myxozoa) and implications for cnidarian body plan evolution.Gruhl A, Okamura B.Gruhl A, et al.Evodevo. 2012 May 17;3(1):10. doi: 10.1186/2041-9139-3-10.Evodevo. 2012.PMID:22594622Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Related information
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources