Drs. Schmidt, McGonnell, and Allen contributed equally to this work.
1097-0177/asset/DVDY_left.gif?v=1&s=b87335326ab8ecd1f573539da0b5fa6abef26532)
Research Article
You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article
Wnt6 controls amniote neural crest induction through the non-canonical signaling pathway
Article first published online: 8 AUG 2007
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21260
Copyright © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Schmidt, C., McGonnell, I. M., Allen, S., Otto, A. and Patel, K. (2007), Wnt6 controls amniote neural crest induction through the non-canonical signaling pathway. Dev. Dyn., 236: 2502–2511. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.21260
- †
Drs. Schmidt, McGonnell, and Allen contributed equally to this work.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 17 AUG 2007
- Article first published online: 8 AUG 2007
- Manuscript Accepted: 15 JUN 2007
Funded by
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Grant Number: Schm 1643/2-1
- The Royal Society. Grant Number: IMM/04
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Grant Number: BBS/S/A/2004/11020
Keywords:
- neural crest;
- induction;
- Wnt6;
- non-canonical;
- chick embryo;
- Wnt1
Abstract
The neural crest is a multipotent embryonic cell population that arises from neural ectoderm and forms derivatives essential for vertebrate function. Neural crest induction requires an ectodermal signal, thought to be a Wnt ligand, but the identity of the Wnt that performs this function in amniotes is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Wnt6, derived from the ectoderm, is necessary for chick neural crest induction. Crucially, we also show that Wnt6 acts through the non-canonical pathway and not the beta-catenin–dependant pathway. Surprisingly, we found that canonical Wnt signaling inhibited neural crest production in the chick embryo. In light of studies in anamniotes demonstrating that canonical Wnt signaling induces neural crest, these results indicate a significant and novel change in the mechanism of neural crest induction during vertebrate evolution. These data also highlight a key role for noncanonical Wnt signaling in cell type specification from a stem population during development. Developmental Dynamics 236:2502–2511, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.