The goal of this research is to identify the molecular basis of primary germ layer formation in vertebrate embryos. This fundamental cell fate decision is only partially understood. Recently, it has been discovered that in Xenopus, mesoderm and endoderm cell fates are specified by maternal transcription factors. In this study, we focus on what determines the ectoderm germ layer. We have identified ectoderm-inducing activities in pools of maternal cDNAs, and we will use expression cloning to identify these genes. Subsequently we will characterize the expression of these genes and determine their roles in development through loss-of-function experiments. Understanding the formation of the ectoderm will be a major step forward in understanding cell fate determination in early development.
| Houston, Douglas W; Wylie, Christopher (2005) Maternal Xenopus Zic2 negatively regulates Nodal-related gene expression during anteroposterior patterning. Development 132:4845-55 |
| Houston, Douglas W; Wylie, Christopher (2003) The Xenopus LIM-homeodomain protein Xlim5 regulates the differential adhesion properties of early ectoderm cells. Development 130:2695-704 |
| Houston, Douglas W; Wylie, Chris (2002) Cloning and expression of Xenopus Lrp5 and Lrp6 genes. Mech Dev 117:337-42 |
| Houston, Douglas W; Kofron, Matt; Resnik, Ernesto et al. (2002) Repression of organizer genes in dorsal and ventral Xenopus cells mediated by maternal XTcf3. Development 129:4015-25 |
