Defects of the induction and very early patterning of the nervous system are among the most severe and yet poorly understood conditions of early development. Despite this, little is currently known about the molecular histogenesis of the mammalian CNS, despite the identification of many genes involved in the induction and patterning of the nervous system in C. elegans, Drosophila and Xenopus embryos. This is likely due to both the inaccessibility of the mammalian embryo for manipulation and the evolutionary duplication of genes which subsume critical functions. In the current investigation, we will examine the role of the secreted molecules noggin, chordin, and cerberus in neural induction using mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells as an analogue of the amphibian animal cap assay, followed by studies of ectopic expression of these molecules in early primitive streak staged mouse embryos grown in whole embryo culture. The role of these secreted inhibitors will also be examined by interfering with the BMP signal transduction pathway using dominant/negative receptor constructs, and by inhibiting transduction of signal from receptor to nucleus by expressing an anti-Smad in ES cells. Because early wnt signaling contributes to the extinction of BMP expression in the ectoderm, axis formation and neural induction, the effects of both activating and inhibiting the wnt signaling pathway on neural differentiation will be determined. This in vitro followed by whole embryo approach should conclusively determine the roles of these secreted signaling molecules in the early induction of the mouse embryo CNS. In the longer term it should also allow us to identify their downstream targets and the role in neural induction and patterning of additional (yet unidentified) molecules expressed by the unique signaling centers of the early mouse embryo.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS039438-03
Application #
6644123
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MDCN-6 (01))
Program Officer
Leblanc, Gabrielle G
Project Start
2001-06-01
Project End
2005-05-31
Budget Start
2003-06-01
Budget End
2004-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$261,700
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Velkey, J Matthew; O'Shea, K Sue (2013) Expression of Neurogenin 1 in mouse embryonic stem cells directs the differentiation of neuronal precursors and identifies unique patterns of down-stream gene expression. Dev Dyn 242:230-53
Slawny, Nicole; O'Shea, K Sue (2013) Geminin promotes an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in an embryonic stem cell model of gastrulation. Stem Cells Dev 22:1177-89
Lunn, J Simon; Pacut, Crystal; Stern, Emily et al. (2012) Intraspinal transplantation of neurogenin-expressing stem cells generates spinal cord neural progenitors. Neurobiol Dis 46:59-68
Slawny, N A; O'Shea, K S (2011) Dynamic changes in Wnt signaling are required for neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. Mol Cell Neurosci 48:205-16
Yocum, Anastasia K; Gratsch, Theresa E; Leff, Nancy et al. (2008) Coupled global and targeted proteomics of human embryonic stem cells during induced differentiation. Mol Cell Proteomics 7:750-67
Slawny, Nicole; Pacut, Crystal; Gratsch, Theresa E (2008) Differential gene expression in ES-derived neural stem cells by using RT-PCR. Methods Mol Biol 438:271-91
Rodriguez, Ryan T; Velkey, J Matthew; Lutzko, Carolyn et al. (2007) Manipulation of OCT4 levels in human embryonic stem cells results in induction of differential cell types. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 232:1368-80
Lorincz, Matthew T (2006) Optimized neuronal differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells: role of cell density. Methods Mol Biol 330:55-69
Velkey, J Matthew; Slawny, Nicole A; Gratsch, Theresa E et al. (2006) Gene silencing using RNA interference in embryonic stem cells. Methods Mol Biol 329:233-61
O'Shea, K Sue (2004) Self-renewal vs. differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. Biol Reprod 71:1755-65

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