Involvement of Pax6 and Otx2 in the forebrain-specific regulation of the vertebrate homeobox gene ANF/Hesx1.

During early vertebrate development, ANF homeobox genes are expressed in the prospective forebrain. Their regulation is essential for correct morphogenesis and function of the prosencephalon. We identified a 1-kb fragment upstream of the chicken GANF gene sufficient to drive lacZ expression in the endogenous expression domain. Concordant with the high conservation of this sequence in five investigated species, this element is also active in the corresponding expression domain of the zebrafish orthologue. In vivo analysis of two in vitro-identified Otx2 binding sites in this conserved sequence revealed their necessity for activation of the chicken ANF promoter. In addition, we identified a Pax6-binding site close to the transcriptional start site that is occupied in vivo by Pax6 protein. Pax6 and GANF exhibit mutually exclusive expression domains in the anterior embryonic region. Overexpression of Pax6 in chick embryos inhibited the endogenous GANF expression, and in Pax6(-/-) mice the expression domain of the murine ANF orthologue Hesx1 was expanded and sustained, indicating inhibitory effects of Pax6 on GANF. However, a mutation of the Pax6 site did not abolish reporter activity from an electroporated vector. We conclude that Otx2 and Pax6 are key molecules involved in conserved mechanisms of ANF gene regulation.

Guidance of primordial germ cell migration by the chemokine SDF-1.

The signals directing primordial germ cell (PGC) migration in vertebrates are largely unknown. We demonstrate that sdf-1 mRNA is expressed in locations where PGCs are found and toward which they migrate in wild-type as well as in mutant embryos in which PGC migration is abnormal. Knocking down SDF-1 or its receptor CXCR4 results in severe defects in PGC migration. Specifically, PGCs that do not receive the SDF-1 signal exhibit lack of directional movement toward their target and arrive at ectopic positions within the embryo. Finally, we show that the PGCs can be attracted toward an ectopic source of the chemokine, strongly suggesting that this molecule provides a key directional cue for the PGCs.

Multiple levels of posttranscriptional control lead to germ line-specific gene expression in the zebrafish.

An important mechanism for the specification and development of the animal germ line is the localization of specific molecules to the germ plasm. Restriction of these molecules to the germ line is considered to be critical for proper development of the germ line as well as the soma. Cytoplasmic localization alone, however, may not be sufficient to achieve germ line-specific expression. While zebrafish vasa mRNA is localized to the germ plasm, the Vasa protein is initially distributed uniformly in the embryo, and its expression becomes restricted to the PGCs only later in development. Here, we demonstrate that, in addition to vasa RNA localization, multiple cell type-specific posttranscriptional mechanisms act on vasa mRNA and Vasa protein. We show that the portion of the maternal vasa mRNA, which is partitioned to somatic cells, is rapidly degraded, whereas vasa RNA is stabilized in the PGCs in a process that is mediated by cis-acting elements within the molecule. Similarly, the Vasa protein is highly unstable in somatic cells, but not in the PGCs. Finally, we demonstrate that subcellular localization of Vasa protein involves cis-acting domains within the protein. In conclusion, we show that posttranscriptional degradation-protection mechanisms acting on RNA and protein function in a vertebrate to enrich for specific molecules in the PGCs.

Regulation of zebrafish primordial germ cell migration by attraction towards an intermediate target.

Migration of primordial germ cells (PGCs) from their site of specification towards the developing gonad is controlled by directional cues from somatic tissues. Although in several animals the PGCs are attracted by signals emanating from their final target, the gonadal mesoderm, little is known about the mechanisms that control earlier steps of migration. We provide evidence that a key step of zebrafish PGC migration, in which the PGCs become organized into bilateral clusters in the anterior trunk, is regulated by attraction of PGCs towards an intermediate target. Time-lapse observations of wild-type and mutant embryos reveal that bilateral clusters are formed at early somitogenesis, owing to migration of PGCs towards the clustering position from medial, posterior and anterior regions. Furthermore, PGCs migrate actively relative to their somatic neighbors and they do so as individual cells. Using mutants that exhibit defects in mesoderm development, we show that the ability to form PGC clusters depends on proper differentiation of the somatic cells present at the clustering position. Based on these findings, we propose that these somatic cells produce signals that attract PGCs. Interestingly, fate-mapping shows that these cells do not give rise to the somatic tissues of the gonad, but rather contribute to the formation of the pronephros. Thus, the putative PGC attraction center serves as an intermediate target for PGCs, which later actively migrate towards a more posterior position. This final step of PGC migration is defective in hands off mutants, where the intermediate mesoderm of the presumptive gonadal region is mispatterned. Our results indicate that zebrafish PGCs are guided by attraction towards two signaling centers, one of which may represent the somatic tissues of the gonad.