Formation of a dorsoventral axis is a key event in the early development of most animal embryos. It is well established that bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps) and Wnts are key mediators of dorsoventral patterning in vertebrates. In the cephalochordate amphioxus, genes encoding Bmps and transcription factors downstream of Bmp signaling such as Vent are expressed in patterns reminiscent of those of their vertebrate orthologues. However, the key question is whether the conservation of expression patterns of network constituents implies conservation of functional network interactions, and if so, how an increased functional complexity can evolve. Using heterologous systems, namely by reporter gene assays in mammalian cell lines and by transgenesis in medaka fish, we have compared the gene regulatory network implicated in dorsoventral patterning of the basal chordate amphioxus and vertebrates. We found that Bmp but not canonical Wnt signaling regulates promoters of genes encoding homeodomain proteins AmphiVent1 and AmphiVent2. Furthermore, AmphiVent1 and AmphiVent2 promoters appear to be correctly regulated in the context of a vertebrate embryo. Finally, we show that AmphiVent1 is able to directly repress promoters of AmphiGoosecoid and AmphiChordin genes. Repression of genes encoding dorsal-specific signaling molecule Chordin and transcription factor Goosecoid by Xenopus and zebrafish Vent genes represents a key regulatory interaction during vertebrate axis formation. Our data indicate high evolutionary conservation of a core Bmp-triggered gene regulatory network for dorsoventral patterning in chordates and suggest that co-option of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway for dorsoventral patterning in vertebrates represents one of the innovations through which an increased morphological complexity of vertebrate embryo is achieved.

• MeSH
• 5' Untranslated Regions MeSH
• Chordata genetics   MeSH
• Zebrafish embryology   genetics   MeSH
• Embryo, Nonmammalian MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Genetic Variation * genetics   physiology   MeSH
• Gene Regulatory Networks * MeSH
• Homeodomain Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Conserved Sequence * genetics   MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Evolution, Molecular * MeSH
• Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
• Oryzias embryology   genetics   MeSH
• Goosecoid Protein genetics   MeSH
• Body Patterning genetics   MeSH
• Amino Acid Sequence MeSH
• Base Sequence MeSH
• Sequence Homology, Amino Acid MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental MeSH
• Xenopus laevis embryology   genetics   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 5' Untranslated Regions MeSH
• Homeodomain Proteins MeSH
• Goosecoid Protein MeSH
• Vent protein, Amphioxus MeSH Browser