Work

Reiterative use of the notch signal during zebrafish intrahepatic biliary development

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: The Notch signaling pathway regulates specification of zebrafish liver progenitor cells towards a biliary cell fate. Here, using staged administration of a pharmacological inhibitor of Notch receptor processing, we show that activation of the Notch pathway is also important for growth and expansion of the intrahepatic biliary network in zebrafish larvae. Biliary expansion is accompanied by extensive cell proliferation and active remodeling of the nascent ductal network, as revealed by time lapse imaging of living zebrafish larvae that express a Notch responsive fluorescent reporter transgene. Together, these data support a model in which the Notch signal functions reiteratively during biliary development; first to specific biliary cells and then to direct remodeling of the nascent biliary network. As the Notch pathway plays a comparable role during mammalian biliary development, including humans, these studies also indicate broad conservation of the molecular mechanisms directing biliary development in vertebrates.

Source: Developmental Dynamics

DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22220

Authors: Kristin Lorent, John C. Moore, Arndt F. Siekmann, Nathan Lawson, Michael Pack

Institutions: University of Pennsylvania, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Language: English

Topic: Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Awards: G1347077751, Redox sensitive factors that regulate tissue architecture in the intestine, Isolation, Identification and Characterization of a Toxin Causing Biliary Atresia, Identifying colon cancer modifier genes with zebrafish