Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: A role for Wnt signaling in melanocyte specification from neural crest is conserved across vertebrates, but possible ongoing roles in melanocyte differentiation have received little attention. Using a systems biology approach to investigate the gene regulatory network underlying stable melanocyte differentiation in zebrafish highlighted a requirement for a positive-feedback loop involving the melanocyte master regulator Mitfa. Here, we test the hypothesis that Wnt signaling contributes to that positive feedback. We show firstly that Wnt signaling remains active in differentiating melanocytes and secondly that enhanced Wnt signaling drives elevated transcription of mitfa. We show that chemical activation of the Wnt signaling pathway at early stages of melanocyte development enhances melanocyte specification as expected, but importantly that at later (differentiation) stages, it results in altered melanocyte morphology, although melanisation is not obviously affected. Downregulation of Wnt signaling also results in altered melanocyte morphology and organization. We conclude that Wnt signaling plays a role in regulating ongoing aspects of melanocyte differentiation in zebrafish.
Source: Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research
DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12568
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,000
Awards: Defining an Integrated Signaling Network That Patterns the Craniofacial Skeleton, A systems biology approach to neural crest development: The role of noise in fate choice from bipotent precursors., G5520316217, A systems biology approach to neural crest development: The role of noise in fate choice from bipotent precursors., Role and Regulation of Cellular Polarity in Craniofacial Skeletogenesis, Developmental regulation of cranial tendon fibroblast diversity and ECM interactions
OpenAlex ID: W2562420363