Work

Wnt-Dependent Activation of ERK Mediates Repression of Chondrocyte Fate during Calvarial Development

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Wnt signaling regulates cell fate decisions in diverse contexts during development, and loss of Wnt signaling in the cranial mesenchyme results in a robust and binary cell fate switch from cranial bone to ectopic cartilage. The Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and Wnt signaling pathways are activated during calvarial osteoblast cell fate selection. Here, we test the hypothesis that ERK signaling is a mediator of Wnt-dependent cell fate decisions in the cranial mesenchyme. First, we show that loss of Erk1/ 2 in the cranial mesenchyme results in a diminished domain of osteoblast marker expression and increased expression of cartilage fate markers and ectopic cartilage formation in the frontal bone primordia. Second, we show that mesenchyme Wnt/β-catenin signaling and Wntless are required for ERK activation in calvarial osteoblasts. Third, we demonstrate that Wnt and ERK signaling pathways function together to repress Sox9 expression in mouse cranial mesenchyme. Our results demonstrate a link between the Wnt and ERK signaling pathways in regulating lineage selection in a subset of calvarial cells and provide new insights into Wnt-dependent cell fate decisions.

Source: Journal of Developmental Biology

DOI: 10.3390/jdb9030023

Authors: Beatriz Ibarra, Cody Machen, Radhika P. Atit

Institution: Case Western Reserve University

Language: English

Topic: Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,728

Funders: Case Western Reserve University, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research