Abstract
DURING vertebrate limb development, positional information must be specified along three distinct axes. Although much progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular interactions involved in anterior–posterior and proximal–distal limb patterning, less is known about dorsal–ventral patterning1–3. The genes Wnt-7a and Lmx-1, which are expressed in dorsal limb ectoderm and mesqderm, respectively, are thought to be important regulators of dorsal limb differentiation4–6. Whether a complementary set of molecules controls ventral limb development has not been clear. Here we report that Engrailed-1, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor expressed in embryonic ventral limb ectoderm7–8, is essential for ventral limb patterning. Loss of Engrailed-1 function in mice results in dorsal transformations of ventral paw structures, and in subtle alterations along the proximal–distal limb axis. Engrailed-1 seems to act in part by repressing dorsal differentiation induced by Wnt-7a, and is essential for proper formation of the apical ectodermal ridge.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Johnson, R. L., Riddle, R. D. & Tabin, C. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 4, 535–542 (1994).
Tickle, C. Curr. Opin. Genet Dev. 5, 478–484 (1995).
Martin, G. R. Nature 374, 410–411 (1995).
Parr, B. A. & McMahon, A. P. Nature 374, 350–353 (1995).
Riddle, R. D. et al. Cell 83, 631–640 (1995).
Vogel, A., Rodriguez, C., Warnken, W. & Izpisua Belmonte, J. C. Nature 378, 716–720 (1995).
Davis, C. A. & Joyner, A. L. Genes Dev. 2, 1736–1744 (1988).
Joyner, A. L. & Martin, G. R. Genes Dev. 1, 29–38 (1987).
MacCabe, J. A., Errick, J. & Saunders, J. W. Jr Devl Biol. 39, 69–82 (1974).
Patau, M.-P. in Vertebrate Limb and Somite Morphogenesis (eds Ede, D. A., Hinchliffe, J. R. & Balls, M.) 257–266 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1977).
Geduspan, J. S. & MacCabe, J. A. Devl Biol. 124, 398–408 (1987).
Geduspan, J. S. & MacCabe, J. A. Anat. Rec. 224, 79–87 (1989).
Wurst, W., Auerbach, A. B. & Joyner, A. L. Development 120, 2065–2075 (1994).
Hanks, M., Wurst, W., Anson-Cartwright, L., Auerbach, A. B. & Joyner, A. L. Science 269, 679–682 (1995).
Lyons, K. M., Pelton, R. W. & Hogan, B. L. M. Development 109, 833–844 (1990).
Crossley, P. H. & Martin, G. R. Development 121, 439–451 (1995).
Parr, B. A., Shea, M. J., Vassileva, G. & McMahon, A. P. Development 119, 247–261 (1993).
Sanicola, M., Sekelsky, J., Elson, S. & Gelbart, W. M. Genetics 139, 745–756 (1995).
Zecca, M., Basler, K. & Struhl, G. Development 121, 2265–2278 (1995).
Tabata, T., Schwartz, C., Gustavson, E., Ali, Z. & Kornberg, T. B. Development 121, 3359–3369 (1995).
Lufkin, T. et al. Nature 359, 835–841 (1992).
Wilkinson, D. G., Bailes, J. A. & McMahon, A. P. Cell 50, 79–88 (1987).
Lyons, K. M., Pelton, R. W. & Hogan, B. L. M. Genes Dev. 3, 1657–1668 (1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Loomis, C., Harris, E., Michaud, J. et al. The mouse Engrailed-1 gene and ventral limb patterning. Nature 382, 360–363 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/382360a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/382360a0
This article is cited by
-
Differential distribution and genetic determination of eccrine sweat glands and hair follicles in the volar skin of C57BL/6 mice and SD rats
BMC Veterinary Research (2022)
-
An organoid library of salivary gland tumors reveals subtype-specific characteristics and biomarkers
Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research (2022)
-
A 50-kb deletion disrupting the RSPO2 gene is associated with tetradysmelia in Holstein Friesian cattle
Genetics Selection Evolution (2020)
-
Genetics of pediatric bone strength
BoneKEy Reports (2016)
-
Whole‐genome sequencing identifies EN1 as a determinant of bone density and fracture
Nature (2015)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.