An atlas of Wnt activity during embryogenesis in Xenopus tropicalis

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 13; no. 4; p. e0193606
• Main Authors: Borday, Caroline, Parain, Karine, Thi Tran, Hong, Vleminckx, Kris, Perron, Muriel, Monsoro-Burq, Anne H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 19-04-2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biological research; Biology and Life Sciences; Cognitive Sciences; Embryogenesis; Embryonic development; Embryonic growth stage; Embryos; Gene expression; Heparan sulfate; Life Sciences; Ligands; Molecular biology; Neural crest; Neural tube; Neurobiology; Neurons and Cognition; Neurosciences; Physiological aspects; Proteins; Psychology and behavior; Research and Analysis Methods; Retina; Signaling; Wnt protein; Wnt proteins; Xenopus; Belgium; France
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193606

Wnt proteins form a family of highly conserved secreted molecules that are critical mediators of cell-cell signaling during embryogenesis. Partial data on Wnt activity in different tissues and at different stages have been reported in frog embryos. Our objective here is to provide a coherent and detailed description of Wnt activity throughout embryo development. Using a transgenic Xenopus tropicalis line carrying a Wnt-responsive reporter sequence, we depict the spatial and temporal dynamics of canonical Wnt activity during embryogenesis. We provide a comprehensive series of in situ hybridization in whole-mount embryos and in cross-sections, from gastrula to tadpole stages, with special focus on neural tube, retina and neural crest cell development. This collection of patterns will thus constitute a valuable resource for developmental biologists to picture the dynamics of Wnt activity during development.