Bmp2, Bmp4 and Bmp7 are co-required in the mouse AER for normal digit patterning but not limb outgrowth

Outgrowth and patterning of the vertebrate limb requires a functional apical ectodermal ridge (AER). The AER is a thickening of ectodermal tissue located at the distal end of the limb bud. Loss of this structure, either through genetic or physical manipulations results in truncation of the limb. A n...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2012-05, Vol.7 (5), p.e37826
Main Authors: Choi, Kyung-Suk, Lee, Chanmi, Maatouk, Danielle M, Harfe, Brian D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Animals
Biology
Body Patterning - genetics
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 - genetics
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 - genetics
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 - genetics
Bone morphogenetic proteins
Defects
Developmental biology
Digits
Epidermal growth factor
Extremities - embryology
Female
Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 - genetics
Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 - metabolism
Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 - genetics
Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 - metabolism
Fibroblasts
Gene Deletion
Genes
Genetics
Homeodomain Proteins - genetics
Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism
Hyaluronan Receptors - genetics
Hyaluronan Receptors - metabolism
Laboratory animals
Ligands
Limb buds
Limb Buds - growth & development
Limb Deformities, Congenital - genetics
Male
Medicine
Mice
Morphogenesis
MSX1 Transcription Factor - genetics
MSX1 Transcription Factor - metabolism
Msx2 protein
Mutants
Mutation
Phosphoproteins - genetics
Phosphoproteins - metabolism
Rodents
Signal Transduction
Signaling
Thickening
Trans-Activators - genetics
Trans-Activators - metabolism
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Outgrowth and patterning of the vertebrate limb requires a functional apical ectodermal ridge (AER). The AER is a thickening of ectodermal tissue located at the distal end of the limb bud. Loss of this structure, either through genetic or physical manipulations results in truncation of the limb. A number of genes, including Bmps, are expressed in the AER. Previously, it was shown that removal of the BMP receptor Bmpr1a specifically from the AER resulted in complete loss of hindlimbs suggesting that Bmp signaling in the AER is required for limb outgrowth. In this report, we genetically removed the three known AER-expressed Bmp ligands, Bmp2, Bmp4 and Bmp7 from the AER of the limb bud using floxed conditional alleles and the Msx2-cre allele. Surprisingly, only defects in digit patterning and not limb outgrowth were observed. In triple mutants, the anterior and posterior AER was present but loss of the central region of the AER was observed. These data suggest that Bmp ligands expressed in the AER are not required for limb outgrowth but instead play an essential role in maintaining the AER and patterning vertebrate digits.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0037826