Int. J. Dev. Biol. 45: S157 - S158 (2001)

Vol 45, Issue S1

The gene schmalspur functions in mesoderm formation in zebrafish, and interacts with notail and spadetail

Published: 1 June 2001

C Rojo, E Ellertsdottir, HM Pogoda, D Meyer

UCM, Fac Vet, Dept Anat & Anat Patol Comparadas, Madrid 28040, Spain; Univ Freiburg, Dept Dev Biol, Freiburg, Germany

Abstract

The gene schmalspur is involved in the Nodal signalling pathway to maintain the expression of nodal genes during zebrafish development. Mutants for nodal-related genes show a partial loss of axial mesoderm, which is also defective in embryos lacking maternal and zigotic expression of schmalspur. We have generated double mutants of schmalspur with other genes responsible for mesoderm formation and have analyzed the phenotype and the genetic interactions by whole-mount in situ hybridization. In addition, cellular transplant experiments were carried out to determine how schmalspur functions in mesoderm formation. Our results show a close genetic interaction of schmalspur with the T-box genes notail and spadetail, since the axial and paraxial mesoderm of these double mutants were strongly affected, and a non-cell autonomous function for schmalspur in mesoderm formation.

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