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E J Robertson

Publications and source records attributed to E J Robertson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

The distinctive roles of five different ARC genes in the chloroplast division process in Arabidopsis.

ARC (accumulation and replication of chloroplasts) genes control different aspects of the chloroplast division process in higher plants. In order to establish the hierarchy of the ARC genes in the chloroplast division process and to provide evidence for their specific roles, double mutants were constructed between arc11, arc6, arc5, arc3 and arc1 in all combinations and phenotypically analysed. arc11 is a new nuclear recessive mutant with 29 chloroplasts compared with 120 in wild type. All the phenotypes of the double mutants are unambiguous. ARC1 down-regulates proplastid division but is on a separate pathway from ARC3, ARC5, ARC6 and ARC11. ARC6 initiates both proplastid and chloroplast division. ARC3 controls the rate of chloroplast expansion and ARC11 the central positioning of the final division plane in chloroplast division. ARC5 facilitates separation of the two daughter chloroplasts. ARC5 maps to chromosome 3 and ARC11 and ARC6 map approximately 60 cM apart on chromosome 5.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1999

Early embryonic lethality in Bmp5;Bmp7 double mutant mice suggests functional redundancy within the 60A subgroup.

Members of the BMP family of signaling molecules display a high conservation of structure and function, and multiple BMPs are often coexpressed in a variety of tissues during development. Moreover, distinct BMP ligands are capable of activating common pathways. Here we describe the coexpression of two members of the 60A subfamily of BMPs, Bmp5 and Bmp7, at a number of different sites in the embryo from gastrulation onwards. Previous studies demonstrate that loss of either Bmp5 or Bmp7 has negligible effects on development, suggesting these molecules functionally compensate for each other at early stages of embryonic development. Here we show this is indeed the case. Thus we find that Bmp5;Bmp7 double mutants die at 10.5 dpc and display striking defects primarily affecting the tissues where these factors are coexpressed. The present analysis also uncovers novel roles for BMP signaling during the development of the allantois, heart, branchial arches, somites and forebrain. Bmp5 and Bmp7 do not appear to be involved in establishing pattern in these tissues, but are instead necessary for the proliferation and maintenance of specific cell populations. These findings are discussed with respect to potential mechanisms underlying cooperative signaling by multiple members of the TGF-beta superfamily.

Allantoin↗
PubMed1999

Role of BMP family members during kidney development.

Members of the Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family have been shown to be important signaling molecules throughout mouse development. Accordingly, many BMPs are also expressed during organogenesis of the metanephric kidney. However, only BMP7 has been shown to be absolutely required for proper formation of the kidney, thus the majority of information known involves this family member. BMP7 is expressed in both the ureteric epithelium and the mesenchyme throughout embryonic development and has been shown to function as a survival factor for the nephrogenic mesenchyme. However, there has been some controversy over the role of BMP7 as an inducing molecule for the metanephric mesenchyme. Recent studies have shown that BMP7 functions as an anti-differentiation factor for this mesenchyme cell population. The function of BMPs in the ureter and in the more differentiated epithelial structures of the nephron is less well understood.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Synthesis of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates in arabidopsis thaliana using intermediates of peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a family of polymers composed primarily of R-3-hydroxyalkanoic acids. These polymers have properties of biodegradable thermoplastics and elastomers. Medium-chain-length PHAs (MCL-PHAs) are synthesized in bacteria by using intermediates of the beta-oxidation of alkanoic acids. To assess the feasibility of producing MCL-PHAs in plants, Arabidopsis thaliana was transformed with the PhaC1 synthase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa modified for peroxisome targeting by addition of the carboxyl 34 amino acids from the Brassica napus isocitrate lyase. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the modified PHA synthase was appropriately targeted to leaf-type peroxisomes in light-grown plants and glyoxysomes in dark-grown plants. Plants expressing the PHA synthase accumulated electron-lucent inclusions in the glyoxysomes and leaf-type peroxisomes, as well as in the vacuole. These inclusions were similar to bacterial PHA inclusions. Analysis of plant extracts by GC and mass spectrometry demonstrated the presence of MCL-PHA in transgenic plants to approximately 4 mg per g of dry weight. The plant PHA contained saturated and unsaturated 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids ranging from six to 16 carbons with 41% of the monomers being 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid and 3-hydroxyoctenoic acid. These results indicate that the beta-oxidation of plant fatty acids can generate a broad range of R-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA intermediates that can be used to synthesize MCL-PHAs.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Pitx2 determines left-right asymmetry of internal organs in vertebrates.

The handedness of visceral organs is conserved among vertebrates and is regulated by asymmetric signals relayed by molecules such as Shh, Nodal and activin. The gene Pitx2 is expressed in the left lateral plate mesoderm and, subsequently, in the left heart and gut of mouse, chick and Xenopus embryos. Misexpression of Shh and Nodal induces Pitx2 expression, whereas inhibition of activin signalling blocks it. Misexpression of Pitx2 alters the relative position of organs and the direction of body rotation in chick and Xenopus embryos. Changes in Pitx2 expression are evident in mouse mutants with laterality defects. Thus, Pitx2 seems to serve as a critical downstream transcription target that mediates left-right asymmetry in vertebrates.

Activin Receptors, Type II↗
PubMed1998

Smad2 signaling in extraembryonic tissues determines anterior-posterior polarity of the early mouse embryo.

Smad proteins transmit TGFbeta signals from the cell surface to the nucleus. Here we analyze Smad2 mutant embryos created using ES cell technology. Smad2 function is not required for mesoderm production per se, but, rather unexpectedly, in the absence of Smad2 the entire epiblast adopts a mesodermal fate giving rise to a normal yolk sac and fetal blood cells. In contrast, Smad2 mutants entirely lack tissues of the embryonic germ layers. Smad2 signals serve to restrict the site of primitive streak formation and establish anterior-posterior identity within the epiblast. Chimera experiments demonstrate these essential activities are contributed by the extraembryonic tissues. Thus, the extraembryonic tissues play critical roles in establishing the body plan during early mouse development.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Mice lacking Bmp6 function.

Bmp6, a member of the 60A subgroup of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), is expressed in diverse sites in the developing mouse embryo from preimplantation stages onwards. To evaluate roles for Bmp6 signaling in vivo, gene targeting was used to generate a null mutation at the Bmp6 locus. The resulting Bmp6 mutant mice are viable and fertile, and show no overt defects in tissues known to express Bmp6 mRNA. The skeletal elements of newborn and adult mutants are indistinguishable from wild-type. However, careful examination of skeletogenesis in late gestation embryos reveals a consistent delay in ossification strictly confined to the developing sternum. In situ hybridization studies in the developing long bones and sternum show that other BMP family members are expressed in overlapping domains. In particular we find that Bmp2 and Bmp6 are coexpressed in hypertrophic cartilage, suggesting that Bmp2 may functionally compensate in Bmp6 null mice. The defects in sternum development in Bmp6 null mice are likely to be associated with a transient early expression of Bmp6 in the sternal bands, prior to ossification. These sternal defects are slightly exacerbated in Bmp5/6 double mutant animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Anterior patterning in mouse.

The anteroposterior axis of the vertebrate embryo becomes explicit during gastrulation, the process that converts a relatively featureless embryonic precursor population into new tissues assembled into a recognisable body pattern. Vertebrate embryos arrive at gastrulation in very different states in terms of their size, cell number and reliance on factors inherited from the unfertilized egg. However, they emerge from gastrulation looking very similar, and there is now extensive molecular genetic evidence to indicate that the bare essentials of the gastrulation process have been well conserved during evolution. Here, we review recent findings in the mouse that suggest that anterior identity is, in fact, established before gastrulation starts. They suggest that it is first manifest in extraembryonic tissue and that this tissue is essential for the embryo to develop normal anterior structures, such as the forebrain. We also argue that this precocious anterior pattern could have a counterpart in other non-mammalian vertebrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Regulation of BMP7 expression during kidney development.

Members of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) family exhibit overlapping and dynamic expression patterns throughout embryogenesis. However, little is known about the upstream regulators of these important signaling molecules. There is some evidence that BMP signaling may be autoregulative as demonstrated for BMP4 during tooth development. Analysis of BMP7 expression during kidney development, in conjunction with studies analyzing the effect of recombinant BMP7 on isolated kidney mesenchyme, suggest that a similar mechanism may operate for BMP7. We have generated a beta-gal-expressing reporter allele at the BMP7 locus to closely monitor expression of BMP7 during embryonic kidney development. In contrast to other studies, our analysis of BMP7/lacZ homozygous mutant embryos, shows that BMP7 expression is not subject to autoregulation in any tissue. In addition, we have used this reporter allele to analyze the expression of BMP7 in response to several known survival factors (EGF, bFGF) and inducers of metanephric mesenchyme, including the ureteric bud, spinal cord and LiCl. These studies show that treatment of isolated mesenchyme with EGF or bFGF allows survival of the mesenchyme but neither factor is sufficient to maintain BMP7 expression in this population of cells. Rather, BMP7 expression in the mesenchyme is contingent on an inductive signal. Thus, the reporter allele provides a convenient marker for the induced mesenchyme. Interestingly LiCl has been shown to activate the Wnt signaling pathway, suggesting that BMP7 expression in the mesenchyme is regulated by a Wnt signal. Treatment of whole kidneys with sodium chlorate to disrupt proteoglycan synthesis results in the loss of BMP7 expression in the mesenchyme whereas expression in the epithelial components of the kidney are unaffected. Heterologous recombinations of ureteric bud with either limb or lung mesenchyme demonstrate that expression of BMP7 is maintained in this epithelial structure. Taken together, these data indicate that BMP7 expression in the epithelial components of the kidney is not dependent on cell-cell or cell-ECM interactions with the metanephric mesenchyme. By contrast, BMP7 expression in the metanephric mesenchyme is dependent on proteoglycans and possibly Wnt signaling.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Failure of ventral closure and axial rotation in embryos lacking the proprotein convertase Furin.

We have examined the role of Furin in postimplantation-stage mouse embryos by analyzing both the expression pattern of fur mRNA and the developmental consequences of a loss-of-function mutation at the fur locus. At early stages (day 7.5), fur mRNA is abundant in extraembryonic endoderm and mesoderm, anterior visceral endoderm, and in precardiac mesoderm. 1 day later fur is expressed throughout the heart tube and in the lateral plate mesoderm, notochordal plate and definitive gut endoderm. Embryos lacking Furin die between days 10.5 and 11.5, presumably due to hemodynamic insufficiency associated with severe ventral closure defects and the failure of the heart tube to fuse and undergo looping morphogenesis. Morphogenesis of the yolk sac vasculature is also abnormal, although blood islands and endothelial precursors form. Analysis of cardiac and endodermal marker genes shows that while both myocardial precursors and definitive endoderm cells are specified, their numbers and migratory properties are compromised. Notably, mutant embryos fail to undergo axial rotation, even though Nodal and eHand, two molecular markers of left-right asymmetry, are appropriately expressed. Overall, the present data identify Furin as an important activator of signals responsible for ventral closure and embryonic turning.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Mouse LIM-kinase 2 gene: cDNA cloning, genomic organization, and tissue-specific expression of two alternatively initiated transcripts.

LIM-kinase 1 and LIM-kinase 2 (LIMK1 and LIMK2) are members of a novel protein kinase subfamily containing LIM motifs at the N-terminus. There are two isoforms of Limk2 transcripts coding proteins with distinct N-terminal structures: LIMK2a, containing two LIM motifs, and LIMK2b, with one and one-half LIM motifs. Here we report the cDNA and genomic structures of mouse LIMK2. The deduced 638-aminoacid sequence of mouse LIMK2a shows 98% identity with that of rat LIMK2a. The mouse Limk2a gene consists of at least 16 exons and spans more than 50 kb. Exon/intron boundaries of the mouse Limk2a gene are exactly conserved with those of the mouse Limk1 gene. An additional exon encoding the Limk2b-specific 5'-terminal sequence was found to be located between exons 2 and 3, suggesting that Limk2a and 2b mRNAs are transcribed from a single Limk2 gene by an alternative usage of exons near the 5' end of the gene. Limk2a and Limk2b transcripts were expressed at different ratios in a variety of mouse tissues.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1997

In vivo functions mediated by the p41 isoform of the MHC class II-associated invariant chain.

We used a "hit and run" gene targeting strategy to generate mice expressing only the p41 isoform of the conserved invariant (Ii) chain associated with MHC class II molecules. In contrast to mutants expressing only p31 Ii chain, a small proportion of A(alpha)b A(beta)b molecules produced by these animals have reduced mobilities in SDS-PAGE and appear incompletely processed. Nonetheless, class II surface expression, peptide occupancy, CD4+ T cell maturation, and proliferative responses toward intact protein Ags are efficiently reconstituted. Moreover, spleen cells exclusively expressing p41 or p31 alone display equivalent dose-response curves in Ag presentation assays. Similar conclusions were reached analyzing mutants expressing two independent MHC haplotypes. Overall, these results demonstrate that Ii chain functional activities as a class II-specific chaperone are largely shared by p31 and p41 isoforms in the intact animal. Mutant mouse strains producing only p31 or p41 under control of endogenous regulatory elements responsible for constitutive and inducible Ii chain expression should prove useful for dissecting the contributions of these isoforms to diverse CD4+ T cell responses in vivo, such as those responsible for Ab production, inflammatory responses, autoimmune diseases, and protection against infectious agents.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Overlapping expression domains of bone morphogenetic protein family members potentially account for limited tissue defects in BMP7 deficient embryos.

BMP7 is expressed at diverse sites in the developing mouse embryo, including visceral endoderm, notochord, heart, eye, kidney, and bone. A null mutation in BMP7 results in defects largely confined to the developing kidney and eye. To examine whether other bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family members potentially substitute for BMP7 in mutant embryos, thereby restricting the observed defects, we analyzed the expression patterns of BMP2 through BMP7 in wild-type and mutant tissues. In the central nervous system and heart, which develop normally in the absence of BMP7 signaling, expression domains of other BMP family members completely overlap with that of BMP7. The variable expressivity of the eye defect correlates with partially overlapping BMP4 and BMP7 expression domains during early eye induction. The loss of BMP7 signaling in the kidney results in apoptosis in the metanephric mesenchyme, a cell population that exclusively expresses BMP7. Thus, tissue defects observed in BMP7 deficient embryos are restricted to cell populations exclusively expressing BMP7. These data suggest that BMP family members can functionally substitute for BMP7 at sites where they colocalize in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Left-right asymmetry in vertebrates.

All vertebrates develop with a distinct, invariant, left-right (L-R) body asymmetry. Recently, a number of molecules have been shown to be expressed asymmetrically with respect to the L-R axis during early embryogenesis. The temporal expression patterns of these molecules, in combination with embryo manipulation and genetic experiments, indicate that they may represent elements of a conserved pathway governing embryonic handedness.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

nodal expression in the primitive endoderm is required for specification of the anterior axis during mouse gastrulation.

Mouse nodal, a member of the TGFbeta family of secreted growth factors is essential for gastrulation. We recently generated a nodal(lacZ) reporter allele by homologous recombination in ES cells. In the present study, beta-galactosidase staining in the perigastrulation-stage embryo has demonstrated the site of highest nodal expression is localised to the prospective posterior region of the epiblast marking the site of primitive streak formation. We also documented transient nodal.lacZ expression in the visceral endoderm prior to and during early streak formation. A mosaic analysis using wild-type ES cells to rescue nodal-deficient embryos allowed us to document functionally distinct nodal activities in the embryonic ectodermal and primitive endodermal cell lineages. nodal signaling in the ectoderm is necessary for primitive streak formation as the gastrulation defect of nodal-deficient embryos can be rescued by the inclusion of small numbers of wild-type cells. In addition, we show that chimeric embryos composed of nodal-deficient primitive endoderm fail to develop rostral neural structures. Thus we conclude that the action of nodal, a TGFbeta-related growth factor expressed in the primitive endoderm, is critical for patterning of the anterior aspects of the A-P axis.

Alleles↗