Protogenin facilitates trunk-to-tail HOX code transition via modulating GDF11/SMAD2 signaling in mammalian embryos

Abstract During embryogenesis, vertebral axial patterning is intricately regulated by multiple signaling networks. This study elucidates the role of protogenin (Prtg), an immunoglobulin superfamily member, in vertebral patterning control. Prtg knockout (Prtg − / − ) mice manifest anterior homeotic t...

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Main Authors: Yu-Sheng Hung, Wei-Mi Lin, Yu-Chiuan Wang, Wei-Chih Kuo, Yu-Yang Chen, Ming-Ji Fann, Jenn-Yah Yu, Yu-Hui Wong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07342-8
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author Yu-Sheng Hung
Wei-Mi Lin
Yu-Chiuan Wang
Wei-Chih Kuo
Yu-Yang Chen
Ming-Ji Fann
Jenn-Yah Yu
Yu-Hui Wong
author_facet Yu-Sheng Hung
Wei-Mi Lin
Yu-Chiuan Wang
Wei-Chih Kuo
Yu-Yang Chen
Ming-Ji Fann
Jenn-Yah Yu
Yu-Hui Wong
author_sort Yu-Sheng Hung
collection DOAJ
description Abstract During embryogenesis, vertebral axial patterning is intricately regulated by multiple signaling networks. This study elucidates the role of protogenin (Prtg), an immunoglobulin superfamily member, in vertebral patterning control. Prtg knockout (Prtg − / − ) mice manifest anterior homeotic transformations in their vertebral columns and significant alterations in homeobox (Hox) gene expression. Transcriptomic profiling of Prtg − / − mouse embryos highlights Prtg-regulated genes involved in axial development, particularly within the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling pathway. Reduced TGFβ signaling in Prtg − / − mouse embryos is evidenced by decreased phosphorylated Smad2 (pSmad2) levels and its downstream target genes in the developing tail. We further show that Prtg interacts with growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) to enhance GDF11/pSmad2 signaling activity. Using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived presomitic mesoderm-like (hiPSC-PSM) cells, we demonstrate delayed posterior HOX gene expression upon PRTG knockout, which is rescued by GDF11 supplementation. These findings provide compelling evidence that PRTG regulates HOX genes through the GDF11/SMAD2 signaling pathway.
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spelling doaj-art-d71f48664b844eafbac55285120fe9c52025-08-20T02:31:55ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-12-017111610.1038/s42003-024-07342-8Protogenin facilitates trunk-to-tail HOX code transition via modulating GDF11/SMAD2 signaling in mammalian embryosYu-Sheng Hung0Wei-Mi Lin1Yu-Chiuan Wang2Wei-Chih Kuo3Yu-Yang Chen4Ming-Ji Fann5Jenn-Yah Yu6Yu-Hui Wong7Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityDepartment of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityInstitute of Neuroscience, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityDepartment of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityBrain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityDepartment of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityDepartment of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityDepartment of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityAbstract During embryogenesis, vertebral axial patterning is intricately regulated by multiple signaling networks. This study elucidates the role of protogenin (Prtg), an immunoglobulin superfamily member, in vertebral patterning control. Prtg knockout (Prtg − / − ) mice manifest anterior homeotic transformations in their vertebral columns and significant alterations in homeobox (Hox) gene expression. Transcriptomic profiling of Prtg − / − mouse embryos highlights Prtg-regulated genes involved in axial development, particularly within the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling pathway. Reduced TGFβ signaling in Prtg − / − mouse embryos is evidenced by decreased phosphorylated Smad2 (pSmad2) levels and its downstream target genes in the developing tail. We further show that Prtg interacts with growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) to enhance GDF11/pSmad2 signaling activity. Using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived presomitic mesoderm-like (hiPSC-PSM) cells, we demonstrate delayed posterior HOX gene expression upon PRTG knockout, which is rescued by GDF11 supplementation. These findings provide compelling evidence that PRTG regulates HOX genes through the GDF11/SMAD2 signaling pathway.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07342-8
spellingShingle Yu-Sheng Hung
Wei-Mi Lin
Yu-Chiuan Wang
Wei-Chih Kuo
Yu-Yang Chen
Ming-Ji Fann
Jenn-Yah Yu
Yu-Hui Wong
Protogenin facilitates trunk-to-tail HOX code transition via modulating GDF11/SMAD2 signaling in mammalian embryos
Communications Biology
title Protogenin facilitates trunk-to-tail HOX code transition via modulating GDF11/SMAD2 signaling in mammalian embryos
title_full Protogenin facilitates trunk-to-tail HOX code transition via modulating GDF11/SMAD2 signaling in mammalian embryos
title_fullStr Protogenin facilitates trunk-to-tail HOX code transition via modulating GDF11/SMAD2 signaling in mammalian embryos
title_full_unstemmed Protogenin facilitates trunk-to-tail HOX code transition via modulating GDF11/SMAD2 signaling in mammalian embryos
title_short Protogenin facilitates trunk-to-tail HOX code transition via modulating GDF11/SMAD2 signaling in mammalian embryos
title_sort protogenin facilitates trunk to tail hox code transition via modulating gdf11 smad2 signaling in mammalian embryos
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07342-8
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