GATA-2 functions downstream of BMPs and CaM KIV in ectodermal cells during primitive hematopoiesis

Gokhan Dalgin, Devorah C. Goldman, Nathan Donley, Riffat Ahmed, Christopher A. Eide, Jan L. Christian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

In Xenopus, primitive blood originates from the mesoderm, but extrinsic signals from the ectoderm are required during gastrulation to enable these cells to differentiate as erythrocytes. The nature of these signals, and how they are transcriptionally regulated, is not well understood. We have previously shown that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are required to signal to ectodermal cells to generate secondary non-cell-autonomous signal(s) necessary for primitive erythropoiesis, and that calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaM KIV) antagonizes BMP signaling. The current studies demonstrate that Gata-2 functions downstream of BMP receptor activation in these same cells, and is a direct target for antagonism by CaM KIV. We show, using loss of function analysis in whole embryos and in explants, that ectodermal Gata-2 is required for primitive erythropoiesis, and that BMP signals cannot rescue blood defects caused by ectoderm removal or loss of ectodermal GATA-2. Furthermore, we provide evidence that acetylation of GATA-2 is required for its function in primitive blood formation in vivo. Our data support a model in which Gata-2 is a transcriptional target downstream of BMPs within ectodermal cells, while activation of the CaM KIV signaling pathway alters GATA-2 function posttranslationally, by inhibiting its acetylation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)454-469
Number of pages16
JournalDevelopmental Biology
Volume310
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 15 2007

Keywords

  • Acetylation
  • Bone morphogenetic protein
  • CBP
  • CaM KIV
  • Erythropoiesis
  • GATA-2
  • Hematopoiesis
  • Xenopus laevis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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