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ECB-ART-40677
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008 Apr 22;10516:5955-62. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0711220105.
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Global regulatory logic for specification of an embryonic cell lineage.

Oliveri P , Tu Q , Davidson EH .


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Explanation of a process of development must ultimately be couched in the terms of the genomic regulatory code. Specification of an embryonic cell lineage is driven by a network of interactions among genes encoding transcription factors. Here, we present the gene regulatory network (GRN) that directs the specification of the skeletogenic micromere lineage of the sea urchin embryo. The GRN now includes all regulatory genes expressed in this lineage up to late blastula stage, as identified in a genomewide survey. The architecture of the GRN was established by a large-scale perturbation analysis in which the expression of each gene in the GRN was cut off by use of morpholinos, and the effects on all other genes were measured quantitatively. Several cis-regulatory analyses provided additional evidence. The explanatory power of the GRN suffices to provide a causal explanation for all observable developmental functions of the micromere lineage during the specification period. These functions are: (i) initial acquisition of identity through transcriptional interpretation of localized maternal cues; (ii) activation of specific regulatory genes by use of a double negative gate; (iii) dynamic stabilization of the regulatory state by activation of a feedback subcircuit; (iv) exclusion of alternative regulatory states; (v) presentation of a signal required by the micromeres themselves and of two different signals required for development of adjacent endomesodermal lineages; and (vi) lineage-specific activation of batteries of skeletogenic genes. The GRN precisely predicts gene expression responses and provides a coherent explanation of the biology of specification.

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Genes referenced: LOC100887844 LOC115919910 LOC115925415 LOC575170
???displayArticle.morpholinos??? alx1 MO5 arid3a MO2 erg MO1 erg MO3 ets1 MO1 etv6 MO1 foxn3 MO1 hhex MO1 sox4 MO1 tbr1 MO1 tgif2l MO1

References [+] :
Amore, cis-Regulatory control of cyclophilin, a member of the ETS-DRI skeletogenic gene battery in the sea urchin embryo. 2006, Pubmed, Echinobase