Essential pro-Bmp roles of crossveinless 2 in mouse organogenesis

Development. 2006 Nov;133(22):4463-73. doi: 10.1242/dev.02647. Epub 2006 Oct 11.

Abstract

We here report essential roles of the Bmp-binding protein crossveinless 2 (Cv2; Bmper) in mouse organogenesis. In the null Cv2 mutant mouse, gastrulation occurs normally, but a number of defects are found in Cv2-expressing tissues such as the skeleton. Cartilage differentiation by Bmp4 treatment is reduced in cultured Cv2(-/-) fibroblasts. Moreover, the defects in the vertebral column and eyes of the Cv2(-/-) mouse are substantially enhanced by deleting one copy of the Bmp4 gene, suggesting a pro-Bmp role of Cv2 in the development of these organs. In addition, the Cv2(-/-) mutant exhibits substantial defects in Bmp-dependent processes of internal organ formation, such as nephron generation in the kidney. This kidney hypoplasia is synergistically enhanced by the additional deletion of Kcp (Crim2) which encodes a pro-Bmp protein structurally related to Cv2. This study demonstrates essential pro-Bmp functions of Cv2 for locally restricted signal enhancement in multiple aspects of mammalian organogenesis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cartilage / embryology*
  • DNA Primers
  • Eye / embryology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kidney / embryology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Organogenesis / physiology*
  • Phenotype*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • crossveinless 2 protein, mouse
  • kielin-chordin-like protein, mouse