The T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin acts upstream of Mesp1 to specify cardiac mesoderm during mouse gastrulation.

摘要: Instructive programmes guiding cell-fate decisions in the developing mouse embryo are controlled by a few so-termed master regulators. Genetic studies demonstrate that T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin (Eomes) is essential for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, mesoderm migration and specification of definitive endoderm during gastrulation. Here we report Eomes expression within primitive streak marks earliest cardiac promotes formation cardiovascular progenitors directly activating bHLH (basic-helix-loop-helix) gene Mesp1 upstream core transcriptional machinery. In marked contrast to Eomes/Nodal signalling interactions cooperatively regulate anterior-posterior axis patterning allocation cell lineage, requires only low levels Nodal activity accomplished through Foxh1/Smad4-independent mechanism. Collectively, our experiments governs discrete context-dependent sequentially specify