FGFR-related gene nou-darake restricts brain tissues to the head region of planarians

Francesc Cebrià, Chiyoko Kobayashi, Yoshihiko Umesono, Masumi Nakazawa, Katsuhiko Mineta, Kazuho Ikeo, Takashi Gojobori, Mari Itoh, Masanori Taira, Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado and Kiyokazu Agata ()
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Francesc Cebrià: Center for Developmental Biology RIKEN Kobe
Chiyoko Kobayashi: Center for Developmental Biology RIKEN Kobe
Yoshihiko Umesono: Center for Developmental Biology RIKEN Kobe
Masumi Nakazawa: The Graduate University for Advanced Studies
Katsuhiko Mineta: The Graduate University for Advanced Studies
Kazuho Ikeo: The Graduate University for Advanced Studies
Takashi Gojobori: The Graduate University for Advanced Studies
Mari Itoh: University of Tokyo, and Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Corporation
Masanori Taira: University of Tokyo, and Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Corporation
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado: University of Utah School of Medicine
Kiyokazu Agata: Center for Developmental Biology RIKEN Kobe

Nature, 2002, vol. 419, issue 6907, 620-624

Abstract: Abstract The study of planarian regeneration may help us to understand how we can rebuild organs and tissues after injury, disease or ageing1. The robust regenerative abilities of planarians are based upon a population of totipotent stem cells (neoblasts)2,3,4, and among the organs regenerated by these animals is a well-organized central nervous system5,6. In recent years, methodologies such as whole-mount in situ hybridizations and double-stranded RNA have been extended to planarians with the aim of unravelling the molecular basis of their regenerative capacities7,8,9,10,11. Here we report the identification and characterization of nou-darake (ndk), a gene encoding a fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-like molecule specifically expressed in the head region of the planarian Dugesia japonica. Loss of function of ndk by RNA interference results in the induction of ectopic brain tissues throughout the body. This ectopic brain formation was suppressed by inhibition of two planarian FGFR homologues (FGFR1 and FGFR2). Additionally, ndk inhibits FGF signalling in Xenopus embryos. The data suggest that ndk may modulate FGF signalling in stem cells to restrict brain tissues to the head region of planarians.

Date: 2002
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DOI: 10.1038/nature01042

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