Anterior expression of the caudal homologue cCdx-B activates a posterior genetic program in avian embryos

Several families of regulatory genes have been implicated in anteroposterior patterning of gastrulation-stage vertebrate embryos. Members of the Drosophila caudal family of homeobox genes (Cdx) are among the earliest regulators of posterior cell fates. The regulatory cascade initiated by the caudal homologue, eCdx-B, was examined in avian embryos. During gastrulation, cCdx-B is expressed with other posterior patterning genes. In the posterior primitive streak, cCdx-B expression coincides with posteriorly expressed Hox cluster genes and Wnt family members such as Wnt-8c. The hierarchical relationship between these patterning genes was examined after anterior ectopic expression of eCdx-B. cCdx-B expression in anterior cardiogenic cells by means of adenoviral infection leads to the induction of Wnt-8c and the posterior Hox genes, Hoxa-7, Hoxc-6, and Hoxc-8. Cardiogenesis is not inhibited in cCdx-B expressing anterior lateral mesoderm, indicating that anterior cell fates are not respecified with the activation of posterior patterning genes after gastrulation. These results support an important role for cCdx-B in initiating a posterior program of gene expression that includes Wnt signaling molecules and the Hox cluster genes. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.