Xenopus laevis embryogenesis is controlled by the inducing activities of Spemann's organizer. These inducing activities are separated into two distinct suborganizers: a trunk organizer and a head organizer. The trunk organizer induces the formation of posterior structures by emitting signals and directing morphogenesis. Here, we report that the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling pathway, also known to regulate posterior development, performs critical functions within the cells of Spemann's organizer. Specifically, the FGFR pathway was required in the organizer cells in order for those cells to induce the formation of somitic muscle and the pronephros. Since the organizer influences the differentiation of these tissues by emitting signals that pattern the mesodermal germ layer, our data indicate that the FGFR regulates the production of these signals. In addition, the FGFR pathway was required for the expression of chordin, an organizer-specific protein required for the trunk-inducing activities of Spemann's organizer. Significantly, the FGFR pathway had a minimal effect on the function of the head organizer. We propose that the FGFR pathway is a defining molecular component that distinguishes the trunk organizer from the head organizer by controlling the expression of organizer-specific genes required to induce the formation of posterior structures and somitic muscle in neighboring cells. The implications of our findings for the evolutionarily conserved role of the FGFR pathway in the functions of Spemann's organizer and other vertebrate-signaling centers are discussed.
Copyright 2001 Academic Press.