Essentiality of Regulator of G Protein Signaling 6 and Oxidized Ca2+ /Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II in Notch Signaling and Cardiovascular Development
Abstract
Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defects worldwide. Although defective Notch signaling is the major cause of mouse embryonic death from cardiovascular defects, how Notch signaling is regulated during embryonic vasculogenesis and heart development is poorly understood. Regulator of G protein signaling 6 (RGS6)-/-/Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)VV double mutant mice were developed by crossing RGS6-/- mice with mice expressing an oxidation-resistant CaMKIIδ (CaMKIIVV), and the resulting embryonic defects/lethality were investigated using E7.5 to E15.5 embryos. While loss of either RGS6 or oxidized CaMKIIδ does not alter embryogenesis, their combined loss causes defective Notch signaling, severe cardiovascular defects, and embryonic lethality (≈E10.5-11.5). Embryos lacking RGS6 and expressing oxidation-resistant CaMKIIδ exhibit reduced myocardial wall thickness, abnormal trabeculation, and arterial specification defects. Double mutants show vascular remodeling defects, including reduced neurovascularization, delayed neural tube maturation, and small dorsal aortae. These striking cardiovascular defects were accompanied by placental and yolk sac defects in angiogenesis, hematopoiesis, and vascul...Continue Reading
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Wnt5a controls Notch1 signaling through CaMKII-mediated degradation of the SMRT corepressor protein.
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Birth Defects
Birth defects encompass structural and functional alterations that occur during embryonic or fetal development and are present since birth. The cause may be genetic, environmental or unknown and can result in physical and/or mental impairment. Here is the latest research on birth defects.