Endoderm patterning in the mouse embryo

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The definitive endoderm (DE), one of the primary germ layers in the embryo, gives rise to the organs of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, including the epithelial cells of the lungs, stomach, colon, intestine, liver, and pancreas. Considering that these tissues are major sites of health problems, including congenital defects, cancers, and organ malfunctions, we know surprisingly little about the early embryonic development of the DE. This is primarily due to a lack of specific regionally expressed genes that can be used to evaluate DE patterning in the embryo. In screen for novel DE markers, we identified the gene Nephrocan (Nepn) that is exclusively expressed in the midgut of the mouse embryo beginning at gastrulation This genes is the earliest known marker of the midgut endoderm. We are using this gene as a window to understand gut formation and patterning. To that end, we have generated a mouse line in which an inducible version of CRE is under the control of the Nepn promoter. We will use this mouse line to identify the decedents of the midgut lineage and determine the plasticity of the gut endoderm. Moreover, we will probe the role of SOX transcription factors in midgut development.