The cytokine FAM3B/PANDER is an FGFR ligand that promotes posterior development in <i>Xenopus</i>
Fangfang Zhang, Xuechen Zhu, Pan Wang, Qing He, Huimei Huang, Tianrui Zheng, Yongyu Li, Hong Jia, Linping Xu, Huaxiang Zhao, Gabriele Colozza, Qinghua Tao, Edward M. De Robertis, Yi Ding
Abstract
Significance How distinct body regions form along the anterior–posterior axis in vertebrate embryos is a fascinating and incompletely understood developmental process. FAM3B/PANDER is a secreted protein involved in glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes pathogenesis in mammals, but its receptor has been unknown. Here, we report that FAM3B binds to transmembrane fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) and activates their downstream signaling pathway. In frog embryos, gain-of-function of FAM3B impairs head development and induces ectopic tail-like structures, whereas loss-of-function of FAM3B promotes head development. FGFR is required downstream of FAM3B for head-to-tail patterning. Our results reveal that FAM3B functions by activating the FGFR pathway in frog embryos and mammalian cells and shed light on its possible role in human diseases.