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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Stem cell-like Xenopus Embryonic Explants to Study Early Neural Developmental Features In Vitro and In Vivo
Published on: February 2, 2016
Neuralization of the Xenopus embryo by inhibition of p300/ CREB-binding protein function
1Division of Neuroscience, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Abstract:
p300/ CREB-binding protein (CBP) is a transcriptional coactivator for a plethora of transcription factors and plays critical roles in signal transduction pathways. We report that the inhibition of p300/CBP function in the Xenopus embryo abolishes non-neural tissue formation and, strikingly, initiates neural induction and primary neurogenesis in the entire embryo. The observed neuralization is achieved in the absence of anterior or posterior gene expression, suggesting that neural fate activation and anterior patterning may represent distinct molecular events. We further demonstrate that the neuralizing and anteriorizing activities of chordin and noggin are separable properties of these neural inducers. This study reveals that all embryonic cells possess intrinsic neuralizing capability and that p300/CBP function is essential for embryonic germ layer formation and neural fate suppression during vertebrate embryogenesis.
Insights
Inhibiting p300/CREB-binding protein (CBP) in Xenopus embryos triggers widespread neural induction. This suggests CBP is crucial for suppressing neural fate and enabling germ layer formation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Molecular biology
- Genetics
Background:
- p300/CREB-binding protein (CBP) acts as a transcriptional coactivator.
- CBP is vital in numerous signal transduction pathways.
- Its role in early vertebrate development is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of p300/CBP in Xenopus embryogenesis.
- To determine the effects of inhibiting p300/CBP on neural induction and germ layer formation.
- To explore the relationship between neural fate activation and anterior patterning.
Main Methods:
- Functional inhibition of p300/CBP in Xenopus embryos.
- Analysis of gene expression related to neural and anterior-posterior patterning.
- Separation of neuralizing and anteriorizing activities of known inducers like chordin and noggin.
Main Results:
- Inhibition of p300/CBP abolished non-neural tissue formation.
- Complete neural induction and primary neurogenesis occurred in the entire embryo.
- Neuralization proceeded without anterior or posterior gene expression, indicating distinct molecular events.
- Neuralizing and anteriorizing functions of chordin and noggin were shown to be separable.
Conclusions:
- All embryonic cells possess intrinsic neuralizing potential.
- p300/CBP function is essential for germ layer formation.
- p300/CBP is critical for suppressing neural fate during vertebrate embryogenesis.
