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HNF1(beta) is required for mesoderm induction in the Xenopus embryo
R Vignali1, L Poggi, F Madeddu
1Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica, Laboratori di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Università di Pisa, Via G. Carducci 13, Italy. rvignali@dfb.unipi.it.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|March 8, 2000
Summary
XHNF1(beta) is crucial for Xenopus mesoderm formation. Its repression disrupts dorsal and ventral mesoderm development, highlighting its essential role in early embryonic patterning and induction.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Embryology
- Xenopus laevis Research
Background:
- XHNF1(beta) is a homeobox gene expressed early in Xenopus embryos.
- Its precise role in mesoderm induction and patterning remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the early embryonic function of XHNF1(beta) in Xenopus.
- To determine the necessity of XHNF1(beta) for mesoderm formation and induction.
Main Methods:
- Functional ablation using mRNA injection of an XHNF1(beta)/engrailed repressor fusion construct (XHNF1(beta)/EngR).
- Assessing phenotypic effects of XHNF1(beta)/EngR on dorsal and ventral mesoderm formation.
- Investigating the role of XHNF1(beta) in response to maternal determinants (B-Vg1, VegT) and growth factors (eFGF).
Main Results:
- XHNF1(beta)/EngR injection disrupted dorsal and ventral mesoderm formation, causing axial deficiencies.
- Phenotypic effects were dependent on XHNF1(beta) homeodomain DNA-binding activity and rescued by wild-type XHNF1(beta).
- XHNF1(beta)/EngR blocked vegetal explant mesoderm-inducing ability and B-Vg1-mediated but not eFGF-mediated mesoderm induction in animal caps.
Conclusions:
- XHNF1(beta) function is essential, though not sufficient, for mesoderm induction in Xenopus embryos.
- XHNF1(beta) plays a critical role in the signaling pathways regulating mesoderm development.