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Structure-function analysis of the EGF-CFC family member Cripto identifies residues essential for nodal signalling

G Minchiotti1, G Manco, S Parisi

  • 1International Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, CNR, Via G. Marconi 12, 80125 Naples, Italy. minchiot@iigb.na.cnr.it

Development (Cambridge, England)
|November 21, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Cripto protein rescues zebrafish development by restoring oep function. This study identifies key mutations affecting Cripto

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Genetics

Background:

  • Cripto is a founding member of EGF-CFC genes, crucial extracellular factors for vertebrate development.
  • The one-eyed pinhead (oep) gene in zebrafish is essential for early embryonic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the extracellular function of Cripto protein in zebrafish development.
  • To identify specific domains and mutations affecting Cripto's biological activity.

Main Methods:

  • Injection of Cripto recombinant protein into zebrafish MZoep mutant embryos.
  • Generation and functional assessment of cripto point and deletion mutants in zebrafish.
  • Development of a 3D structural model of Cripto protein.

Main Results:

  • Cripto protein injection fully rescued the MZoep mutant phenotype, demonstrating extracellular rescue capability.
  • The EGF-CFC domain of Cripto is sufficient for its biological activity.
  • Ten point mutations were identified as functionally defective, including two loss-of-function mutations in the EGF-like domain.

Conclusions:

  • Cripto protein can be functionally added extracellularly to rescue oep-encoded function in zebrafish embryos.
  • The EGF-CFC domain is critical for Cripto's role in early development.
  • Structural modeling aids in predicting Cripto's protein-protein interaction sites.

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