Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Using Confocal Analysis of Xenopus laevis to Investigate Modulators of Wnt and Shh Morphogen Gradients
08:10

Using Confocal Analysis of Xenopus laevis to Investigate Modulators of Wnt and Shh Morphogen Gradients

Published on: December 14, 2015

Xantivin suppresses the activity of EGF-CFC genes to regulate nodal signaling

Kousuke Tanegashima1, Yoshikazu Haramoto, Chika Yokota

  • 1Department of Life Sciences (Biology), University of Tokyo, Komaba, Tokyo, Japan.

The International Journal of Developmental Biology
|August 10, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Xenopus antivin (Xantivin) antagonizes nodal signaling by inhibiting EGF-CFC co-receptors. Depleting Xantivin expands mesodermal tissue and head defects, confirming its role in feedback inhibition during embryogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Nodal signaling is crucial for vertebrate embryonic development.
  • Lefty and antivin family genes regulate nodal signaling through feedback inhibition.
  • Understanding Xantivin's role in Xenopus embryogenesis is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of Xantivin, a feedback inhibitor of nodal signaling, in Xenopus embryos.
  • To elucidate the interaction between Xantivin and nodal signaling components, including EGF-CFC genes.

Main Methods:

  • Morpholino antisense oligonucleotide (XatvMO) injection to deplete Xantivin in Xenopus embryos.
  • Analysis of mesodermal marker gene expression (Xbra, Xwnt8, Xnot, Chordin).
  • Animal cap assays and co-immunoprecipitation to study gene interactions.

Main Results:

  • XatvMO injection led to mesodermal tissue expansion and head defects.
  • Depletion of Xantivin up-regulated nodal signaling targets.
  • Xantivin was found to interact with EGF-CFC proteins (FRL-1, Cripto) and suppress their activity.

Conclusions:

  • Xantivin acts as a feedback inhibitor of nodal signaling in Xenopus.
  • Xantivin antagonizes nodal signaling by opposing the activity of EGF-CFC co-receptors.
  • These findings provide insights into the regulation of nodal signaling during vertebrate embryogenesis.

More Related Videos

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development09:32

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development

Published on: June 15, 2017

Suppression of Pro-fibrotic Signaling Potentiates Factor-mediated Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts into Induced Cardiomyocytes09:16

Suppression of Pro-fibrotic Signaling Potentiates Factor-mediated Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts into Induced Cardiomyocytes

Published on: June 3, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:22

Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) and its ligand, Eph receptor-interacting protein (Ephrin) were first discovered in the human carcinoma cell line, hence the name. Ephrin-Eph interaction guides cells to reach their appropriate location in adult tissues. They also play an essential role in the immune system by helping in immune cell migration, adhesion, and activation. Based on their structure and function, Eph is divided into two classes — EphA and EphB.
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway

The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which results in tumor...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...