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Physical interaction between Tbx6 and mespb is indispensable for the activation of bowline expression during Xenopus

Keisuke Hitachi1, Hiroki Danno, Akiko Kondow

  • 1Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|May 31, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Transcription factors Tbx6 and mespb/mesp2 physically interact to regulate gene expression during vertebrate somitogenesis. This interaction is crucial for the precise formation of somite boundaries by controlling downstream gene expression.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Vertebrate somitogenesis involves transcriptional factors in somite boundary determination.
  • Tbx6 and mespb/mesp2 signaling crosstalk synergistically activates downstream genes like bowline/Ripply2.
  • The molecular mechanism for this synergistic activation was previously unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism behind the synergistic activation of bowline/Ripply2 by Tbx6 and mespb/mesp2.
  • To investigate the physical interaction between Tbx6 and mespb proteins.

Main Methods:

  • Pulldown assays using deletion mutants to identify interaction domains.
  • Expression analysis of bowline/Ripply2 in Xenopus embryos.
  • Utilizing a dominant-negative form of mespb (mespbDeltaDBD) to interfere with protein interaction.

Main Results:

  • Tbx6 and mespb proteins were found to interact physically.
  • Specific domains essential for this physical interaction were identified.
  • Interference with the Tbx6-mespb interaction abrogated bowline gene expression in Xenopus somitogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Direct physical interaction between Tbx6 and mespb proteins regulates bowline/Ripply2 expression.
  • This interaction is essential for precise somite boundary formation during Xenopus somitogenesis.

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