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Published on: February 2, 2016
Regulation of early Xenopus development by the PIAS genes
Brendan Burn1, Selena Brown, Chenbei Chang
1Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Abstract:
Originally identified as cytokine inhibitors, protein inhibitors of activated STAT (PIAS) are shown to regulate activities of a plethora of proteins and influence diverse processes such as immune response, cancer formation, and cell cycle progression. However, the roles of PIAS during vertebrate embryogenesis are less understood. In this study, we report isolation and initial characterization of all four PIAS genes from Xenopus laevis. The Xenopus PIAS genes are expressed throughout early development and have overlapping and distinct expression patterns, with, for example, high levels of PIAS2 in the notochord and strong expression of PIAS4 in the neural and neural crest derivatives. Overexpression of PIAS disrupts mesoderm induction and impairs body axis formation. PIAS proteins have differential ability to regulate signals from the growth factors activin, bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), and Wnt8. Our data suggest that Xenopus PIAS play important roles in mesodermal induction and patterning during early frog development.
Insights
Protein inhibitors of activated STAT (PIAS) are crucial for early frog development. These genes regulate mesodermal induction and body axis formation in Xenopus laevis embryos.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Molecular biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Protein inhibitors of activated STAT (PIAS) were initially identified as cytokine inhibitors.
- PIAS proteins regulate diverse cellular processes including immune response, cancer, and cell cycle.
- Their specific roles in vertebrate embryogenesis remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize all four PIAS genes in Xenopus laevis.
- To investigate the expression patterns of PIAS genes during early Xenopus development.
- To determine the functional roles of PIAS proteins in mesodermal induction and body axis formation.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of four PIAS genes from Xenopus laevis.
- Analysis of PIAS gene expression patterns throughout early embryogenesis.
- Overexpression studies to assess the impact of PIAS on mesoderm induction and body axis formation.
- Investigation of PIAS protein interactions with signaling pathways (activin, BMP4, Wnt8).
Main Results:
- All four PIAS genes were successfully isolated and characterized in Xenopus laevis.
- PIAS genes exhibit dynamic and overlapping expression patterns during early development, with specific localizations (e.g., PIAS2 in notochord, PIAS4 in neural derivatives).
- Overexpression of PIAS disrupted mesoderm induction and impaired body axis formation.
- PIAS proteins demonstrated differential regulation of activin, BMP4, and Wnt8 signaling pathways.
Conclusions:
- Xenopus PIAS genes are expressed throughout early development, suggesting crucial roles.
- PIAS proteins are essential regulators of mesodermal induction and patterning in early frog embryos.
- PIAS proteins influence key developmental signaling pathways, highlighting their importance in embryogenesis.
