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IRE1α is essential for Xenopus pancreas development
Li Yuan1, Xinxin Li1, Jiaojiao Feng1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China;
Journal of Biomedical Research
|April 1, 2014
Summary
Xenopus IRE1α (inositol requiring enzyme-1 alpha) is crucial for pancreas development. Its knockdown inhibits pancreatic cell differentiation and specification, highlighting its essential role via the XBP1 pathway.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Inositol requiring enzyme-1 (IRE1) is a conserved sensor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.
- IRE1 activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) by splicing XBP1 mRNA.
- IRE1α is vital for embryonic development in mice, but its role in the embryo proper is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of Xenopus IRE1α (xIRE1α) in pancreas development.
- To determine if xIRE1α acts through the XBP1 pathway in embryonic development.
Main Methods:
- Sequence alignment to compare xIRE1α with human IRE1α.
- Whole-mount in situ hybridization to detect gene expression.
- Loss-of-function analysis via knockdown of xIRE1α and XBP1.
Main Results:
- xIRE1α sequence is highly conserved with human IRE1α.
- xIRE1α is highly expressed in the developing Xenopus pancreas.
- Knockdown of xIRE1α and XBP1 impaired pancreas differentiation and specification.
Conclusions:
- xIRE1α is essential for Xenopus pancreas development.
- xIRE1α functions through the XBP1-dependent pathway during embryogenesis.
