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Published on: January 26, 2013

Axin2L regulates planar cell polarity in Xenopus embryos

Satheeja Santhi Velayudhan, Keiji Itoh, Sergei Sokol

    Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
    |August 20, 2026
    PubMed

    Insights

    Axin2L, a protein in Xenopus embryos, plays a crucial role in regulating planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling. This finding suggests Axin2L

    Area of Science:

    • Developmental Biology
    • Cell Signaling
    • Molecular Biology

    Background:

    • Axin proteins are key scaffolds in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
    • The Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been traditionally viewed as separate from the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway.
    • Axin2L is a prominent Axin homolog in Xenopus early embryos.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of Axin2L in Xenopus embryonic development.
    • To determine if Axin2L is involved in planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling.
    • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which Axin2L influences morphogenesis.

    Main Methods:

    • Expression of mutated Axin2L in Xenopus embryos.
    • Live imaging of GFP-Axin2L localization and dynamics.
    • Analysis of protein-protein interactions (Axin2L and ADIP).
    • Assessment of Vangl2 localization and ciliogenesis.

    Main Results:

    • Mutated Axin2L disrupted convergent extension and neural tube closure.
    • GFP-Axin2L exhibited planar polarization in specific embryonic cell populations.
    • Axin2L colocalized with ADIP, a protein crucial for neural tube morphogenesis.
    • Axin2L interference affected Vangl2 accumulation and ciliogenesis.

    Conclusions:

    • Axin2L is involved in regulating planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling during vertebrate morphogenesis.
    • Axin2L's function extends beyond the canonical Wnt pathway.
    • Axin2L plays a significant role in coordinating cellular movements essential for embryonic development.

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