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Regulatory interactions during embryogenesis in Xenopus laevis
I B Dawid1, H Otani, P Curtiss
1Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland.
Comptes Rendus De L'Academie Des Sciences. Serie III, Sciences De La Vie
|September 1, 1993
Summary
Retinoic acid (RA) signaling is crucial for amphibian development, with 9-cis RA being more potent than all-trans RA in inducing gene expression and anterior malformations during embryogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Embryology
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- Amphibian embryogenesis relies on cell interactions for axis definition and germ layer specification.
- Peptide growth factors and molecules like retinoic acid (RA) mediate these crucial developmental cell interactions.
- Transcription factor genes are known immediate early or delayed early responses to growth factors and retinoids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of different retinoic acid isomers in Xenopus embryogenesis.
- To identify immediate early response genes involved in mesoderm induction.
- To understand the regulation of these genes, including their dependence on mRNA turnover.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cycloheximide (CHX) resistance assay to identify immediate early response genes.
- Examined the induction of genes such as goosecoid (gsc), Xlim-1, Xbra, Mix.1, XFKH1, and Xnot.
- Compared the biological effects of 9-cis RA and all-trans RA in Xenopus embryos.
Main Results:
- Identified gsc, Xlim-1, Xbra, Mix.1, XFKH1, and Xnot as immediate early response genes in mesoderm induction based on CHX resistance.
- Observed superinduction of gsc, Xnot, and XFKH1 by CHX, indicating rapid mRNA turnover.
- Demonstrated that 9-cis RA is more effective than all-trans RA in inducing Xlim-1 and causing anterior malformations in Xenopus embryos.
Conclusions:
- Immediate early response genes are critical for mesoderm induction during amphibian development.
- Regulation of some immediate early genes involves rapid mRNA turnover.
- 9-cis RA plays a more significant role than all-trans RA in mediating RA-dependent developmental effects in Xenopus, including anterior patterning.