Islet-1 is required for ventral neuron survival in Xenopus

Journal Article · Fri Oct 23 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BBRC.2009.08.017· OSTI ID:22199846

Shi, Yu; Zhao, Shuhua; Li, Jiejing ^[1]; Mao, Bingyu ^[1]

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1. CAS-Max Planck Junior Scientist Group, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223 (China)

Islet-1 is a LIM domain transcription factor involved in several processes of embryonic development. Xenopus Islet-1 (Xisl-1) has been shown to be crucial for proper heart development. Here we show that Xisl-1 and Xisl-2 are differentially expressed in the nervous system in Xenopus embryos. Knock-down of Xisl-1 by specific morpholino leads to severe developmental defects, including eye and heart failure. Staining with the neuronal markers N-tubulin and Xisl-1 itself reveals that the motor neurons and a group of ventral interneurons are lost in the Xisl-1 morphants. Terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) analysis shows that Xisl-1 morpholino injection induces extensive apoptosis in the ventral neural plate, which can be largely inhibited by the apoptosis inhibitor M50054. We also find that over-expression of Xisl-1 is able to promote cell proliferation and induce Xstat3 expression in the injected side, suggesting a potential role for Xisl-1 in the regulation of cell proliferation in co-operation with the Jak-Stat pathway.

• OSTI ID: 22199846
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Journal Name: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 388; ISSN 0006-291X; ISSN BBRCA9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
APOPTOSIS
CELL PROLIFERATION
EMBRYOS
HEART FAILURE
LABELLING
NERVE CELLS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ONTOGENESIS
TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS