title: COUP-TFI is a potential regulator of retinoic acid-modulated development in Xenopus embryos.
abstract: Isomers of retinoic acid are considered likely regulators of developmental pattern formation in vertebrate embryos. The orphan receptor COUP-TFI, which can alter cellular responses to retinoic acid in cultured cells, is expressed in distinct regions of the developing zebrafish and mouse anterior central nervous system. We asked if COUP-TFI can modulate retinoic acid signaling and anterior neural development in a vertebrate embryo by examining: (1) whether COUP-TFI could alter transcriptional responses to retinoic acid in Xenopus embryonic explants, and (2) whether misexpression of COUP-TFI could regulate anterior neural gene expression during early Xenopus development. The results from these studies show that COUP-TFI is a potent regulator of retinoic acid-induced gene expression in Xenopus embryonic cells, and that misexpression of COUP-TFI causes deficiencies in anterior neural structures and head development in Xenopus embryos with a concomitant change in anterior neural gene expression. These results support the proposition that COUP-TFI has a role in the elaboration and patterning of anterior neural gene expression in vertebrates, possibly via effects on the retinoic acid signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kimelman
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D051838:COUP Transcription Factor I; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000494:pharmacology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D051838:COUP Transcription Factor I; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D014157:Transcription Factors; D028341:Activins; D014212:Tretinoin; D007265:Inhibins