Retinoid receptors promote primary neurogenesis in Xenopus.
Retinoid receptors, which are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, act as ligand-dependent transcription factors. They mediate the effects of retinoic acid primarily as heterodimers of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). To analyse their function, xRXR beta synthetic mRNA was injected into Xenopus embryos in combination with normal and mutated xRAR alpha transcripts. Two informative phenotypes are reported here. Firstly, over-expression of xRXR beta with xRAR alpha results in the formation of ectopic primary neurons. Secondly, blocking retinoid signalling with a mutated xRAR alpha results in a lack of primary neurons. These two phenotypes, from contra-acting manipulations, indicate a role for retinoid signalling during neurogenesis.
Sharpe
C R
CR
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK.
Goldstone
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014981:Xenopus
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C082925:retinoic acid receptor beta; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase