Non-cell autonomous induction of apoptosis and loss of posterior structures by activation domain-specific interactions of Oct-1 in the Xenopus embryo.
Oct-1, a member of the POU family of transcription factors, is expressed at relatively high levels in ectodermal and mesodermal cell lineages during early Xenopus embryogenesis (Veenstra et al, 1995). Here we show that overexpression of Oct-1 induces programmed cell death concomitant with the loss of the posterior part of the body axis. Truncated Oct-1 variants, missing either the C-terminal or N-terminal trans-activation domain, exhibit a different capacity to cause such developmental defects. Oct-1-induced cell death is rescued in unilaterally injected embryos by non-injected cells, indicative of the non-cell autonomous character of the developmental effects of Oct-1. This was confirmed by marker gene analysis, which showed a significant decrease in brachyury expression, suggesting that Oct-1 interferes with an FGF-type signalling pathway.
Veenstra
G J
GJ
Hubrecht Laboratory, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Peterson-Maduro
J
J
Mathu
M T
MT
van der Vliet
P C
PC
Destrée
O H
OH
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001665:Binding Sites; D015415:Biomarkers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D005775:Gastrula; D051863:Host Cell Factor C1; D009024:Morphogenesis; D050811:Octamer Transcription Factor-1; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000098908:Brachyury Protein
D015415:Biomarkers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D051863:Host Cell Factor C1; D050811:Octamer Transcription Factor-1; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000098908:Brachyury Protein; C494169:POU2F1 protein, Xenopus