title: Implication of bax in Xenopus laevis tail regression at metamorphosis.
abstract: Apoptosis is fundamental to normal vertebrate development. A dramatic example of postembryonic development involving apoptosis is tail regression during amphibian metamorphosis. Earlier studies led us to propose a functional role for the pro-apoptotic protein Bax in tadpole tail regression. However, its physiological relevance has never been analyzed. We have now cloned a cDNA encoding Xenopus laevis bax (xlbax) and used in vivo gene transfer in tail muscle to analyze the effects of xlbax overexpression. Furthermore, by using an antisense strategy in a similar experimental paradigm, xlbax antisense mRNA was shown to block the apoptotic effects of xlbax and protect against apoptosis in metamorphosing tadpoles. Our results suggest that xlbax is a regulator of muscle fiber death in the regressing tail during metamorphosis.
authors.affiliation: Département Régulation Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, UMR-5166 CNRS, USM 501 Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. sachs@mnhn.fr
authors.forename: Laurent M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Mevel
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Demeneix
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013623:Tail / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein