EDEN-BP-dependent post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in Xenopus somitic segmentation.
EDEN-BP is a Xenopus RNA-binding protein that triggers deadenylation [poly(A) tail shortening], and thereby translational repression and degradation, of a subset of maternal mRNAs soon after fertilization. We show here that this factor is expressed in the presomitic mesoderm of older embryos, the site where somitic segmentation takes place. Inhibiting EDEN-BP function using either antisense morpholino oligonucleotides or neutralizing antibodies leads to severe defects in somitic segmentation, but not myotomal differentiation. This is associated with defects in the expression of segmentation markers belonging to the Notch signalling pathway in the presomitic mesoderm. We show by a combination of approaches that the mRNA encoding XSu(H), a protein that plays a central role in Notch signalling, is regulated by the EDEN-BP pathway. Accordingly, XSu(H) is overexpressed in EDEN-BP knock-down embryos, and overexpressing XSu(H) causes segmentation defects. We finally give data indicating that, in addition to XSu(H), other segmentation RNAs are a target for EDEN-BP. These results show that EDEN-BP-dependent post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression is required for the process of somitic segmentation.
Gautier-Courteille
Carole
C
CNRS UMR 6061, IFR 97, Faculté de Médecine, Université Rennes 1, 2 avenue Léon Bernard, CS 34317, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France.
Le Clainche
Christophe
C
Barreau
Carine
C
Audic
Yann
Y
Graindorge
Antoine
A
Maniey
Dominique
D
Osborne
H Beverley
HB
Paillard
Luc
L
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D011061:Poly A / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019170:Somites / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics
C110462:EDEN-specific RNA-binding protein, Xenopus; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D011061:Poly A