title: RE-1 silencer of transcription/neural restrictive silencer factor modulates ectodermal patterning during Xenopus development.
abstract: RE-1 silencer of transcription/neural restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF), a transcriptional repressor, binds to the RE-1 element present in many vertebrate genes. In vitro studies indicate that REST/NRSF plays important roles in several stages of neural development. However, a full understanding of its physiological function requires in vivo approaches. We find that impairment of REST/NRSF function in Xenopus embryos leads to the perturbation of neural tube, cranial ganglia, and eye development. The origin of these defects is the abnormal patterning of the ectoderm during gastrulation. Interference of REST/NRSF function during the late blastula stage leads to an expansion of the neural plate, concomitant with a decrease of the expression of epidermal keratin and neural crest markers. Furthermore, neurogenesis proceeds abnormally, with loss of the expression of proneural, neurogenic, and neuronal genes. The interference of REST/NRSF mimics several features associated with a decreased bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) function and counteracts some effects of BMP4 misexpression. Our results indicate that REST/NRSF function is required in vivo for the acquisition of specific ectodermal cell fates.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociencias Integradas, Iniciativa Científica Milenio, Programa de Fisiología y Biofísica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, 838-0453 Independencia, Chile. polguin@med.uchile.cl
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olguín
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oteíza
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gómez-Skármeta
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kukuljan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014981:Xenopus; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor