title: Analysis of 14-3-3 family member function in Xenopus embryos by microinjection of antisense morpholino oligos.
abstract: The 14-3-3 intracellular phosphoserine/threonine-binding proteins are adapter molecules that regulate signal transduction, cell cycle, nutrient sensing, apoptotic, and cytoskeletal pathways. There are seven 14-3-3 family members, encoded by separate genes, in vertebrate organisms. To evaluate the role of individual 14-3-3 proteins in vertebrate embryonic development, we utilized an antisense morpholino oligo microinjection technique in Xenopus laevis embryos. By use of this method, we showed that embryos lacking specific 14-3-3 proteins displayed unique phenotypic abnormalities. Specifically, embryos lacking 14-3-3 tau exhibited gastrulation and axial patterning defects, but embryos lacking 14-3-3 gamma exhibited eye defects without other abnormalities, and embryos lacking 14-3-3 zeta appeared completely normal. These and other results demonstrate the power and specificity of the morpholino antisense oligo microinjection technique.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M C
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Muslin
mesh_terms: D048948:14-3-3 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D015151:Immunoblotting; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010641:Phenotype; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048948:14-3-3 Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D029867:Xenopus Proteins