ZFPIP/Zfp462 is maternally required for proper early Xenopus laevis development.
ZFPIP (Zinc Finger Pbx1 Interacting Protein) has been recently identified in our laboratory in a yeast two hybrid screen using an embryonic mouse cDNA library and PBX1 as a bait. This gene encodes a large protein (250 kDa) that contains a bipartite NLS, numerous C2H2 zinc fingers and is highly conserved amongst vertebrates. In order to address the role of ZFPIP during embryonic development, we analysed the expression pattern of the gene and performed morpholinos injections into Xenopus laevis embryos. We first showed that the ZFPIP protein was maternally present in oocytes. Then, ZFPIP was detected from morula to neurula stages in the nucleus of the cells, with a gradient from animal to vegetal pole. By injection of ZFPIP morpholinos, we showed that morphant embryos were unable to undergo proper gastrulation and subsequently exhibited a persistent opened blastopore. Analysis of molecular and cellular events that were altered in morphant embryos highlighted an impairment of cell division processes as illustrated by atypical mitosis with aberrant metaphase, anaphase or telophase, incomplete chromosome segregation or conjointed nuclei. The overall data presented here demonstrated that ZFPIP was a major developing gene that acts in the very first steps of embryonic development of Xenopus laevis.
Laurent
Audrey
A
Institut de Génétique et Développement, UMR CNRS 6061, IFR 140, Université de Rennes 1, Campus Villejean, 2 avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, CS34317, F-35043 Rennes Cedex, France.
Masse
Julie
J
Omilli
Francis
F
Deschamps
Stéphane
S
Richard-Parpaillon
Laurent
L
Chartrain
Isabelle
I
Pellerin
Isabelle
I
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C519662:Zfp462 protein, mouse