The secreted integrin ligand nephronectin is necessary for forelimb formation in Xenopus tropicalis.
While limb regeneration has been extensively studied in amphibians, little is known about the initial events in limb formation in metamorphosing anurans. The small secreted integrin ligand nephronectin (npnt) is necessary for development of the metanephros in mouse. Although expressed in many tissues, its role in other developmental processes is not well-studied. Here we show that a transgene insertion that disrupts this gene ablates forelimb formation in Xenopus tropicalis. Our results suggest a novel role for integrin signalling in limb development, and represent the first insertional phenotype to be cloned in amphibians.
Division of Developmental Biology, MRC-National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK.
Anita
A
Abu-Daya
Satoko
S
Nishimoto
Lynn
L
Fairclough
Timothy J
TJ
Mohun
Malcolm P O
MP
Logan
Lyle B
LB
Zimmerman
D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005552:Forelimb / Q000196:embryology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005838:Genotype; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; C103172:T-box transcription factor 5; C432915:nephronectin