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Characterization of Xenopus laevis guanine deaminase reveals new insights for its expression and function in the embryonic kidney
Author(s) -
Slater Paula G.,
Cammarata Garrett M.,
Monahan Connor,
Bowers Jackson T.,
Yan Oliver,
Lee Sangmook,
Lowery Laura Anne
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.14
Subject(s) - xenopus , biology , embryonic stem cell , function (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
Background The mammalian guanine deaminase (GDA), called cypin, is important for proper neural development, by regulating dendritic arborization through modulation of microtubule (MT) dynamics. Additionally, cypin can promote MT assembly in vitro. However, it has never been tested whether cypin (or other GDA orthologs) binds to MTs or modulates MT dynamics. Here, we address these questions and characterize Xenopus laevis GDA (Gda) for the first time during embryonic development. Results We find that exogenously expressed human cypin and Gda both display a cytosolic distribution in primary embryonic cells. Furthermore, while expression of human cypin can promote MT polymerization, Xenopus Gda has no effect. Additionally, we find that the tubulin‐binding collapsin response mediator protein (CRMP) homology domain is only partially conserved between cypin and Gda. This likely explains the divergence in function, as we discovered that the cypin region containing the CRMP homology and PDZ‐binding domain is necessary for regulating MT dynamics. Finally, we observed that gda is strongly expressed in the kidneys during late embryonic development, although it does not appear to be critical for kidney development. Conclusions Together, these results suggest that GDA has diverged in function between mammals and amphibians, and that mammalian GDA plays an indirect role in regulating MT dynamics. Developmental Dynamics 248:296–305, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.