Δ Np63 is regulated by BMP4 signaling and is required for early epidermal development in Xenopus

Background: It has been established in several models that the p63 gene has an important role in the development of the epidermis and its derivatives. In Xenopus , only the ΔNp63 isoform of this gene has been cloned and its role during epidermal development remains unknown. Results: In this work, we showed that Δ Np63 is expressed in the nonneural ectoderm since the gastrula stage and that it is regulated by the bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) signaling pathway. Our in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that Δ Np63 is required in the earliest inductive steps of epidermal development. The overexpression of Δ Np63 caused an increase in epidermal markers with a suppression of neural induction while the blocking of Δ Np63 led to the opposite results. Finally, we found that Δ Np63 acts as an anti‐apoptotic gene, regulating the transcription of some apoptotic and anti‐apoptotic factors. Conclusion: The results suggest that Δ Np63 is an essential gene in early epidermal specification under the control of BMP4. Developmental Dynamics 241:257–269, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.