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Δ Np63 is regulated by BMP4 signaling and is required for early epidermal development in Xenopus
Author(s) -
Tríbulo Celeste,
Guadalupe Barrionuevo María,
Agüero Tristán H.,
Sánchez Sara S.,
Calcaterra Nora B.,
Aybar Manuel J.
Publication year - 2012
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.23706
Subject(s) - xenopus , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , transcription factor , epidermis (zoology) , gastrulation , ectoderm , bone morphogenetic protein 4 , gene , genetics , bone morphogenetic protein , anatomy , embryogenesis , embryo
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.