Cnrip1 is a regulator of eye and neural development in Xenopus laevis. (5th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Xiaona; Suzuki, Toshiyasu; Takahashi, Chika; Nishida, Eisuke; Kusakabe, Morioh
• Is Part Of: Genes to cells. Volume 20:Number 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 324
• Page End: 339
• Publication Date: 2015-02-05
• Subjects: Cytogenetics -- Periodicals; Cells -- Mechanical properties -- Periodicals; Molecular genetics -- Periodicals; Genes -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; Biomechanics -- Periodicals; 571.6
• DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12225
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1356-9597

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="gtc12225-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1 (CNRIP1), which has been originally identified as the binding partner of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1), is evolutionarily conserved throughout vertebrates, but its physiological function has been unknown. Here, we identify a developmental role of CNRIP1 using <italic>Xenopus laevis</italic> embryos. During early embryogenesis, expression of <italic>Xenopus laevis cnrip1</italic> is highly restricted to the animal region of gastrulae where neural and eye induction occur, and afterward it is seen in neural and other tissues with a temporally and spatially regulated pattern. Morpholino‐mediated knockdown experiments indicate that <italic>cnrip1</italic> has an essential role in early eye and neural development by regulating the onset of expression of key transcription factor genes, <italic>sox2</italic>, <italic> otx2</italic>, <italic> pax6</italic> and <italic>rax</italic>. Also, over‐expression experiments suggest that <italic>cnrip1</italic> has a potential to expand <italic>sox2</italic>, <italic> otx2</italic>, <italic> pax6</italic> and <italic>rax</italic> expression. These results suggest an instructive role of <italic>Xenopus laevis cnrip1</italic> in early eye and neural development. Furthermore, <italic>Xenopus laevis cnr1</italic> knockdown leads to eye defects, which are partly similar to, but milder than, those caused by <italic>cnrip1</italic> knockdown, suggesting a possible functional similarity between CNRIP1 and CNR1. This study is the first characterization of an <italic>in vivo</italic> role of CNRIP1 in the context of whole organisms.</p> </abstract>