The non-methylated DNA-binding function of Kaiso is not required in earlyXenopus laevisdevelopment
Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2009 papers
Abstract
Mammalian forms of the transcription repressor, Kaiso, can reportedly bind methylated DNA and non-methylated CTGCNA motifs. Here we compare the DNA-binding properties of Kaiso from frog, fish and chicken and demonstrate that only the methyl-CpG-binding function of Kaiso is evolutionarily conserved. We present several independent experimental lines of evidence that the phenotypic abnormalities associated with xKaiso-depleted Xenopus laevis embryos are independent of the putative CTGCNA-dependent DNA-binding function of xKaiso. Our analysis suggests that xKaiso does not play a role in the regulation of either xWnt11 or Siamois, key signalling molecules in the Wnt pathway during X. laevis gastrulation. The major phenotypic defects associated with xKaiso depletion are premature transcription activation before the mid-blastula transition and concomitant activation of a p53-dependent cell-death pathway.
Related Papers
- → Patterning the earlyXenopusembryo(2006)245 cited
- → The Wnt-activated Xiro1 gene encodes a repressor that is essential for neural development and downregulates Bmp4(2001)102 cited
- → Involvement of a urethane‐sensitive system in timing the onset of gastrulation in Xenopus laevis embryos(2001)4 cited
- → Protein synthesis in dorsal, ventral, animal and vegetal half-embryos of Xenopus laevis isolated at the 8-cell stage.(1984)11 cited
- → A possible maternal-effect mutant of Xenopus laevis: II. Studies of RNA synthesis in dissociated embryonic cells(1988)2 cited