1097-0177/asset/DVDY_left.gif?v=1&s=b87335326ab8ecd1f573539da0b5fa6abef26532)
Research Article
ΔNp63 is regulated by BMP4 signaling and is required for early epidermal development in Xenopus
Article first published online: 14 DEC 2011
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.23706
Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Tríbulo, C., Guadalupe Barrionuevo, M., Agüero, T. H., Sánchez, S. S., Calcaterra, N. B. and Aybar, M. J. (2012), ΔNp63 is regulated by BMP4 signaling and is required for early epidermal development in Xenopus. Developmental Dynamics, 241: 257–269. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.23706
Publication History
- Issue published online: 24 JAN 2012
- Article first published online: 14 DEC 2011
- Accepted manuscript online: 6 DEC 2011 02:26PM EST
- Manuscript Accepted: 16 NOV 2011
Funded by
- ANPCyT-Foncyt. Grant Numbers: PICT2007-0692, PICT2007-0737, PICT2010-1224
- CIUNT. Grant Numbers: 26/D408, 26/D480
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- epidermis;
- specification;
- BMP4;
- ΔNp63;
- apoptosis
Key findings:
ΔNp63 expression is regulated by BMP signaling.
Gain- and loss-of-function experiments show that ΔNp63 is essential since the earliest steps of epidermis induction for the proper development of this tissue.
ΔNp63 participates in epidermal development regulating the expression of some components of the apoptotic pathway.
Abstract
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 ΔNp63 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 ΔNp63 is required in the earliest inductive steps of epidermal development. The overexpression of ΔNp63 caused an increase in epidermal markers with a suppression of neural induction while the blocking of ΔNp63 led to the opposite results. Finally, we found that ΔNp63 acts as an anti-apoptotic gene, regulating the transcription of some apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors. Conclusion: The results suggest that ΔNp63 is an essential gene in early epidermal specification under the control of BMP4. Developmental Dynamics 241:257–269, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.