The RNF146 E3 ubiquitin ligase is required for the control of Wnt signaling and body pattern formation in Xenopus

In this study, we take advantages of early Xenopus embryos to demonstrate that Rnf146 is essential for embryonic pattern formation. Depletion of zygotic Rnf146 using a translation blocking morpholino oligo (MO) results in anteriorized development and increased expression the anterior marker gene Otx2, consistent the notion that Rnf146 is a positive regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling through negatively regulating Axin1 expression. This notion is further supported by examination of the role of maternal Rnf146 in the context of Spemann organizer formation and dorsal axis development. Depletion of maternal Rnf146 using an antisense oligodeoxynucleic acid (ODN) leads to ventralized development and diminished expression of organizer genes. Together, we have provided evidence for the first time that Rnf146 is a critical regulator of embryonic pattern formation in vertebrates.

Source: Mechanisms of Development - August 12, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research