Cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP), a novel XTcf-3 specific target gene regulates neural development in Xenopus

• Published in: BMC developmental biology 2008-08, Vol.8 (1), p.77-77, Article 77
• Main Authors: van Venrooy, Stephanie, Fichtner, Dagmar, Kunz, Martin, Wedlich, Doris, Gradl, Dietmar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antisense Elements (Genetics) - genetics; Binding proteins; Embryo, Nonmammalian - embryology; Freshwater; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genetic aspects; Genetic regulation; Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Neural Plate - embryology; Phenotype; Physiological aspects; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA Stability - genetics; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; TCF Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factor 3; Transcription Factor 7-Like 1 Protein; Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein; Xenopus; Xenopus - embryology; Xenopus - genetics; Xenopus Proteins - genetics
• ISSN: 1471-213X; 1471-213X
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-213X-8-77

As nuclear mediators of wnt/beta-catenin signaling, Lef/Tcf transcription factors play important roles in development and disease. Although it is well established, that the four vertebrate Lef/Tcfs have unique functional properties, most studies unite Lef-1, Tcf-1, Tcf-3 and Tcf-4 and reduce their function to uniformly transduce wnt/beta-catenin signaling for activating wnt target genes. In order to discriminate target genes regulated by XTcf-3 from those regulated by XTcf-4 or Lef/Tcfs in general, we performed a subtractive screen, using neuralized Xenopus animal cap explants. We identified cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP) as novel XTcf-3 specific target gene. Furthermore, we show that knockdown of XTcf-3 by injection of an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide results in a general broadening of the anterior neural tissue. Depletion of XCIRP by antisense morpholino oligonucleotide injection leads to a reduced stability of mRNA and an enlargement of the anterior neural plate similar to the depletion of XTcf-3. Distinct steps in neural development are differentially regulated by individual Lef/Tcfs. For proper development of the anterior brain XTcf-3 and the Tcf-subtype specific target XCIRP appear indispensable. Thus, regulation of anterior neural development, at least in part, depends on mRNA stabilization by the novel XTcf-3 target gene XCIRP.