Edn1/Endra pathway in Xenopus neural crest development

MARCELA BONANO; CELESTE TRÍBULO; TRISTAN AGÜERO; JAIME DECALISTO; ROBERTO MAYOR; SARA SÁNCHEZ; MANUEL AYBAR

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

Congreso; Society for Developmental Biology, 65th annual meeting; 2006

Society for Developmental Biology

The neural crest (NC) develops at the border between neural plate and the prospective epidermis in vertebrate embryos. NC cells are highly migratory and generate a number of derivatives including neurons, pigment cells, craniofacial cartilage, endocrine cells, etc. Numerous studies have demonstrated that many signals (BMP4, Wnt, FGF, etc.) are involved in the induction of this tissue. However, the participation in neural crest specification of other cell signaling pathways has not been established yet. In this work, we have analyzed the expression and participation of the Endothelin1/Endothelin receptor A cell signaling pathway during Xenopus laevis development. We report the cloning and expression pattern of Ednra cDNA. Ednra is expressed at the neural plate border from early neurula stage, in the NC cells during migration, and in branchial arches and the otic vesicle. We analyzed the role of Edn1/Ednra pathway in NC development by conditional gain- and loss-of-function approaches using mRNA microinjection, morpholino-oligonucleotides, and the specific inhibitor of Ednra BQ123. We also present embryological evidence showing Edn1/Ednra pathway is also involved in the maintenance of NC specification and cell survival. Our results show that Edn1/Ednra cell signaling pathway is required for the induction and migration of neural crest cells in Xenopusembryos.