Int. J. Dev. Biol. 49: 401 - 408 (2005)
The role of XTRAP-gamma in Xenopus pronephros development
Open Access | Original Article | Published: 1 June 2005
Abstract
We isolated and characterized the Xenopus translocon-associated protein XTRAP-gamma, one of four subunits of the translocon-associated protein complex. TRAP has been proposed to aid the translocation of nascent polypeptides into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, but this has not been demonstrated until now. XTRAP-gamma was specifically expressed in the pronephros tubules of Xenopus laevis from stage 25 during kidney development. Antisense morpholino oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown of XTRAP-gamma suppressed tubulogenesis and decreased expression of the pronephros marker genes Pax-2 and Wnt-4. XTRAP-gamma morpholinos also inhibited differentiation of the pronephros in activin/retinoic acid-treated animal caps. We conclude that XTRAP-gamma plays an important role in the process of pronephros differentiation.
Keywords
XTRAP-gamma, Xenopus laevis, pronephros, Pax-2, Wnt-4