The expression of a zebrafish gene homologous to Drosophila snail suggests a conserved function in invertebrate and vertebrate gastrulation

Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 1107-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hammerschmidt ◽  
C. Nusslein-Volhard
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Paraxial Mesoderm ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Head Region ◽  
Dorsal Midline ◽  
Ventral Furrow ◽  
Finger Protein ◽  
Transcription Data ◽  
Derivatives Of

Snail, a zinc finger protein, is required for the formation of the ventral furrow and the mesoderm during gastrulation of the Drosophila embryo. snail homologues have been cloned from Xenopus and mouse. We have isolated a zebrafish homologue of snail, designated sna-1. Like its Drosophila counterpart, Sna-1 protein is nuclear. Maternal and zygotic sna-1 transcripts are ubiquitously distributed in zebrafish embryos of cleavage and blastula stages. In gastrulating embryos, sna-1 is expressed in involuting cells of the germ ring, but not in those at the dorsal midline, the presumptive notochordal region. After involution, the expression is maintained in the paraxial mesoderm and becomes prominent in the muscle pioneer precursors, followed by expression at the posterior somite boundaries. Later, sna-1 is expressed in neural crest and mesodermal derivatives of the head region. Sna-1 expression is induced in animal cap cells by activin A. The early sna-1 expression pattern in gastrulating zebrafish no tail (ntl) mutant embryos is normal except a reduction in the level of sna-1 transcription, suggesting that Ntl protein is not the key activator of sna-1 transcription in vivo, but might be involved in the enhancement or maintenance of sna-1 transcription. Data obtained in studies with ectopic ntl expression support this model.

scholarly journals The CTCF Insulator Protein Is Posttranslationally Modified by SUMO

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 714-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa J. MacPherson ◽  
Linda G. Beatty ◽  
Wenjing Zhou ◽  
Minjie Du ◽  
Paul D. Sadowski
Keyword(s):  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Posttranslational Modification ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Finger Protein ◽  
Ability To Act ◽  
Polycomb Protein ◽  
P2 Promoter ◽  
Polycomb Bodies

ABSTRACT The CTCF protein is a highly conserved zinc finger protein that is implicated in many aspects of gene regulation and nuclear organization. Its functions include the ability to act as a repressor of genes, including the c-myc oncogene. In this paper, we show that the CTCF protein can be posttranslationally modified by the small ubiquitin-like protein SUMO. CTCF is SUMOylated both in vivo and in vitro, and we identify two major sites of SUMOylation in the protein. The posttranslational modification of CTCF by the SUMO proteins does not affect its ability to bind to DNA in vitro. SUMOylation of CTCF contributes to the repressive function of CTCF on the c-myc P2 promoter. We also found that CTCF and the repressive Polycomb protein, Pc2, are colocalized to nuclear Polycomb bodies. The Pc2 protein may act as a SUMO E3 ligase for CTCF, strongly enhancing its modification by SUMO 2 and 3. These studies expand the repertoire of posttranslational modifications of CTCF and suggest roles for such modifications in its regulation of epigenetic states.

scholarly journals Morphogenetic forces planar polarize LGN/Pins in the embryonic head during Drosophila gastrulation

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclyn M Camuglia ◽  
Soline Chanet ◽  
Adam C Martin
Keyword(s):  
Planar Cell Polarity ◽  
Adherens Junction ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Spindle Orientation ◽  
Planar Polarity ◽  
Ventral Furrow ◽  
Adherens Junction Protein ◽  
Early Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Junction Protein

Spindle orientation is often achieved by a complex of Pins/LGN, Mud/NuMa, Gαi, and Dynein, which interacts with astral microtubules to rotate the spindle. Cortical Pins/LGN recruitment serves as a critical step in this process. Here, we identify Pins-mediated planar cell polarized divisions in several of the mitotic domains of the early Drosophila embryo. We found that neither planar cell polarity pathways nor planar polarized myosin localization determined division orientation; instead, our findings strongly suggest that Pins planar polarity and force generated from mesoderm invagination are important. Disrupting Pins polarity via overexpression of a myristoylated version of Pins caused randomized division angles. We found that disrupting forces through chemical inhibitors, laser ablation, and depletion of an adherens junction protein disrupted Pins planar polarity and spindle orientation. Furthermore, snail depletion, which abrogates ventral furrow forces, disrupted Pins polarization and spindle orientation, suggesting that morphogenetic movements and resulting forces transmitted through the tissue can polarize Pins and orient division. Thus, morphogenetic forces associated with mesoderm invagination result in planar polarized Pins to mediate division orientation at a distant region of the embryo during morphogenesis. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo example where mechanical force has been shown to polarize Pins to mediate division orientation.

Cubitus interruptus-independent transduction of the Hedgehog signal in Drosophila

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (24) ◽  
pp. 5509-5522 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gallet ◽  
C. Angelats ◽  
S. Kerridge ◽  
P.P. Therond
Keyword(s):  
Target Gene ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Cubitus Interruptus ◽  
Finger Protein ◽  
Control Pattern ◽  
Hedgehog Signal

The Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins are key factors that control pattern formation in invertebrates and vertebrates. The manner in which Hh molecules regulate a target cell remains poorly understood. In the Drosophila embryo, Hh is produced in identical stripes of cells in the posterior compartment of each segment. From these cells a Hh signal acts in both anterior and posterior directions. In the anterior cells, the target genes wingless and patched are activated whereas posterior cells respond to Hh by expressing rhomboid and patched. Here, we have examined the role of the transcription factor Cubitus interruptus (Ci) in this process. So far, Ci has been thought to be the most downstream component of the Hh pathway capable of activating all Hh functions. However, our current study of a null ci allele, indicates that it is actually not required for all Hh functions. Whereas Hh and Ci are both required for patched expression, the target genes wingless and rhomboid have unequal requirements for Hh and Ci activity. Hh is required for the maintenance of wingless expression before embryonic stage 11 whereas Ci is necessary only later during stage 11. For rhomboid expression Hh is required positively whereas Ci exhibits negative input. These results indicate that factors other than Ci are necessary for Hh target gene regulation. We present evidence that the zinc-finger protein Teashirt is one candidate for this activity. We show that it is required positively for rhomboid expression and that Teashirt and Ci act in a partially redundant manner before stage 11 to maintain wingless expression in the trunk.

Zinc finger protein 521 antagonizes Runx2 in a deacetylation-dependent manner and increases bone mass in vivo

Bone ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. S245
Author(s):  
E. Hesse⁎ ◽  
A. Atfi ◽  
R. Kiviranta ◽  
H. Saito ◽  
K. Yamana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Mass ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Finger Protein

scholarly journals LncRNA MNX1-AS1 promotes progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma through the MNX1/Hippo axis

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengwei Li ◽  
Qinjunjie Chen ◽  
Hui Xue ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Kui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Finger Protein ◽  
Homeobox Protein ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Tumor Growth And Metastasis

Abstract Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have extremely complex roles in the progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and remain to be elucidated. By cytological and animal model experiments, this study demonstrated that the expression of lncRNA MNX1-AS1 was remarkably elevated in ICC cell lines and tissues, and was highly and positively correlated with motor neuron and pancreas homeobox protein 1 (MNX1) expression. MNX1-AS1 significantly facilitated the proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in ICC cells in vitro, and remarkably promoted tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Further study revealed that MNX1-AS1 promoted the expression of MNX1 via recruiting transcription factors c-Myc and myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ). Furthermore, MNX1 upregulated the expression of Ajuba protein via binding to its promoter region, and subsequently, Ajuba protein suppressed the Hippo signaling pathway. Taken together, our results uncovered that MNX1-AS1 can facilitate ICC progression via MNX1-AS1/c-Myc and MAZ/MNX1/Ajuba/Hippo pathway, suggesting that MNX1-AS1 may be able to serve as a potential target for ICC treatment.

scholarly journals ZNF667 Serves as a Putative Oncogene in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 2523-2533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Cheng ◽  
Zhizhao Chen ◽  
Lian Liu ◽  
Yujun Zhao ◽  
Sheng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Clinical Stage ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Bax Protein ◽  
Finger Protein ◽  
Immuno Histochemistry ◽  
Set Up

Background/Aims: Zinc finger protein 667 (ZNF667) is a member of C2H2 zinc finger protein family. For the first time, we aim to analyze the expression pattern of ZNF667 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues; to explore its role in HCC tumorigenesis. Methods: Immuno-histochemistry was carried out to characterize the ZNF667 expression in paraffin-embedded HCC samples. The relationship between ZNF667 expression and the clinical, pathological data of the patients were analyzed. Human normal hepatocyte cells LO2 over expressing ZNF667 (LO2-ZNF667 cells), ZNF667 depleted hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells (HepG2-shZNF667 cells) were set up, their proliferation, migration and invasion abilities were analyzed. Xenograft nude mice were used to analyze the malignancy of HepG2-shZNF667 cells in vivo. Western blot was performed to analyze the expression of Bcl-2 and BAX in LO2-ZNF667 and HepG2-shZNF667 cells. Results: Increased ZNF667 was found via immuno-histochemistry in HCC. Enhanced ZNF667 expression was associated with tumor size, clinical stage and tumor differentiation. LO2-ZNF667 cells displayed increased and HepG2-shZNF667 cells decreased cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Xenograft experiments proved reduced malignancy of HepG2-shZNF667 cells in vivo. LO2-ZNF667 cells displayed increased Bcl-2 and decreased BAX protein expression. HepG2-shZNF667 cells displayed enhanced BAX and inhibited BCL-2 expression. Conclusions: ZNF667 is shown to be a new oncogene in HCC and it may serve as a new therapeutic target for HCC via enhancing BCL-2 and decreasing BAX expression.

scholarly journals The multitype zinc-finger protein U-shaped functions in heart cell specification in the Drosophila embryo

2000 ◽  
Vol 97 (13) ◽  
pp. 7348-7353 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Fossett ◽  
Q. Zhang ◽  
K. Gajewski ◽  
C. Y. Choi ◽  
Y. Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Heart Cell ◽  
Cell Specification ◽  
Finger Protein

TRA-1A regulates transcription of fog-3, which controls germ cell fate in C. elegans

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (14) ◽  
pp. 3119-3129 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Chen ◽  
R.E. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Finger Protein

In C. elegans, the zinc-finger protein TRA-1A is thought to be the final arbiter of somatic sexual identity. We show that fog-3, which is required for germ cells to become sperm rather than oocytes, is a target of TRA-1A. First, northern analyses and RT-PCR experiments indicate that expression of fog-3 is controlled by tra-1. Second, studies of double mutants show that this control could be direct. Third, the fog-3 promoter contains multiple sites that bind TRA-1A in gel shift assays, and mutations in these sites alter activity of fog-3 in vivo. These results establish fog-3 as one of the first known targets of transcriptional regulation by TRA-1A. Furthermore, they show that tra-1 controls a terminal regulator of sexual fate in germ cells, just as it is thought to do in the soma.

The effect of lethal mutations and deletions within the bithorax complex upon the identity of caudal metameres in the Drosophila embryo

Development ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-166
Author(s):  
J. R. S. Whittle ◽  
S. Y. K. Tiong ◽  
C. E. Sunkel
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Segment ◽  
Sense Organ ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Bithorax Complex ◽  
Sense Organs ◽  
Head Region ◽  
Lethal Mutations ◽  
Segment 8 ◽  
Derivatives Of ◽  
Cuticular Structures

Mutations and deletions of the abdA and AbdB functions in the bithorax complex of Drosophila melanogaster have been examined for their effect upon the hypodermal derivatives of the caudal segments of the embryo, employing light- and scanning electron microscopy. No cuticular structures located posterior to the denticle belt of abdominal segment 8 are affected in abdA− embryos. Embryos of AbdB− genotype no longer have six of the seven pairs of sense organs present in this region, lack posterior spiracles but instead have sclerotized cuticle and sense organs typical of the head region and a rudimentary extra ventral denticle belt. The anal pads, tuft and sense organ 1 do not require BX-C functions for their specification. We discuss the provenance of these cuticular structures and the domain of function of elements within the bithorax complex in terms of parasegmental metameric units.

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