A single cdk inhibitor, p27Xic1, functions beyond cell cycle regulation to promote muscle differentiation in Xenopus

Cell state transitions are decoupled from cell division during early embryo development

As tissues develop, cells divide and differentiate concurrently. Conflicting evidence shows that cell division is either dispensable or required for formation of cell types. Here, to determine the role of cell division in differentiation, we arrested the cell cycle in zebrafish embryos using two independent approaches and profiled them at single-cell resolution. We show that cell division is dispensable for differentiation of all embryonic tissues from early gastrulation to the end of segmentation. However, arresting cell division does slow down differentiation in some cell types, and it induces global stress responses. While differentiation is robust to blocking cell division, the proportions of cells across cell states are not, but show evidence of partial compensation. This work clarifies our understanding of the role of cell division in development and showcases the utility of combining embryo-wide perturbations with single-cell RNA sequencing to uncover the role of common biological processes across multiple tissues.

Molecular anatomy of emerging Xenopus left-right organizer at successive developmental stages

BACKGROUND

Vertebrate left-right symmetry breaking is preceded by formation of left-right organizer. In Amphibian, this structure is formed by gastrocoel roof plate, which emerges from superficial suprablastoporal cells. GRP is subdivided into medial area, which generates leftward flow by rotating monocilia and lateral Nodal1 expressing areas, which are involved in sensing of the flow. After successful symmetry breaking, medial cells are incorporated into a deep layer where they contribute to the axial mesoderm, while lateral domains join somitic mesoderm.

RESULTS

Here, we performed detailed analysis of spatial and temporal gene expression of important markers and the corresponding morphology of emerging GRP. Endodermal marker Sox17 and markers of superficial mesoderm display complementary patterns at all studied stages. At early stages, GRP forms Tekt2 positive epithelial domain clearly separated from underlying deep layers, while at later stages, this separation disappears. Marker of early somitic mesoderm MyoD1 was absent in emerging GRP and was induced together with Nodal1 during early neurulation. Decreasing morphological separation is accompanied by lateral to medial covering of GRP by endoderm.

CONCLUSION

Our data supports continuous link between superficial mesoderm at the start of gastrulation and mature GRP and suggests late induction of somitic fate in lateral GRP.

C-terminally phosphorylated p27 activates self-renewal driver genes to program cancer stem cell expansion, mammary hyperplasia and cancer

In many cancers, a stem-like cell subpopulation mediates tumor initiation, dissemination and drug resistance. Here, we report that cancer stem cell (CSC) abundance is transcriptionally regulated by C-terminally phosphorylated p27 (p27pT157pT198). Mechanistically, this arises through p27 co-recruitment with STAT3/CBP to gene regulators of CSC self-renewal including MYC, the Notch ligand JAG1, and ANGPTL4. p27pTpT/STAT3 also recruits a SIN3A/HDAC1 complex to co-repress the Pyk2 inhibitor, PTPN12. Pyk2, in turn, activates STAT3, creating a feed-forward loop increasing stem-like properties in vitro and tumor-initiating stem cells in vivo. The p27-activated gene profile is over-represented in STAT3 activated human breast cancers. Furthermore, mammary transgenic expression of phosphomimetic, cyclin-CDK-binding defective p27 (p27CK-DD) increases mammary duct branching morphogenesis, yielding hyperplasia and microinvasive cancers that can metastasize to liver, further supporting a role for p27pTpT in CSC expansion. Thus, p27pTpT interacts with STAT3, driving transcriptional programs governing stem cell expansion or maintenance in normal and cancer tissues.

Global decoupling of cell differentiation from cell division in early embryo development

As tissues develop, cells divide and differentiate concurrently. Conflicting evidence shows that cell division is either dispensable or required for formation of cell types. To determine the role of cell division in differentiation, we arrested the cell cycle in zebrafish embryos using two independent approaches and profiled them at single-cell resolution. We show that cell division is dispensable for differentiation of all embryonic tissues during initial cell type differentiation from early gastrulation to the end of segmentation. In the absence of cell division, differentiation slows down in some cell types, and cells exhibit global stress responses. While differentiation is robust to blocking cell division, the proportions of cells across cell states are not. This work simplifies our understanding of the role of cell division in development and showcases the utility of combining embryo-wide perturbations with single-cell RNA sequencing to uncover the role of common biological processes across multiple tissues.

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 interacts with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and negatively regulates its transcriptional activity

p27^Kip1 functions to coordinate cell cycle progression through the inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes. p27^Kip1 also exerts distinct activities beyond CDK-inhibition, including functioning as a transcriptional regulator. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor with diverse biological roles. The regulatory inputs that control AhR-mediated transcriptional responses are an active area of investigation. AhR was previously established as a direct regulator of p27^Kip1 transcription. Here, we report the physical interaction of AhR and p27^Kip1 and show that p27^Kip1 expression negatively regulates AhR-mediated transcription. p27^Kip1 knockout cells display increased AhR nuclear localisation and significantly higher expression of AhR target genes. This work thus identifies new regulatory cross-talk between p27^Kip1 and AhR.

Comprehensive expression analysis for the core cell cycle regulators in the chicken embryo reveals novel tissue-specific synexpression groups and similarities and differences with expression in mouse, frog and zebrafish

The core cell cycle machinery is conserved from yeast to humans, and hence it is assumed that all vertebrates share the same set of players. Yet during vertebrate evolution, the genome was duplicated twice, followed by a further genome duplication in teleost fish. Thereafter, distinct genes were retained in different vertebrate lineages; some individual gene duplications also occurred. To which extent these diversifying tendencies were compensated by retaining the same expression patterns across homologous genes is not known. This study for the first time undertook a comprehensive expression analysis for the core cell cycle regulators in the chicken, focusing in on early neurula and pharyngula stages of development, with the latter representing the vertebrate phylotypic stage. We also compared our data with published data for the mouse, Xenopus and zebrafish, the other established vertebrate models. Our work shows that, while many genes are expressed widely, some are upregulated or specifically expressed in defined tissues of the chicken embryo, forming novel synexpression groups with markers for distinct developmental pathways. Moreover, we found that in the neural tube and in the somite, mRNAs of some of the genes investigated accumulate in a specific subcellular localisation, pointing at a novel link between the site of mRNA translation, cell cycle control and interkinetic nuclear movements. Finally, we show that expression patterns of orthologous genes may differ in the four vertebrate models. Thus, for any study investigating cell proliferation, cell differentiation, tissue regeneration, stem cell behaviour and cancer/cancer therapy, it has to be carefully examined which of the observed effects are due to the specific model organism used, and which can be generalised.

p27, The Cell Cycle and Alzheimer´s Disease

The cell cycle consists of successive events that lead to the generation of new cells. The cell cycle is regulated by different cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their inhibitors, such as p27^Kip1. At the nuclear level, p27^Kip1 has the ability to control the evolution of different phases of the cell cycle and oppose cell cycle progression by binding to CDKs. In the cytoplasm, diverse functions have been described for p27^Kip1, including microtubule remodeling, axonal transport and phagocytosis. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), alterations to cycle events and a purported increase in neurogenesis have been described in the early disease process before significant pathological changes could be detected. However, most neurons cannot progress to complete their cell division and undergo apoptotic cell death. Increased levels of both the p27^Kip1 levels and phosphorylation status have been described in AD. Increased levels of Aβ42, tau hyperphosphorylation or even altered insulin signals could lead to alterations in p27^Kip1 post-transcriptional modifications, causing a disbalance between the levels and functions of p27^Kip1 in the cytoplasm and nucleus, thus inducing an aberrant cell cycle re-entry and alteration of extra cell cycle functions. Further studies are needed to completely understand the role of p27^Kip1 in AD and the therapeutic opportunities associated with the modulation of this target.

Evolution of Somite Compartmentalization: A View From Xenopus

Somites are transitory metameric structures at the basis of the axial organization of vertebrate musculoskeletal system. During evolution, somites appear in the chordate phylum and compartmentalize mainly into the dermomyotome, the myotome, and the sclerotome in vertebrates. In this review, we summarized the existing literature about somite compartmentalization in Xenopus and compared it with other anamniote and amniote vertebrates. We also present and discuss a model that describes the evolutionary history of somite compartmentalization from ancestral chordates to amniote vertebrates. We propose that the ancestral organization of chordate somite, subdivided into a lateral compartment of multipotent somitic cells (MSCs) and a medial primitive myotome, evolves through two major transitions. From ancestral chordates to vertebrates, the cell potency of MSCs may have evolved and gave rise to all new vertebrate compartments, i.e., the dermomyome, its hypaxial region, and the sclerotome. From anamniote to amniote vertebrates, the lateral MSC territory may expand to the whole somite at the expense of primitive myotome and may probably facilitate sclerotome formation. We propose that successive modifications of the cell potency of some type of embryonic progenitors could be one of major processes of the vertebrate evolution.

p27 as a Transcriptional Regulator: New Roles in Development and Cancer

p27 binds and inhibits cyclin-CDK to arrest the cell cycle. p27 also regulates other processes including cell migration and development independent of its cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitory action. p27 is an atypical tumor suppressor-deletion or mutational inactivation of the gene encoding p27, CDKN1B, is rare in human cancers. p27 is rarely fully lost in cancers because it can play both tumor suppressive and oncogenic roles. Until recently, the paradigm was that oncogenic deregulation results from either loss of growth restraint due to excess p27 proteolysis or from an oncogenic gain of function through PI3K-mediated C-terminal p27 phosphorylation, which disrupts the cytoskeleton to increase cell motility and metastasis. In cancers, C-terminal phosphorylation alters p27 protein-protein interactions and shifts p27 from CDK inhibitor to oncogene. Recent data indicate p27 regulates transcription and acts as a transcriptional coregulator of cJun. C-terminal p27 phosphorylation increases p27-cJun recruitment to and action on target genes to drive oncogenic pathways and repress differentiation programs. This review focuses on noncanonical, CDK-independent functions of p27 in migration, invasion, development, and gene expression, with emphasis on how transcriptional regulation by p27 illuminates its actions in cancer. A better understanding of how p27-associated transcriptional complexes are regulated might identify new therapeutic targets at the interface between differentiation and growth control.

p27 transcriptionally coregulates cJun to drive programs of tumor progression

PI3K is activated in over 60% of human cancers, mediating C-terminal p27 phosphorylation. This work reveals cooperation between PI3K and cJun pathways: p27 phosphorylation by PI3K-activated kinases stimulates p27/cJun corecruitment to chromatin and activation of transcription programs of cell adhesion, motility, TGFB2, and epithelial–mesenchymal transformation to drive tumor progression. Prior analysis showed that high p27pT157 strongly associates with activated AKTpS273 and p90^RSKpT359 in human breast cancers. These cancers also differentially express p27/cJun target genes and identify a poor prognostic group. In cancers, the cell cycle-restraining effects of p27 are lost through increased proteolysis and decreased translation. We reveal a previously unknown oncogenic action of p27, in which p27 acts as a cJun coactivator to drive oncogenic gene expression programs.

p27 shifts from CDK inhibitor to oncogene when phosphorylated by PI3K effector kinases. Here, we show that p27 is a cJun coregulator, whose assembly and chromatin association is governed by p27 phosphorylation. In breast and bladder cancer cells with high p27pT157pT198 or expressing a CDK-binding defective p27pT157pT198 phosphomimetic (p27CK−DD), cJun is activated and interacts with p27, and p27/cJun complexes localize to the nucleus. p27/cJun up-regulates TGFB2 to drive metastasis in vivo. Global analysis of p27 and cJun chromatin binding and gene expression shows that cJun recruitment to many target genes is p27 dependent, increased by p27 phosphorylation, and activates programs of epithelial–mesenchymal transformation and metastasis. Finally, human breast cancers with high p27pT157 differentially express p27/cJun-regulated genes of prognostic relevance, supporting the biological significance of the work.

Phosphorylation states change Otx2 activity for cell proliferation and patterning in the Xenopus embryo

The homeodomain transcription factor Otx2 has essential roles in head and eye formation via the negative and positive regulation of its target genes, but it remains elusive how this dual activity of Otx2 affects cellular functions. In the current study, we first demonstrated that both exogenous and endogenous Otx2 are phosphorylated at multiple sites. Using Xenopus embryos, we identified three possible cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) sites and one Akt site, and analyzed the biological activities of phosphomimetic (4E) and nonphosphorylatable (4A) mutants for those sites. In the neuroectoderm, the 4E but not the 4A mutant downregulated the Cdk inhibitor gene p27xic1 (cdknx) and posterior genes, and promoted cell proliferation, possibly forming a positive-feedback loop consisting of Cdk, Otx2 and p27xic1 for cell proliferation, together with anteriorization. Conversely, the 4A mutant functioned as an activator on its own and upregulated the expression of eye marker genes, resulting in enlarged eyes. Consistent with these results, the interaction of Otx2 with the corepressor Tle1 is suggested to be phosphorylation dependent. These data suggest that Otx2 orchestrates cell proliferation, anteroposterior patterning and eye formation via its phosphorylation state.

C8orf46 homolog encodes a novel protein Vexin that is required for neurogenesis in Xenopus laevis

Neural basic helix-loop helix (bHLH) transcription factors promote progenitor cell differentiation by activation of downstream target genes that coordinate neuronal differentiation. Here we characterize a neural bHLH target gene in Xenopus laevis, vexin (vxn; previously sbt1), that is homologous to human c8orf46 and is conserved across vertebrate species. C8orf46 has been implicated in cancer progression, but its function is unknown. Vxn is transiently expressed in differentiating progenitors in the developing central nervous system (CNS), and is required for neurogenesis in the neural plate and retina. Its function is conserved, since overexpression of either Xenopus or mouse vxn expands primary neurogenesis and promotes early retinal cell differentiation in cooperation with neural bHLH factors. Vxn protein is localized to the cell membrane and the nucleus, but functions in the nucleus to promote neural differentiation. Vxn inhibits cell proliferation, and works with the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Xic1 (cdkn1b) to enhance neurogenesis and increase levels of the proneural protein Neurog2. We propose that vxn provides a key link between neural bHLH activity and execution of the neurogenic program.

Phosphorylation of NEUROG3 Links Endocrine Differentiation to the Cell Cycle in Pancreatic Progenitors

During pancreatic development, proliferating pancreatic progenitors activate the proendocrine transcription factor neurogenin 3 (NEUROG3), exit the cell cycle, and differentiate into islet cells. The mechanisms that direct robust NEUROG3 expression within a subset of progenitor cells control the size of the endocrine population. Here we demonstrate that NEUROG3 is phosphorylated within the nucleus on serine 183, which catalyzes its hyperphosphorylation and proteosomal degradation. During progression through the progenitor cell cycle, NEUROG3 phosphorylation is driven by the actions of cyclin-dependent kinases 2 and 4/6 at G₁/S cell-cycle checkpoint. Using models of mouse and human pancreas development, we show that lengthening of the G₁ phase of the pancreatic progenitor cell cycle is essential for proper induction of NEUROG3 and initiation of endocrine cell differentiation. In sum, these studies demonstrate that progenitor cell-cycle G₁ lengthening, through its actions on stabilization of NEUROG3, is an essential variable in normal endocrine cell genesis.

A Tunable Silk Hydrogel Device for Studying Limb Regeneration in Adult Xenopus Laevis

In certain amphibian models limb regeneration can be promoted or inhibited by the local wound bed environment. This research introduces a device that can be utilized as an experimental tool to characterize the conditions that promotes limb regeneration in the adult frog (Xenopus laevis) model. In particular, this device was designed to manipulate the local wound environment via a hydrogel insert. Initial characterization of the hydrogel insert revealed that this interaction had a significant influence on mechanical forces to the animal, due to the contraction of the hydrogel. The material and mechanical properties of the hydrogel insert were a factor in the device design in relation to the comfort of the animal and the ability to effectively manipulate the amputation site. The tunable features of the hydrogel were important in determining the pro-regenerative effects in limb regeneration, which was measured by cartilage spike formation and quantified by micro-computed tomography. The hydrogel insert was a factor in the observed morphological outcomes following amputation. Future work will focus on characterizing and optimizing the device's observed capability to manipulate biological pathways that are essential for limb regeneration. However, the present work provides a framework for the role of a hydrogel in the device and a path forward for more systematic studies.

Cell cycle control in the early embryonic development of aquatic animal species

The cell cycle is integrated with many aspects of embryonic development. Not only is proper control over the pace of cell proliferation important, but also the timing of cell cycle progression is coordinated with transcription, cell migration, and cell differentiation. Due to the ease with which the embryos of aquatic organisms can be observed and manipulated, they have been a popular choice for embryologists throughout history. In the cell cycle field, aquatic organisms have been extremely important because they have played a major role in the discovery and analysis of key regulators of the cell cycle. In particular, the frog Xenopus laevis has been instrumental for understanding how the basic embryonic cell cycle is regulated. More recently, the zebrafish has been used to understand how the cell cycle is remodeled during vertebrate development and how it is regulated during morphogenesis. This review describes how some of the unique strengths of aquatic species have been leveraged for cell cycle research and suggests how species such as Xenopus and zebrafish will continue to reveal the roles of the cell cycle in human biology and disease.

An oncologist׳s friend: How Xenopus contributes to cancer research

One of the most striking features of the Xenopus system is the versatility in providing a unique range of both in vitro and in vivo models that are rapid, accessible and easily manipulated. Here we present an overview of the diverse contribution that Xenopus has made to advance our understanding of tumour biology and behaviour; a contribution that goes beyond the traditional view of Xenopus as a developmental model organism. From the utility of the egg and oocyte extract system to the use of whole embryos as developmental or induced tumour models, the Xenopus system has been fundamental to investigation of cell cycle mechanisms, cell metabolism, cell signalling and cell behaviour, and has allowed an increasing appreciation of the parallels between early development and the pathogenesis of tumour progression and metastasis. Although not the prototypical oncological model system, we propose that Xenopus is an adaptable and multifunctional tool in the oncologist׳s arsenal.

In vivo T-box transcription factor profiling reveals joint regulation of embryonic neuromesodermal bipotency

The design of effective cell replacement therapies requires detailed knowledge of how embryonic stem cells form primary tissues, such as mesoderm or neurectoderm that later become skeletal muscle or nervous system. Members of the T-box transcription factor family are key in the formation of these primary tissues, but their underlying molecular activities are poorly understood. Here, we define in vivo genome-wide regulatory inputs of the T-box proteins Brachyury, Eomesodermin, and VegT, which together maintain neuromesodermal stem cells and determine their bipotential fates in frog embryos. These T-box proteins are all recruited to the same genomic recognition sites, from where they activate genes involved in stem cell maintenance and mesoderm formation while repressing neurogenic genes. Consequently, their loss causes embryos to form an oversized neural tube with no mesodermal derivatives. This collaboration between T-box family members thus ensures the continuous formation of correctly proportioned neural and mesodermal tissues in vertebrate embryos during axial elongation.

Preparation of developing Xenopus muscle for sarcomeric protein localization by high-resolution imaging

Mutations in several sarcomeric proteins have been linked to various human myopathies. Therefore, having an in vivo developmental model available that develops quickly and efficiently is key for investigators to elucidate the critical steps, components and signaling pathways involved in building a myofibril; this is the pivotal foundation for deciphering disease mechanisms as well as the development of myopathy-related therapeutics. Although striated muscle cell culture studies have been extremely informative in providing clues to both the distribution and functions of sarcomeric proteins, myocytes in vivo develop in an irreproducible 3D environment. Xenopus laevis (frog) embryos are cost effective, compliant to protein level manipulations and develop relatively quickly (⩽ a week) in a petri dish, thus providing a powerful system for de novo myofibrillogenesis studies. Although fluorophore-conjugated phalloidin labeling is the gold standard approach for investigating actin-thin filament architecture, it is well documented that phalloidin-labeling can be challenging and inconsistent within Xenopus embryos. Therefore we highlight several techniques that can be utilized to preserve both antibody and fluorophore-conjugated phalloidin labeling within Xenopus embryos for high-resolution fluorescence microscopy.

The cell cycle and pluripotency

PSCs (pluripotent stem cells) possess two key properties that have made them the focus of global research efforts in regenerative medicine: they have unlimited expansion potential under conditions which favour their preservation as PSCs and they have the ability to generate all somatic cell types upon differentiation (pluripotency). Conditions have been defined in vitro in which pluripotency is maintained, or else differentiation is favoured and is directed towards specific somatic cell types. However, an unanswered question is whether or not the core cell cycle machinery directly regulates the pluripotency and differentiation properties of PSCs. If so, then manipulation of the cell cycle may represent an additional tool by which in vitro maintenance or differentiation of PSCs may be controlled in regenerative medicine. The present review aims to summarize our current understanding of links between the core cell cycle machinery and the maintenance of pluripotency in ESCs (embryonic stem cells) and iPSCs (induced PSCs).

Proteolysis of Xenopus Cip-type CDK inhibitor, p16Xic2, is regulated by PCNA binding and CDK2 phosphorylation

Background

Cell division is positively regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) partnered with cyclins and negatively regulated by CDK inhibitors. In the frog, Xenopus laevis, three types of CDK inhibitors have been described: p27^Xic1 (Xic1) which shares sequence homology with both p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 from mammals, p16^Xic2 (Xic2) which shares sequence homology with p21^Cip1, and p17^Xic3 (Xic3) which shares sequence homology with p27^Kip1. While past studies have demonstrated that during DNA polymerase switching, Xic1 is targeted for protein turnover dependent upon DNA, Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), and the ubiquitin ligase CRL4^Cdt2, little is known about the processes that regulate Xic2 or Xic3.

Methods

We used the Xenopus interphase egg extract as a model system to examine the regulation of Xic2 by proteolysis and phosphorylation.

Results

Our studies indicated that following primer synthesis during the initiation of DNA replication, Xic2 is targeted for DNA- and PCNA-dependent ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and that Cdt2 can promote Xic2 turnover. Additionally, during interphase, Xic2 is phosphorylated by CDK2 at Ser-98 and Ser-131 in a DNA-independent manner, inhibiting Xic2 turnover. In the presence of double-stranded DNA ends, Xic2 is also phosphorylated at Ser-78 and Ser-81 by a caffeine-sensitive kinase, but this phosphorylation does not alter Xic2 turnover. Conversely, in the presence or absence of DNA, Xic3 was stable in the Xenopus interphase egg extract and did not exhibit a shift indicative of phosphorylation.

Conclusions

During interphase, Xic2 is targeted for DNA- and PCNA-dependent proteolysis that is negatively regulated by CDK2 phosphorylation. During a response to DNA damage, Xic2 may be alternatively regulated by phosphorylation by a caffeine-sensitive kinase. Our studies suggest that the three types of Xenopus CDK inhibitors, Xic1, Xic2, and Xic3 appear to be uniquely regulated which may reflect their specialized roles during cell division or early development in the frog.

Co-ordination of cell cycle and differentiation in the developing nervous system

During embryonic development, cells must divide to produce appropriate numbers, but later must exit the cell cycle to allow differentiation. How these processes of proliferation and differentiation are co-ordinated during embryonic development has been poorly understood until recently. However, a number of studies have now given an insight into how the cell cycle machinery, including cyclins, CDKs (cyclin-dependent kinases), CDK inhibitors and other cell cycle regulators directly influence mechanisms that control cell fate and differentiation. Conversely, examples are emerging of transcriptional regulators that are better known for their role in driving the differentiated phenotype, which also play complementary roles in controlling cell cycle progression. The present review will summarise our current understanding of the mechanisms co-ordinating the cell cycle and differentiation in the developing nervous system, where these links have been, perhaps, most extensively studied.

Trpc1 ion channel modulates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway during myoblast differentiation and muscle regeneration

We previously showed in vitro that calcium entry through Trpc1 ion channels regulates myoblast migration and differentiation. In the present work, we used primary cell cultures and isolated muscles from Trpc1(-/-) and Trpc1(+/+) murine model to investigate the role of Trpc1 in myoblast differentiation and in muscle regeneration. In these models, we studied regeneration consecutive to cardiotoxin-induced muscle injury and observed a significant hypotrophy and a delayed regeneration in Trpc1(-/-) muscles consisting in smaller fiber size and increased proportion of centrally nucleated fibers. This was accompanied by a decreased expression of myogenic factors such as MyoD, Myf5, and myogenin and of one of their targets, the developmental MHC (MHCd). Consequently, muscle tension was systematically lower in muscles from Trpc1(-/-) mice. Importantly, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway, which plays a crucial role in muscle growth and regeneration, was down-regulated in regenerating Trpc1(-/-) muscles. Indeed, phosphorylation of both Akt and p70S6K proteins was decreased as well as the activation of PI3K, the main upstream regulator of the Akt. This effect was independent of insulin-like growth factor expression. Akt phosphorylation also was reduced in Trpc1(-/-) primary myoblasts and in control myoblasts differentiated in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) or pretreated with EGTA-AM or wortmannin, suggesting that the entry of Ca(2+) through Trpc1 channels enhanced the activity of PI3K. Our results emphasize the involvement of Trpc1 channels in skeletal muscle development in vitro and in vivo, and identify a Ca(2+)-dependent activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway during myoblast differentiation and muscle regeneration.

The cell cycle inhibitor p27Kip¹ controls self-renewal and pluripotency of human embryonic stem cells by regulating the cell cycle, Brachyury and Twist

The continued turn over of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) while maintaining an undifferentiated state is dependent on the regulation of the cell cycle. Here we asked the question if a single cell cycle gene could regulate the self-renewal or pluripotency properties of hESC. We identified that the protein expression of the p27(Kip)¹ cell cycle inhibitor is low in hESC cells and increased with differentiation. By adopting a gain and loss of function strategy we forced or reduced its expression in undifferentiating conditions to define its functional role in self-renewal and pluripotency. Using undifferentiation conditions, overexpression of p27(Kip)¹ in hESC lead to a G₁phase arrest with an enlarged and flattened hESC morphology and consequent loss of self-renewal ability. Loss of p27(Kip)¹ caused an elongated/scatter cell-like phenotype involving up-regulation of Brachyury and Twist gene expression. We demonstrate the novel finding that p27(Kip)¹ protein occupies the Twist1 gene promoter and manipulation of p27(Kip)¹ by gain and loss of function is associated with Twist gene expression changes. These results define p27(Kip)¹ expression levels as critical for self-renewal and pluripotency in hESC and suggest a role for p27(Kip)¹ in controlling an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hESC.

Cdkn1c drives muscle differentiation through a positive feedback loop with Myod

Differentiation often requires conversion of analogue signals to a stable binary output through positive feedback. Hedgehog (Hh) signalling promotes myogenesis in the vertebrate somite, in part by raising the activity of muscle regulatory factors (MRFs) of the Myod family above a threshold. Hh is known to enhance MRF expression. Here we show that Hh is also essential at a second step that increases Myod protein activity, permitting it to promote Myogenin expression. Hh acts by inducing expression of cdkn1c (p57(Kip2)) in slow muscle precursor cells, but neither Hh nor Cdkn1c is required for their cell cycle exit. Cdkn1c co-operates with Myod to drive differentiation of several early zebrafish muscle fibre types. Myod in turn up-regulates cdkn1c, thereby providing a positive feedback loop that switches myogenic cells to terminal differentiation.

Phosphorylation of p27Kip1 at Thr187 by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 modulates neural stem cell differentiation

Cdk5 plays a role in nervous system development; its role in the initial stages of neural differentiation is poorly understood. We isolated neural stem cells from E13 Cdk5 WT and KO mouse and observed them as they switched from proliferating stage to neural differentiation. We show that Cdk5 phosphorylation of p27^kip1 at Thr187 is crucial to neural differentiation.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) plays a key role in the development of the mammalian nervous system; it phosphorylates a number of targeted proteins involved in neuronal migration during development to synaptic activity in the mature nervous system. Its role in the initial stages of neuronal commitment and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs), however, is poorly understood. In this study, we show that Cdk5 phosphorylation of p27^Kip1 at Thr187 is crucial to neural differentiation because 1) neurogenesis is specifically suppressed by transfection of p27^Kip1 siRNA into Cdk5^+/+ NSCs; 2) reduced neuronal differentiation in Cdk5^−/− compared with Cdk5^+/+ NSCs; 3) Cdk5^+/+ NSCs, whose differentiation is inhibited by a nonphosphorylatable mutant, p27/Thr187A, are rescued by cotransfection of a phosphorylation-mimicking mutant, p27/Thr187D; and 4) transfection of mutant p27^Kip1 (p27/187A) into Cdk5^+/+ NSCs inhibits differentiation. These data suggest that Cdk5 regulates the neural differentiation of NSCs by phosphorylation of p27^Kip1 at theThr187 site. Additional experiments exploring the role of Ser10 phosphorylation by Cdk5 suggest that together with Thr187 phosphorylation, Ser10 phosphorylation by Cdk5 promotes neurite outgrowth as neurons differentiate. Cdk5 phosphorylation of p27^Kip1, a modular molecule, may regulate the progress of neuronal differentiation from cell cycle arrest through differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and migration.

Normal levels of p27 are necessary for somite segmentation and determining pronephric organ size

The Xenopus laevis cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Xic1) has been shown to be involved in exit from the cell cycle and differentiation of cells into a quiescent state in the nervous system, muscle tissue, heart and retina. We show that p27(Xic1) is expressed in the developing kidney in the nephrostomal regions. Using overexpression and morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) knock-down approaches we show normal levels of p27(Xic1) regulate pronephros organ size by regulating cell cycle exit. Knock-down of p27(Xic1) expression using a MO prevented myogenesis, as previously reported; an effect that subsequently inhibits pronephrogenesis. Furthermore, we show that normal levels of p27(Xic1) are required for somite segmentation also through its cell cycle control function. Finally, we provide evidence to suggest correct paraxial mesoderm segmentation is not necessary for pronephric induction in the intermediate mesoderm. These results indicate novel developmental roles for p27(Xic1), and reveal its differentiation function is not universally utilised in all developing tissues.

Argyrin a reveals a critical role for the tumor suppressor protein p27(kip1) in mediating antitumor activities in response to proteasome inhibition

A reduction in the cellular levels of the cyclin kinase inhibitor p27(kip1) is frequently found in many human cancers and correlates directly with patient prognosis. In this work, we identify argyrin A, a cyclical peptide derived from the myxobacterium Archangium gephyra, as a potent antitumoral drug. All antitumoral activities of argyrin A depend on the prevention of p27(kip1) destruction, as loss of p27(kip1) expression confers resistance to this compound. We find that argyrin A exerts its effects through a potent inhibition of the proteasome. By comparing the cellular responses exerted by argyrin A with siRNA-mediated knockdown of proteasomal subunits, we find that the biological effects of proteasome inhibition per se depend on the expression of p27(kip1).

Cardiac differentiation in Xenopus requires the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p27Xic1

Aims

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) play a critical role in negatively regulating the proliferation of cardiomyocytes, although their role in cardiac differentiation remains largely undetermined. We have shown that the most prominent CDKI in Xenopus, p27^Xic1(Xic1), plays a role in neuronal and myotome differentiation beyond its ability to arrest the cell cycle. Thus, we investigated whether it plays a similar role in cardiomyocyte differentiation.

Methods and results

Xenopus laevis embryos were sectioned, and whole-mount antibody staining and immunofluorescence studies were carried out to determine the total number and percentage of differentiated cardiomyocytes in mitosis. Capped RNA and/or translation-blocking Xic1 morpholino antisense oligonucleotides (Xic1Mo) were microinjected into embryos, and their role on cardiac differentiation was assessed by in situ hybridization and/or PCR. We show that cell-cycling post-gastrulation is not essential for cardiac differentiation in Xenopus embryos, and conversely that some cells can express markers of cardiac differentiation even when still in cycle. A targeted knock-down of Xic1 protein by Xic1Mo microinjection decreases the expression of markers of cardiac differentiation, which can be partially rescued by co-injection of full-length Xic1 RNA, demonstrating that Xic1 is essential for heart formation. Furthermore, using deleted and mutant forms of Xic1, we show that neither its abilities to inhibit the cell cycle nor the great majority of CDK kinase activity are essential for Xic1’s function in cardiomyocyte differentiation, an activity that resides in the N-terminus of the molecule.

Conclusion

Altogether, our results demonstrate that the CDKI Xic1 is required in Xenopus cardiac differentiation, and that this function is localized at its N-terminus, but it is distinct from its ability to arrest the cell cycle and inhibit overall CDK kinase activity. Hence, these results suggest that CDKIs play an important direct role in driving cardiomyocyte differentiation in addition to cell-cycle regulation.

The Xenopus cell cycle: an overview

Oocytes, eggs and embryos from the frog Xenopus laevis have been an important model system for studying cell-cycle regulation for several decades. First, progression through meiosis in the oocyte has been extensively investigated. Oocyte maturation has been shown to involve complex networks of signal transduction pathways, culminating in the cyclic activation and inactivation of Maturation Promoting Factor (MPF), composed of cyclin B and cdc2. After fertilisation, the early embryo undergoes rapid simplified cell cycles which have been recapitulated in cell-free extracts of Xenopus eggs. Experimental manipulation of these extracts has given a wealth of biochemical information about the cell cycle, particularly concerning DNA replication and mitosis. Finally, cells of older embryos adopt a more somatic-type cell cycle and have been used to study the balance between cell cycle and differentiation during development.

BMP-4 and Noggin signaling modulate dorsal fin and somite development in the axolotl trunk

BMP-4, a member of the TGF-beta superfamily of growth factors, is involved in various developmental processes. We investigated the effects of BMP-4 and its antagonist Noggin on axolotl trunk development. Implantation of BMP-4-coated microbeads caused inhibition of muscle and dorsal fin formation in the vicinity of the microbeads. At some distance, myotomes developed with reduced height but increased width, which was accompanied by increased cell proliferation. These effects could be modulated by co-implanting Noggin-coated beads. Immunostaining of Pax7 further revealed that although the dermomyotome was absent in the vicinity of BMP-4-coated beads, at some distance from them, it was thicker than in controls, indicating that moderate amounts of BMP-4 stimulate this layer of undifferentiated cells. In contrast, Noggin generally inhibited the dermomyotome, possibly indicating premature differentiation of dermomyotome cells. We conclude that BMP-4 and Noggin are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation during somite development.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase skp2 regulates neural differentiation independent from the cell cycle

Background

The SCF^skp2 complex is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is known to target a number of cell cycle regulators, including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, for proteolysis. While its role in regulation of cell division has been well documented, additional functions in differentiation, including in the nervous system, have not been investigated.

Results

Using Xenopus as a model system, here we demonstrate that skp2 has an additional role in regulation of differentiation of primary neurons, the first neurons to differentiate in the neural plate. Xenopus skp2 shows a dynamic expression pattern in early embryonic neural tissue and depletion of skp2 results in generation of extra primary neurons. In contrast, over-expression of skp2 inhibits neurogenesis in a manner dependent on its ability to act as part of the SCF^skp2 complex. Moreover, inhibition of neurogenesis by skp2 occurs upstream of the proneural gene encoding NeuroD and prior to cell cycle exit. We have previously demonstrated that the Xenopus cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor Xic1 is essential for primary neurogenesis at an early stage, and before these cells exit the cell cycle. We show that SCF^skp2 degrades Xic1 in embryos and this contributes to the ability of skp2 to regulate neurogenesis.

Conclusion

We conclude that the SCF^skp2 complex has functions in the control of neuronal differentiation additional to its role in cell cycle regulation. Thus, it is well placed to be a co-ordinating factor regulating both cell proliferation and cell differentiation directly.

Mechanisms controlling cell cycle exit upon terminal differentiation

Coordinating terminal differentiation with permanent exit from the cell cycle is crucial for proper organogenesis, yet how the cell cycle is blocked in differentiated tissues remains unclear. Important roles for retinoblastoma family proteins and Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors have been delineated, but in many cases it remains unclear what triggers cell cycle exit. This review focuses on describing recent advances in deciphering how terminal differentiation and exit from the cell cycle are coordinated.

SHP-2 is required for the maintenance of cardiac progenitors

The isolation and culturing of cardiac progenitor cells has demonstrated that growth factor signaling is required to maintain cardiac cell survival and proliferation. In this study, we demonstrate in Xenopus that SHP-2 activity is required for the maintenance of cardiac precursors in vivo. In the absence of SHP-2 signaling, cardiac progenitor cells downregulate genes associated with early heart development and fail to initiate cardiac differentiation. We further show that this requirement for SHP-2 is restricted to cardiac precursor cells undergoing active proliferation. By demonstrating that SHP-2 is phosphorylated on Y542/Y580 and that it binds to FRS-2, we place SHP-2 in the FGF pathway during early embryonic heart development. Furthermore, we demonstrate that inhibition of FGF signaling mimics the cellular and biochemical effects of SHP-2 inhibition and that these effects can be rescued by constitutively active/Noonan-syndrome-associated forms of SHP-2. Collectively, these results show that SHP-2 functions within the FGF/MAPK pathway to maintain survival of proliferating populations of cardiac progenitor cells.

Cooperation between p27 and p107 during endochondral ossification suggests a genetic pathway controlled by p27 and p130

Pocket proteins and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors negatively regulate cell proliferation and can promote differentiation. However, which members of these gene families, which cell type they interact in, and what they do to promote differentiation in that cell type during mouse development are largely unknown. To identify the cell types in which p107 and p27 interact, we generated compound mutant mice. These mice were null for p107 and had a deletion in p27 that prevented its binding to cyclin-CDK complexes. Although a fraction of these animals survived into adulthood and looked similar to single p27 mutant mice, a larger number of animals died at birth or within a few weeks thereafter. These animals displayed defects in chondrocyte maturation and endochondral bone formation. Proliferation of chondrocytes was increased, and ectopic ossification was observed. Uncommitted mouse embryo fibroblasts could be induced into the chondrocytic lineage ex vivo, but these cells failed to mature normally. These results demonstrate that p27 carries out overlapping functions with p107 in controlling cell cycle exit during chondrocyte maturation. The phenotypic similarities between p107(-/-) p27(D51/D51) and p107(-/-) p130(-/-) mice and the cells derived from them suggest that p27 and p130 act in an analogous pathway during chondrocyte maturation.

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in yeast, animals, and plants: a functional comparison

The cell cycle is remarkably conserved in yeast, animals, and plants and is controlled by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). CDK activity can be inhibited by binding of CDK inhibitory proteins, designated CKIs. Numerous studies show that CKIs are essential in orchestrating eukaryotic cell proliferation and differentiation. In yeast, animals, and plants, CKIs act as regulators of the G1 checkpoint in response to environmental and developmental cues and assist during mitotic cell cycles by inhibiting CDK activity required to arrest mitosis. Furthermore, CKIs play an important role in regulating cell cycle exit that precedes differentiation and in promoting differentiation in cooperation with transcription factors. Moreover, CKIs are essential to control CDK activity in endocycling cells. So, in yeast, animals, and plants, CKIs share many functional similarities, but their functions are adapted toward the specific needs of the eukaryote.

PTEN is required for the normal progression of gastrulation by repressing cell proliferation after MBT in Xenopus embryos

PTEN phosphatase mediates several developmental cues involving cell proliferation, growth, death, and migration. We investigated the function of the PTEN gene at the transition from the cell proliferation state to morphogenesis around the midblastula transition (MBT) and gastrulation in Xenopus embryos. An immunoblotting analysis indicated that PTEN expresses constantly through embryogenesis. By up- or down-regulating PTEN activity using overexpression of the active form or C terminus of PTEN before MBT, we induced elongation of the cell cycle time just before MBT or maintained its speed even after MBT, respectively. The disruption of the cell cycle time by changing the activity of PTEN delayed gastrulation after MBT. In addition, PTEN began to localize to the plasma membranes and nuclei at MBT. Overexpression of a membrane-localizing mutant of PTEN caused dephosphorylation of Akt, whereas overexpression of the C terminus of PTEN caused phosphorylation of Akt and inhibited the localization of EGFP-PTEN to the plasma membranes and nuclei. These results indicate that an appropriate PTEN activity, probably regulated by its differential localization, is necessary for coordinating cell proliferation and early morphogenesis.

p27kip1 independently promotes neuronal differentiation and migration in the cerebral cortex

The generation of neurons by progenitor cells involves the tight coordination of multiple cellular activities, including cell cycle exit, initiation of neuronal differentiation, and cell migration. The mechanisms that integrate these different events into a coherent developmental program are not well understood. Here we show that the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) plays an important role in neurogenesis in the mouse cerebral cortex by promoting the differentiation and radial migration of cortical projection neurons. Importantly, these two functions of p27(Kip1) involve distinct activities, which are independent of its role in cell cycle regulation. p27(Kip1) promotes neuronal differentiation by stabilizing Neurogenin2 protein, an activity carried by the N-terminal half of the protein. p27(Kip1) promotes neuronal migration by blocking RhoA signaling, an activity that resides in its C-terminal half. Thus, p27(Kip1) plays a key role in cortical development, acting as a modular protein that independently regulates and couples multiple cellular pathways contributing to neurogenesis.

XHas2 activity is required during somitogenesis and precursor cell migration in Xenopus development

In vertebrates, hyaluronan biosynthesis is regulated by three transmembrane catalytic enzymes denoted Has1, Has2 and Has3. We have previously cloned the Xenopus orthologues of the corresponding genes and defined their spatiotemporal distribution during development. During mammalian embryogenesis, Has2 activity is known to be crucial, as its abrogation in mice leads to early embryonic lethality. Here, we show that, in Xenopus,morpholino-mediated loss-of-function of XHas2 alters somitogenesis by causing a disruption of the metameric somitic pattern and leads to a defective myogenesis. In the absence of XHas2, early myoblasts underwent apoptosis, failing to complete their muscle differentiation programme. XHas2 activity is also required for migration of hypaxial muscle cells and trunk neural crest cells (NCC). To approach the mechanism whereby loss of HA,following XHas2 knockdown, could influence somitogenesis and precursor cell migration, we cloned the orthologue of the primary HA signalling receptor CD44 and addressed its function through an analogous knockdown approach. Loss of XCD44 did not disturb somitogenesis, but strongly impaired hypaxial muscle precursor cell migration and the subsequent formation of the ventral body wall musculature. In contrast to XHas2,loss of function of XCD44 did not seem to be essential for trunk NCC migration, suggesting that the HA dependence of NCC movement was rather associated with an altered macromolecular composition of the ECM structuring the cells' migratory pathways. The presented results, extend our knowledge on Has2 function and, for the first time, demonstrate a developmental role for CD44 in vertebrates. On the whole, these data underlie and confirm the emerging importance of cell-ECM interactions and modulation during embryonic development.

A novel role for lbx1 in Xenopus hypaxial myogenesis

We have examined lbx1 expression in early X. laevis tadpoles. In contrast to amniotes, lbx1 is expressed in all of the myoblasts that contribute to the body wall musculature, as well as in a group of cells that migrate into the head. Despite this different expression, the function of lbx1 appears to be conserved. Morpholino (MO) knockdown of lbx1 causes a specific reduction of body wall muscles and hypoglossal muscles originating from the somites. Although myoblast migratory defects are observed in antisense MO injected tadpoles targeting lbx1, this results at least in part from a lack of myoblast proliferation in the hypaxial muscle domain. Conversely, overexpression of lbx1 mRNA results in enlarged somites, an increase in cell proliferation, but a lack of differentiated muscle. The control of cell proliferation is linked to a strong downregulation of myoD expression in gain-of-function experiments. Co-injection of myoD mRNA with lbx1 mRNA eliminates the overproliferation phenotype observed when lbx1 is injected alone. The results indicate that a primary function of lbx1 in hypaxial muscle development is to repress myoD, allowing myoblasts to proliferate before the eventual onset of terminal differentiation.

p38 MAP kinase regulates the expression of XMyf5 and affects distinct myogenic programs during Xenopus development

The p38 MAPK signaling pathway is essential for skeletal muscle differentiation in tissue culture models. We demonstrate a novel role for p38 MAPK in myogenesis during early Xenopus laevis development. Interfering with p38 MAPK causes distinct defects in myogenesis. The initial expression of Myf5 is selectively blocked, while expression of MyoD is unaffected. Expression of a subset of muscle structural genes is reduced. Convergent extension movements are prevented and segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm is delayed, probably due to the failure of cells to withdraw from the cell cycle. Myotubes are properly formed; however, at later stages, they begin to degenerate, and the boundaries between somites disappear. Significant apoptotic cell death occurs in most parts of the somites. The ventral body wall muscle derived from migratory progenitor cells of the ventral somite region is poorly formed. Our data indicate that the developmental defects caused by p38alpha-knockdown were mediated by the loss of XMyf5 expression. Thus, this study identifies a specific intracellular pathway in which p38 MAPK and Myf5 proteins regulate a distinct myogenic program.

The C-terminal domain of the Xenopus cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p27Xic1, is both necessary and sufficient for phosphorylation-independent proteolysis

Cell cycle progression is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), cyclins, and CDK inhibitors. In the frog, Xenopus laevis, the CDK inhibitor p27(Xic1) (Xic1) inhibits DNA synthesis by negatively regulating CDK2-cyclin E. Using the frog egg extract as a model system for the study of Xic1, studies have demonstrated that Xic1 protein levels are regulated by nuclear ubiquitination and proteolysis. To characterize the molecular mechanism that regulates Xic1 turnover, we have identified the minimal sequences of Xic1 that are necessary and sufficient for its nuclear ubiquitination and degradation. Using deletion mutagenesis, our studies indicated that the C-terminal 50 amino acids of Xic1 are critical for its proteolysis beyond a role in nuclear transport. Replacement of the Xic1 C terminus with the SV40 nuclear localization sequence resulted in the nuclear localization of Xic1 but not its ubiquitination or degradation. Our deletion studies also indicated that the CDK2-cyclin binding domain of Xic1 is important for its efficient retention in the nucleus. Further deletion analyses identified at least 3 lysine residues within the Xic1 C terminus that are targeted for specific ubiquitination. Importantly, our studies demonstrated that the Xic1 C-terminal 50 amino acids can serve as a nuclear degradation signal when fused to a stable heterologous nuclear protein. Moreover, a 30-amino-acid region within the C terminus of Xic1 can serve as a nuclear ubiquitination signal. To address the role of phosphorylation on Xic1 turnover, all the potential phosphorylation sites within the C-terminal 50 amino acids of Xic1 were mutated to alanine to prevent possible phosphorylation. This resulted in a Xic1 protein that was nevertheless degraded in a manner similar to wild-type Xic1, suggesting that phosphorylation of Xic1 is not critical for its nuclear ubiquitination or proteolysis.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen recruits cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor Xic1 to DNA and couples its proteolysis to DNA polymerase switching

The Xenopus cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor, p27(Xic1) (Xic1), binds to CDK2-cyclins and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), inhibits DNA synthesis in Xenopus extracts, and is targeted for ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Previous studies suggest that Xic1 ubiquitination and degradation are coupled to the initiation of DNA replication, but the precise timing and molecular mechanism of Xic1 proteolysis has not been determined. Here we demonstrate that Xic1 proteolysis is temporally restricted to late replication initiation following the requirements for DNA polymerase alpha-primase, replication factor C, and PCNA. Our studies also indicate that Xic1 degradation is absolutely dependent upon the binding of Xic1 to PCNA in both Xenopus egg and gastrulation stage extracts. Additionally, extracts depleted of PCNA do not support Xic1 proteolysis. Importantly, while the addition of recombinant wild-type PCNA alone restores Xic1 degradation, the addition of a PCNA mutant defective for trimer formation does not restore Xic1 proteolysis in PCNA-depleted extracts, suggesting Xic1 proteolysis requires both PCNA binding to Xic1 and the ability of PCNA to be loaded onto primed DNA by replication factor C. Taken together, our studies suggest that Xic1 is targeted for ubiquitination and degradation during DNA polymerase switching through its interaction with PCNA at a site of initiation.

EDEN-BP-dependent post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in Xenopus somitic segmentation

EDEN-BP is a Xenopus RNA-binding protein that triggers deadenylation [poly(A) tail shortening], and thereby translational repression and degradation, of a subset of maternal mRNAs soon after fertilization. We show here that this factor is expressed in the presomitic mesoderm of older embryos, the site where somitic segmentation takes place. Inhibiting EDEN-BP function using either antisense morpholino oligonucleotides or neutralizing antibodies leads to severe defects in somitic segmentation, but not myotomal differentiation. This is associated with defects in the expression of segmentation markers belonging to the Notch signalling pathway in the presomitic mesoderm. We show by a combination of approaches that the mRNA encoding XSu(H), a protein that plays a central role in Notch signalling, is regulated by the EDEN-BP pathway. Accordingly, XSu(H) is overexpressed in EDEN-BP knock-down embryos, and overexpressing XSu(H) causes segmentation defects. We finally give data indicating that, in addition to XSu(H), other segmentation RNAs are a target for EDEN-BP. These results show that EDEN-BP-dependent post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression is required for the process of somitic segmentation.

RANKL coordinates cell cycle withdrawal and differentiation in osteoclasts through the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27KIP1 and p21CIP1

The coordination of cell cycle progression and osteoclast differentiation by RANKL signaling was studied. Experiments with mouse genetic models revealed that RANKL promoted cell cycle withdrawal of osteoclast precursors dependent on the cyclin kinase inhibitor p27-KIP1, but that both p27-KIP1 and p21-CIP1 were required for osteoclast differentiation. These cyclin inhibitors may directly regulate osteoclast differentiation in addition to regulating cell cycle withdrawal.

INTRODUCTION

RANKL stimulates mononuclear precursor cells of the myeloid lineage to differentiate into multinuclear osteoclasts, thus providing a system to study the fundamental problem of coordination of cell cycle progression with cell differentiation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice that lack expression of functional cyclin inhibitors p27KIP1and p21CIP1 were used to study cell cycle progression and differentiation of osteoclast precursors in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Experiments with cells derived from p27KIP1- and p21CIP1-deficient mice indicated that p27KIP1 function alone was necessary for RANKL-mediated cell cycle withdrawal by osteoclast precursors, but osteoclasts from mice with single mutations in either of these two genes differentiated normally. In contrast, p21/p27 double knockout mice developed osteopetrosis, with fewer osteoclasts that exhibited lower TRACP activity and abnormal cell morphology present in long bone. Moreover, isolated osteoclast progenitors from p21/p27 double knockout mice were defective in RANKL-mediated differentiation in vitro, expressing low levels of osteoclast-specific genes like TRACP and cathepsin K. Taken together, these data suggest p27KIP1 and p21CIP1 play roles in osteoclast differentiation in response to RANKL signaling distinct from their roles in promoting cell cycle withdrawal.

G1/S phase cyclin-dependent kinase overexpression perturbs early development and delays tissue-specific differentiation in Xenopus

Cell division and differentiation are largely incompatible but the molecular links between the two processes are poorly understood. Here, we overexpress G1/S phase cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases in Xenopus embryos to determine their effect on early development and differentiation. Overexpression of cyclin E prior to the midblastula transition (MBT), with or without cdk2, results in a loss of nuclear DNA and subsequent apoptosis at early gastrula stages. By contrast, overexpressed cyclin A2 protein does not affect early development and, when stabilised by binding to cdk2, persists to tailbud stages. Overexpression of cyclin A2/cdk2 in post-MBT embryos results in increased proliferation specifically in the epidermis with concomitant disruption of skin architecture and delay in differentiation. Moreover, ectopic cyclin A2/cdk2 also inhibits differentiation of primary neurons but does not affect muscle. Thus, overexpression of a single G1/S phase cyclin/cdk pair disrupts the balance between division and differentiation in the early vertebrate embryo in a tissue-specific manner.

Inhibition of the cell cycle is required for convergent extension of the paraxial mesoderm during Xenopus neurulation

Coordination of morphogenesis and cell proliferation is essential during development. In Xenopus, cell divisions are rapid and synchronous early in development but then slow and become spatially restricted during gastrulation and neurulation. One tissue that transiently stops dividing is the paraxial mesoderm, a dynamically mobile tissue that forms the somites and body musculature of the embryo. We have found that cessation of cell proliferation is required for the proper positioning and segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm as well as the complete elongation of the Xenopusembryo. Instrumental in this cell cycle arrest is Wee2, a Cdk inhibitory kinase that is expressed in the paraxial mesoderm from mid-gastrula stages onwards. Morpholino-mediated depletion of Wee2 increases the mitotic index of the paraxial mesoderm and this results in the failure of convergent extension and somitogenesis in this tissue. Similar defects are observed if the cell cycle is inappropriately advanced by other mechanisms. Thus, the low mitotic index of the paraxial mesoderm plays an essential function in the integrated cell movements and patterning of this tissue.

The cdk inhibitor p27Xic1 is required for differentiation of primary neurones in Xenopus

We have investigated the role of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p27(Xic1), in the coordination of cell cycle exit and differentiation during early neurogenesis. We demonstrate that p27(Xic1) is highly expressed in cells destined to become primary neurones and is essential for an early stage of neurogenesis. Ablation of p27(Xic1) protein prevents differentiation of primary neurones, while overexpressing p27(Xic1) promotes their formation. p27(Xic1) may enhance neurogenesis by stabilising the bHLH protein, neurogenin. Moreover, the ability of p27(Xic1) to stabilise neurogenin and enhance neurogenesis localises to an N-terminal domain of the molecule and is separable from its ability to inhibit the cell cycle.

Dominant Negative E2F Inhibits Progression of the Cell Cycle after the Midblastula Transition in Xenopus

The cleavage cycle, which is initiated by fertilization, consists of only S and M phases, and the gap phases (G1 and G2) appear after the midblastula transition (MBT) in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. During early development in Xenopus, we examined the E2F activity, which controls transition from the G1 to S phase in the somatic cell cycle. Gel retardation and transactivation assays revealed that, although the E2F protein was constantly present throughout early development, the E2F transactivation activity was induced in a stage-specific manner, that is, low before MBT and rapidly increased after MBT. Introduction of the recombinant dominant negative E2F (dnE2F), but not the control, protein into the 2-cell stage embryos specifically suppressed E2F activation after MBT. Cells in dnE2F-injected embryos appeared normal before MBT, but ceased to proliferate and eventually died at the gastrula. These cells contained decreased cdk activity with enhanced inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc2 at Tyr15. Thus, E2F activity is required for cell cycle progression and cell viability after MBT, but not essential for MBT transition and developmental progression during the cleavage stage.