Xenbase Image ID: 148641

Figure 5. Rfx2 is essential for the insertion of nascent MCCs into the mucociliary epithelium. (A) Overlap of Rfx2 target genes and the ‘cilia proteome’ (as defined in Gherman et al., 2006; see ‘Materials and methods’). Out of 911 direct target genes of Rfx2 identified in this study, only 20% of them (180 genes) are annotated as known cilia genes. Right panel represents the Gene Ontology terms significantly enriched among direct targets of Rfx2 (biological process category only; Benjamini corrected p<0.05) (B) A cross-sectional view of a control embryo labeled with ciliated cell marker (cyan). Apical surface is up. MCCs have inserted into the mucociliary epithelium (arrows). (C) A cross-sectional view of an Rfx2 morpholino-injected embryo. MCCs fail to insert into the overlying epithelium (arrows). To observe the insertion of MCCs into the overlying epithelium of control embryos (E) and Rfx2 morphants (D), a MCC-specific α-tubulin enhancer element driving expression of Utrophin-GFP was used. (D) Note the control MCC first exhibited a star-shaped morphology and cell protrusions probed into overlying cell–cell boundaries (arrows). The probing phase then ceased and apical surface expanded (Videos 5 and 6). (E) Protrusions of the MCC were observed, indicating the initial probing was qualitatively normal following Rfx2 knockdown. However, apical surface expansion was strongly inhibited in MCCs (Video 7). (F) Quantification of apical surface area of MCCs of control embryos and Rfx2 morphants. Image published in: Chung MI et al. (2014) Copyright © 2013, Chung et al. This image is reproduced with permission of the journal and the copyright holder. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license Larger Image Printer Friendly View

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