XB-IMG-73881
Xenbase Image ID: 73881
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Fig. 2. RACK1 loss of function leads to similar neural tube closure defects as PTK7 loss of function. (A) Time-lapse images of Xenopus embryos injected with 10 ng control MO, RACK1 MO1 or PTK7 MO analyzed at stages 15, 18 and 23 show a similar delay in neural tube closure in the RACK1 and PTK7 morphants and the embryos remain shorter than the control. Embryos were injected at the one-cell stage and images were taken at 30-minute intervals from stage 13 to stage 23. (B) The expression of SOX2 (a pan-neural marker) and PAX3 (a lateral neural plate marker) is expanded in stage 17-18 embryos injected with 10 ng RACK1 MO1 or PTK7 MO compared with control MO. (C,D) Transverse sections of stage 18 embryos injected with 20 ng RACK1 MO or PTK7 MO. Embryos were injected in one blastomere at the two-cell stage; the dashed line demarcates the injected from the control side of the embryo. Phalloidin staining (red) marks the actin cytoskeleton. Actin accumulation, indicating hinge point formation (white arrows), is seen on the injected and control sides. However, the neural plate remains wide on the injected side (yellow arrow), indicating a defect in convergent extension. (E-H) Neural convergent extension was analyzed in ectodermal explants (animal caps) injected with 450 pg XBF-2 RNA. Explant elongation was analyzed when control embryos reached stage 20. (E) Uninjected control caps did not elongate. (F) Explants injected with XBF-2 and 20 ng control MO showed various degrees of elongation. (G) Co-injection of 20 ng RACK1 MO inhibited explant elongation. (H) Co-injection of 20 ng PTK7 MO inhibited elongation of explants. (I) The percentage of elongated explants from the experiments illustrated in E-H. Black indicates a strong elongation, gray a mild elongation. The number of explants is indicated for each condition. Image published in: Wehner P et al. (2011) Copyright © 2011. Image reproduced with permission of the Publisher 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 |