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Retinoic acid induced-1 (Rai1) regulates craniofacial and brain development in Xenopus.

Abstract
Retinoic acid induced-1 (RAI1) is an important yet understudied histone code reader that when mutated in humans results in Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS), a neurobehavioral disorder accompanied by signature craniofacial abnormalities. Despite previous studies in mouse and human cell models, very little is known about the function of RAI1 during embryonic development. In the present study, we have turned to the model vertebrates Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis to better understand the developmental roles of Rai1. First we demonstrate that the Rai1 protein sequence is conserved in frogs, especially in known functional domains. By in situ hybridization we revealed expression of rai1 in the developing craniofacial tissues and the nervous system. Knockdown of Rai1 using antisense morpholinos resulted in defects in the developing brain and face. In particular, Rai1 morphants display midface hypoplasia and malformed mouth shape analogous to defects in humans with SMS. These craniofacial defects were accompanied with aberrant neural crest migration and reduction in the size of facial cartilage elements. Rai1 morphants also had defects in axon patterns and decreased forebrain ventricle size. Such brain defects correlated with a decrease in the neurotrophic factor, bdnf, and increased forebrain apoptosis. Our results emphasize a critical role of Rai1 for normal neural and craniofacial development, and further the current understanding of potential mechanisms that cause SMS.
AuthorsRaiha Tahir, Allyson Kennedy, Sarah H Elsea, Amanda J Dickinson
JournalMechanisms of development (Mech Dev) Vol. 133 Pg. 91-104 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1872-6356 [Electronic] Ireland
PMID24878353 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
CopyrightCopyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Chemical References
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transcription Factors
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • Tretinoin
Topics
  • Animals
  • Brain (embryology, metabolism)
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (genetics, metabolism)
  • Cell Movement
  • Chondrogenesis
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Facial Bones (embryology, metabolism)
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neural Crest (cytology, metabolism)
  • RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
  • Skull (embryology, metabolism)
  • Transcription Factors (chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
  • Tretinoin (metabolism)
  • Xenopus (embryology, genetics, metabolism)
  • Xenopus Proteins (chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
  • Xenopus laevis (embryology, genetics, metabolism)

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