Expression of the transcription factor Xvent-2 in Xenopus laevis embryogenesis

Abstract

Till now the transcription factor Xvent-2 has been studied in Xenopus embryos only by the mRNA testing. We use immunochemical methods for testing of the Xvent-2 protein and gradient-centrifugation methods for estimation of activity of its mRNA. Our results show that the Xvent-2 protein is present in eggs and early embryos. The Xvent-2 mRNA is absent at any of these developmental stages. The majority of mRNA synthesized on the zygotic genome was stored in informosomes, while only its small part could be revealed in polysomes. The spatial patterning of the Xvent-2 protein at different developmental stages did not entirely agree with that of its mRNA. These data indicate that the Xvent-2 protein functioning in Xenopu embryos is regulated not only at the transcription, but at translation and posttranslation as well. We propose that the activation of translation on the masked Xvent-2 mRNA may lead to blood differentiation and cell migration.