GBP, an inhibitor of GSK-3, is implicated in Xenopus development and oncogenesis

Article Abstract:

GBP is an important maternal protein that promotes the development of a dorso-ventral axis in developing Xenopus embryo. GBP stabilizes beta-catenin by binding kinase Xgsk-3. This interaction inhibits the phosphorylation of beta-catenin. The accumulation of stable beta-catenin in the dorsal region of the embryo is responsible for the development of the dorsal axis. Injection of GBP at different regions of the embryo induces the development of ectopic axis.

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Mesoderm induction: a postmodern view

Article Abstract:

A study conducted by Zhang et al. provided new insights on how mesoderm and endoderm induction are spatially separated in the embryo. Their findings showed that a member of the T-box transcription family plays an important role in the vegetal maternal mesoderm-inducing signal. Mesoderm induction was observed to occur much later than what has been originally believed. Antisense oligonucleotides were used to deplete the maternal VegT mRNA.

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Bmp signaling: Turning a half into a whole

Article Abstract:

The basis of the phenomenon that amphibians have a remarkable ability to compensate for perturbations to the embryo is presented. It is demonstrated that interactions between bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps) and their inhibitors on both the dorsal and ventral sides of the early Xenopus embryo are involved in creating the body plan.

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