A Pilot Morpholino Screen in Xenopus tropicalis Identifies a Novel Gene Involved in Head Development.

Kenwrick, S, Amaya, E. and Papalopulu, N.

Developmental Dynamics 229:289-299 (2004). Full Article (2300K)

Abstract

The diploid frog X. tropicalis has recently been adopted as a model genetic system but

loss of function screens in Xenopus have not yet been performed. We have undertaken a pilot

functional knockdown screen in X. tropicalis for genes involved in nervous system development

by injecting antisense morpholino (MO) oligos directed against X. tropicalis mRNAs. Twentysix

genes with primary expression in the nervous system were selected as targets based on an

expression screen previously conducted in X. laevis. Reproducible phenotypes were observed for

6 and for 4 of these, a second MO gave a similar result. One of these genes encodes a novel

protein with previously unknown function. Knocking down this gene, designated pinhead, results

in severe microcephaly, whereas, overexpression results in macrocephaly. Together with the

early embryonic expression in the anterior neural plate, these data indicate that pinhead is a

novel gene involved in controlling head development.

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