Alterations induced by E-cadherin and β-catenin antibodies during the development of Bufo arenarum (Anura-Bufonidae)

• Izaguirre, M. F. ^[1] ; Adur, J. F. ^[1] ; Peralta Soler, A. ^[2] ; Casco, V. H. ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos

     Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos

     Argentina

     
  2. [2] Institute for Medical Research

     Institute for Medical Research

     Township of Durham, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 16, Nº. 4, 2001, págs. 1097-1106
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • E(epi t helia l)-cadhe rin is a me mbe r o f a calc ium-dependent family of cell surface glycoproteins involved in cell-cell adhesio n a nd mo rphogenesis . Catenins are a large family of proteins that connect the cadherins to the cytoske leto n. They are important fo r cadherin fUllctio n and for transducing signals involved in specificatio n o f cell fate during embryogenes is. T he bes t c ha racterize d cate nins inc lude U - , /3-, Yo, and p120-cate nin. Using specific antibo di es, we s tudie d the express ion and distribution of E-cadherin, and u -and /3-catenin in developmental stages of Bufo arellarum toad. The three proteins were found co-localized in stages 19 to 41 of development. S urprisingly, E-cadherin was the only of these three proteins found earlier than stage 19. To test w hethe r E-cadhe rin and /3-cate nin have a functional role in B/./fo arenarlIIn embryogenes is, stage 17 whole embryos were incubated with anti-E-cadherin and /3-ca tenin antibodies. Both anti-E-cadherin and anti-/3-cate nin a ntibodi es induce d severe mo rpho logical alteratio ns. However, while alterations produced by the anti-/3-catenin antibody, s howed some variability fro m the most severe (neural tube and notochord duplicatio n) to a simple delay in development, the alteratio ns with anti-E-cadherin were homogeneous. These obse rvatio ns suggest a critica l role for E-cadherin and/3-catenin in the early embryonic deve lo pment o f the Bufo aren arum toad. Our results are consistent with the developmental role of these proteins in other species . One of the most s urprising findings was the blockage with the a nti-B-c at e nin a ntibodi es o n la te r embryo s tages, a nd w e hypothes ize that the pa rtia l axes duplicatio n could be mediated by the notochord inductio n.