A5004808289- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Congenital heart defects research
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Studies
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- interferon and immune responses
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Signaling Pathways in Disease
- Connexins and lens biology
- Light effects on plants
University of Pisa
2015-2025
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
1999-2003
National Institutes of Health
2002
Genethon (France)
1999
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
1995-1996
Brown University
1991
ABSTRACT In this paper we study Xotx2, a Xenopus homeobox gene related to orthodenticle, expressed in the developing head of Drosophila. The murine cognate, Otx2, is first entire epiblast prestreak embryos and later very anterior regions late-gastrulae, including neuroectoderm presumptive fore- mid-brain. Xenopus, RNase protection experiments reveal that Xotx2 at low levels throughout early development from unfertilized egg late blastula, when its expression level significantly increases....
P23H is the most common mutation in RHODOPSIN (RHO) gene leading to a dominant form of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), rod photoreceptor degeneration that invariably causes vision loss. Specific disruption disease RHO mutant while preserving wild-type (WT) functional allele would be an invaluable therapy for this disease. However, various technologies tested past failed achieve effective changes and consequently therapeutic benefits. We validated CRISPR/Cas9 strategy specifically inactivate...
We have identified a transcription factor specifically expressed in the developing vertebrate eye. named this gene vax2 because of high degree sequence similarity to recently described vax1 . Both human and mouse genomes, is localized vicinity emx1 gene. This mapping assignment, together with previously reported colocalization Vax1 Emx2 mouse, indicates that vax emx genes may be organized clusters. has remarkable expression domain confined ventral portion prospective neural retina human,...
ABSTRACT The anteriormost part of the neural plate is fated to give rise retina and anterior brain regions. In Xenopus, this territory initially included within expression domain bicoid-class homeobox gene Xotx2 but very soon, at beginning neurulation, it becomes devoid Xotx2transcripts in spatiotemporal concomitance with transcriptional activation paired-like Xrx1. By use gain-and loss-of-function approaches, we have studied role played by Xrx1 its interactions other genes. We find that,...
Although it is well established that Six3 a crucial regulator of vertebrate eye and forebrain development, unknown whether this homeodomain protein has role in the initial specification anterior neural plate. In study, we show exogenous can expand plate both Xenopus zebrafish, occurs part through Six3-dependent transcriptional regulation cell cycle regulators cyclinD1 p27Xic1, as anti-neurogenic genes Zic2 Xhairy2. However, still presence inhibitors likely to be due its ability repress...
// Sara Mariotti 1, * , Ivana Barravecchia Carla Vindigni 2 Angela Pucci 3 Michele Balsamo 1 Rosaliana Libro 4 Vera Senchenko 5 Alexey Dmitriev Emanuela Jacchetti 6 Marco Cecchini Franco Roviello 7 Lai 8 Vania Broccoli 9 Massimiliano Andreazzoli 10 Chiara M. Mazzanti Debora Angeloni Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy U.O.C. Anatomia Patologica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, 53100 Siena, Pisana, 56100 BIOS...
In Xenopus neuroectoderm, posterior cells start differentiating at the end of gastrulation, while anterior display an extended proliferative period and undergo neurogenesis only tailbud stage. Recent studies have identified several important components molecular pathways controlling neurogenesis, but little is known about those timing positioning neurogenesis. We investigate role Xrx1, a homeobox gene required for eye brain development, in control proliferation neural plate. Xrx1 expressed...
ABSTRACT Xotx1 and Xotx2 are two Xenopus homologues of the Drosophila orthodenticle gene that specifically expressed in presumptive head regions do not undergo convergent extension movements during gastrulation. We studied function compared it with Xotx2. Ectopic expression each genes has similar effects impairing trunk tail development. Experimental evidence suggests posterior deficiencies observed microinjected embryos due to negative interference movements. Trans- plantations putative...
The reason why different types of vertebrate nerve cells are generated in a particular sequence is still poorly understood. In the retina, homeobox genes play crucial role establishing cell identities. Here we provide evidence cellular clock that sequentially activates distinct embryonic retinal cells, linking identity to its time generation. By situ expression analysis, found three Xenopus Xotx5b, Xvsx1, and Xotx2 initially transcribed but not translated early progenitors. Their translation...
Glaucoma and other optic neuropathies are characterized by a loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), cell layer located in the posterior eye segment. Several preclinical studies demonstrate that neurotrophins (NTs) prevent RGC loss. However, NTs rarely investigated clinic due to various issues, such as difficulties reaching retina, very short half-life NTs, need for multiple injections. We can be conjugated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), which act smart drug carriers. This combines advantages...
Maturation of miRNAs by dicer is required in vertebrates for normal neural development.Here we report that inactivation Xenopus affects cell cycle progression, survival and timing the generation retinal cells, resulting small retinas with lamination defects.In particular, delays exit from translation key genes late neurogenesis, highlighting a crucial role development.
Driving specific differentiation pathways in multipotent stem cells is a main goal of cell therapy. Here we exploited the differentiating potential Xenopus animal cap embryonic (ACES) to investigate factors necessary drive toward retinal fates. ACES are multipotent, and can be diverged from their default ectodermal fate give rise types all three germ layers. We found that single secreted molecule, Noggin, sufficient elicit fates cells. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction,...
Abstract The Lim‐1 gene encodes a LIM‐homeodomain transcription factor that is highly conserved among vertebrates and required for successful gastrulation head formation. expression of this in the mesoderm gastrula known to require an activin/nodal signal. Earlier studies have shown Xenopus ( Xlim‐1 ) contains activin response element (ARE) its first intron, which cooperates with activin‐unresponsive upstream promoter regulation gene. Here, we show ARE cluster FAST‐1/FoxH1 Smad4 recognition...
In the developing central nervous system, cell cycle clock plays a crucial role in determining fate specification. A second clock, circadian oscillator, generates daily rhythms of progression. Although these two clocks interact, mechanisms linking progression and determination are still poorly understood. convenient system to address this issue is pineal organ lower vertebrates, which contains only neuronal types, photoreceptors projection neurons. particular, constitute core being able...
The transcription factor Rx1, also known as Rax, controls key properties of retinal precursors including migration behavior, proliferation, and maintenance multipotency. However, Rx1 effector genes are largely unknown.To identify controlled by in early precursors, we compared the transcriptome Xenopus embryos overexpressing to that which was knocked-down. In particular, selected 52 coherently regulated, i.e., actived gain function repressed loss experiments, or vice versa. RT-qPCR situ...
Abstract The plant-derived natural alkaloid berberine displays therapeutic potential to treat several pathological conditions, including dyslipidemias, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. However, data on effects during embryonic development are scarce in part controversial. In this study, using zebrafish embryos as vertebrate experimental model, we address the of treatment system functionality. Starting from observation that induces developmental toxicity pericardial edema a time-...