Biomedical subjects

Rui-Ying Hu

Publications and source records attributed to Rui-Ying Hu.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The role of Paraxial Protocadherin in Xenopus otic placode development.

Vertebrate inner ear develops from its rudiment, otic placode, which later forms otic vesicle and gives rise to tissues comprising the entire inner ear. Although several signaling molecules have been identified as candidates responsible for inner ear specification and patterning, many details remain elusive. Here, we report that Paraxial Protocadherin (PAPC) is required for otic vesicle formation in Xenopus embryos. PAPC is expressed strictly in presumptive otic placode and later in otic vesicle during inner ear morphogenesis. Knockdown of PAPC by dominant-negative PAPC results in the failure of otic vesicle formation and the loss of early inner ear markers Sox9 and Tbx2, suggesting the requirement of PAPC in the early stage of otic vesicle development. However, PAPC alone is not sufficient to induce otic placode formation.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Xenopus Tbx6 mediates posterior patterning via activation of Wnt and FGF signalling.

In vertebrates, the patterning of anterior-posterior (AP) axis is a fundamental process during embryogenesis. Wnt and FGF signalling pathways play important roles in regulating the patterning of embryo AP axis. Mouse Tbx6 encodes a transcription factor that has been demonstrated to be involved in the specification of the posterior tissue in mouse embryonic body. Here, we prove that morpholino-induced knockdown of XTbx6 impairs posterior development, indicating the requirement of XTbx6 in this process. Meanwhile, gain of XTbx6 function is sufficient to induce ectopic posterior structures in Xenopus embryos. Furthermore, XTbx6 activates the expression of Xwnt8 and FGF8, which are two mediators of posterior development, suggesting a mechanism by which XTbx6 modulates posterior patterning via Wnt and FGF signalling pathway activation.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Optimized adaptor polymerase chain reaction method for efficient genomic walking.

Genomic walking is one of the most useful approaches in genome-related research. Three kinds of PCR-based methods are available for this purpose. However, none of them has been generally applied because they are either insensitive or inefficient. Here we present an efficient PCR protocol, an optimized adaptor PCR method for genomic walking. Using a combination of a touchdown PCR program and a special adaptor, the optimized adaptor PCR protocol achieves high sensitivity with low background noise. By applying this protocol, the insertion sites of a gene trap mouse line and two gene promoters from the incompletely sequenced Xenopus laevis genome were successfully identified with high efficiency. The general application of this protocol in genomic walking was promising.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

[Progress in the investigation of Avian sex determination and sex identification].

Avian sex determination is a multiple gene regulation cascade. Genes such as the Z chromosome-linked DMRT1 gene, W chromosome-linked PKCIW gene and other factors have been demonstrated to be involved in this process. In this paper, we review the recent progress in this field. The investigation of functions of sex determinate genes and methods of sexing identification in birds are also discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Multiple signaling pathways control Tbx6 expression during Xenopus myogenesis.

Tbx6 is critical for somite specification and myogenesis initiation. It has been shown that Activin/Nodal, VegT/Nodal, FGF, and BMP signaling pathways are involved early in specifying mesoderm or later in patterning mesoderm, and Xnot plays roles in setting up the boundary between notochord and paraxial mesoderm. In this study, we introduce the dominant negative form of above genes into embryos to evaluate if they are responsible for regulating Tbx6 expression. The results show that: (1) Activin/Nodal and VegT/Nodal signals are necessary for both initiation and maintenance of Tbx6 expression, and Nodal is sufficient to induce ectopic Tbx6 expression; (2) FGF signal is necessary for the initiation and maintenance of Tbx6, but it is not sufficient to induce Tbx6 expression; (3) BMP is also necessary for the expression of Tbx6, and the induction of Tbx6 expression by BMP is dose dependent; (4) Xnot has no effect on the expression of Tbx6. Our results suggest that several signaling pathways are involved in regulating Tbx6 expression, and pave the route to reveal the molecular mechanism of initiating myogenesis.

Animals↗