Spatially and temporally regulated α6 integrin cleavage during Xenopus laevis development

Manolis C. Demetriou, Panayiota Stylianou, Maria Andreou, Olga Yiannikouri, George Tsaprailis, Anne E. Cress, Paris Skourides

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The α6 integrin is essential for early nervous system development in Xenopus laevis. We have previously reported a uPA cleaved form of integrin α6 (α6p), in invasive human prostate cancer tissue, whose presence correlates with increased migration and invasive capacity. We now report that α6 is cleaved during the normal development of Xenopus in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. In addition, unlike normal mammalian tissues, which lack α6p, the major form of the α6 integrin present in adult Xenopus is α6p. The protease responsible for the cleavage in mammals, uPA, is not involved in the cleavage of Xenopus α6. Finally, overexpression of a mammalian α6 mutant which cannot be cleaved leads to developmental abnormalities suggesting a potential role for the cleavage in development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)779-785
Number of pages7
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume366
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 2008

Keywords

  • Development
  • Integrin
  • Xenopus laevis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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