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First published online 21 January 2004
doi: 10.1242/dev.00983

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XSEB4R, a novel RNA-binding protein involved in retinal cell differentiation downstream of bHLH proneural genes

Sébastien Boy^1,*, Jacob Souopgui^2,3,*, Marcos A. Amato¹, Maurice Wegnez¹, Tomas Pieler² and Muriel Perron^1,

¹ Laboratoire d'Embryologie Moléculaire et Expérimentale, UMR CNRS 8080, Bâtiment 445, Université Paris XI, 91405 Orsay, France
² Universität Göttingen, Institut für Biochemie und Molekulare Zellbiologie, Abteilung Entwicklungsbiochemie, Justus von Liebig Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
³ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, PO Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Author for correspondence (e-mail: muriel.perron{at}emex.u-psud.fr)

Accepted 12 November 2003

RNA-binding proteins play key roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression but so far they have not been studied extensively in the context of developmental processes. We report on the molecular cloning and spatio-temporal expression of a novel RNA-binding protein, XSEB4R, which is strongly expressed in the nervous system. This study is focused on the analysis of Xseb4R in the context of primary neurogenesis and retinogenesis. To study Xseb4R function during eye development, we set up a new protocol allowing in vivo lipofection of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides into the retina. The resulting XSEB4R knockdown causes an impairment of neuronal differentiation, with an increase in the number of glial cells. By contrast, our gain-of-function analysis demonstrates that Xseb4R strongly promotes neural differentiation. We also showed a similar function during primary neurogenesis. Consistent with this proneural effect, we found that in the open neural plate Xseb4R expression is upregulated by the proneural gene XNgnr1, as well as by the differentiation gene XNeuroD, but is inhibited by the Notch/Delta pathway. Altogether, our results suggest for the first time a proneural effect for a RNA-binding protein involved in the genetic network of retinogenesis.

Key words: Retina, RNA binding proteins, Morpholinos, Proneural genes, Xenopus

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