XCIRP (XENOPUS HOMOLOG OF COLD-INDUCIBLE RNA-BINDING PROTEIN) IS EXPRESSED TRANSIENTLY IN DEVELOPING PRONEPHROS AND NEURAL TISSUE

The pronephros functions in the amphibian larval stage. It differentia tes in certain presumptive regions of the amphibian embryo. The study of molecules functioning during pronephrogenesis is important for unde rstanding the mechanism of kidney formation. Herein, we report a gene expressed during differentiation of the pronephros and neural tissues that we isolated by differential hybridization using our pronephros in -vitro induction system. The gene, XCIRP, is 887 bp in length, and enc odes a putative protein composed of 163 amino acid residues. The deduc ed protein contains two CS-RBDs (consensus sequence RNA-binding domain ) and a glycine-rich domain, and is 74% identical to homologs from oth er species (mouse, rat and human). The expression of XCIRP increased r apidly during gastrulation, and XCIRP localization was seen in the pre sumptive pronephros and neural tissues. These findings suggest that XC IRP may play important roles in pronephrogenesis and neurogenesis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.