Regulation of G-protein signaling via Gnas is required to regulate proximal tubular growth in the Xenopus pronephros.

ABSTRACT: In the kidney, proximal tubules are very important for the reabsorption of water, ions and organic solutes from the primary urine. They are composed of highly specialized epithelial cells that are characterized by an elaborate apical brush border to increase transport efficiency. Using the pronephric kidney of Xenopus laevis we discovered that the G-protein modulator cholera toxin resulted in a dramatic reduction of the proximal tubular size. This phenotype was accompanied by changes in the cytoarchitecture characterized by ectopic expression of the distal tubular marker 4A6 and an impairment of yolk platelet degradation. In addition, cholera toxin caused edema formation. However, this phenotype was not due to kidney defects, but rather due to impaired vasculature development. Based on exp

SUBMITTER: Zhang B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3767149 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature