Neuronal leucine‐rich repeat 6 (XlNLRR‐6) is required for late lens and retina development in Xenopus laevis

Abstract

AbstractLeucine‐rich repeat proteins expressed in the developing vertebrate nervous system comprise a complex, multifamily group, and little is known of their developmental function in vivo. We have identified a novel member of this group in Xenopus laevis, XlNLRR‐6, and through sequence and phylogenetic analysis, have placed it within a defined family of vertebrate neuronal leucine‐rich repeat proteins (NLRR). XlNLRR‐6 is expressed in the developing nervous system and tissues of the eye beginning at the neural plate stage, and expression continues throughout embryonic and larval development. Using antisense morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) ‐mediated knockdown of XlNLRR‐6, we demonstrate that this protein is critical for development of the lens, retina, and cornea. Reciprocal transplantation of presumptive lens ectoderm between MO‐treated and untreated embryos demonstrate that XlNLRR‐6 plays autonomous roles in the development of both the lens and retina. These findings represent the first in vivo functional analysis of an NLRR family protein and establish a role for this protein during late differentiation of tissues in the developing eye. Developmental Dynamics 235:1027–1041, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.