Zbtb11 interacts with Otx2 and patterns the anterior neuroectoderm inXenopus

Abstract

AbstractThezinc finger and BTB domain-containing 11gene (zbtb11) is expressed in theXenopusanterior neuroectoderm, but the molecular nature of the Zbtb11 protein during embryonic development remains to be elucidated. Here, we show the role of Zbtb11 in anterior patterning of the neuroectoderm and the cooperative action with the transcription factor Otx2. Both overexpression and knockdown ofzbtb11caused similar phenotypes: expanded expression of the posterior genegbx2in the neural plate, and later microcephaly with reduced eyes, suggesting that a proper level ofzbtb11expression is necessary for normal patterning of the neuroectoderm, including eye formation. Co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that Zbtb11 formed a complex with itself and with a phosphomimetic and repressive form of Otx2, suggesting that Zbtb11 forms a dimer or oligomer and interacts with Otx2 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Reporter analysis further showed that Zbtb11 enhanced the activity of the phosphomimetic Otx2 to repress a silencer element of the posterior genemeis3. These data suggest that Zbtb11 coordinates with phosphorylated Otx2 to specify the anterior neuroectoderm by repressing posterior genes.