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#VegT mRNA

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amphibian Development-l

Removal of VegT mRNA from embryos results in:

VegT is essential vegetally for endoderm and mesoderm formation. Embryos depleted of maternal VegT mRNA by antisense oligonucleotides lose activation of Sox17 and Nodal genes Xnr1-4, so vegetal blastomeres fail to become endoderm or induce mesoderm at marginal zone. Without TGF-beta signals, entire marginal zone and vegetal region adopt default ectodermal fate expressing epidermal keratin and ciliated cell markers. Result is animalized blastula consisting solely of ciliated epidermis without gut or mesoderm, proving VegT's non-redundant role in germ-layer specification and embryonic patterning for vertebrate development.

Ref: Gilbert, Developmental Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 8: VegT depletion causes animalization to epidermal fate.

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amphibian -ll

VegT mRNA depletion results in embryos that are:

VegT is maternally encoded T-box transcription factor localized vegetally, essential for initiating Nodal transcription Xnr1,2,4,5,6 and endoderm specification via Sox17 and Mix. Antisense oligonucleotide depletion of VegT abolishes endoderm and mesoderm gene activation because Nodal signals absent, leaving animal hemisphere under unopposed BMP. Caps become entirely epidermal keratin and ciliated cells with expanded epidermis markers, producing embryo lacking gut, muscle, notochord and blood, purely epidermal ball. Rescue requires Xenopus Nodal mRNA injection demonstrating VegT master regulator of mesendoderm and epidermal repression.

Ref: Gilbert, Developmental Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 9: VegT depletion results in entirely epidermal embryos.

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