Sponge bHLH Gene Expression in Xenopus laevis Disrupts Inner Ear and Lateral Line Neurosensory Development and Otic Afferent Pathfinding

Karen L. Elliott; Clayton Gordy; Hannah Ingvalson; Charles Holliday; Jessica Halyko; Douglas W. Houston; Bernard M. Degnan; Bernd Fritzsch

doi:10.3390/ijms26125487

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Sponge bHLH Gene Expression in Xenopus laevis Disrupts Inner Ear and Lateral Line Neurosensory Development and Otic Afferent Pathfinding

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Sponge bHLH Gene Expression in Xenopus laevis Disrupts Inner Ear and Lateral Line Neurosensory Development and Otic Afferent Pathfinding

Karen L. Elliott, Clayton Gordy, Hannah Ingvalson, Charles Holliday, Jessica Halyko, Douglas W. Houston, Bernard M. Degnan and Bernd Fritzsch

International journal of molecular sciences, Vol.26(12), p.5487

06/07/2025

DOI: 10.3390/ijms26125487

PMCID: PMC12193494

PMID: 40564948

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Abstract

Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors, such as those in the atonal family, are important in cellular fate determination. The expression of the sponge ortholog of the atonal bHLH gene family, AmqbHLH1, in Xenopus laevis previously resulted in the formation of ectodermal ectopic neurons. However, the extent to which these neurons persist through development and the effects on the inner ear and lateral line, which require a critical level and timing of bHLH genes, remains unexplored. To test these long-term effects, we injected various concentrations of AmqbHLH1 mRNA into X. laevis embryos and assessed neurosensory development at developmental stages coinciding with fully developed neurosensory structures. The expression of AmqbHLH1 mRNA in X. laevis resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in or loss of ears and the lateral line system without eliminating ectopic neurons. At the lowest concentrations examined, we found that inner ear neurosensory development consisted sometimes of only a few scattered hair cells in a single-layer epithelium. Furthermore, low concentrations of AmqbHLH1 mRNA affected inner ear afferent guidance. Our data suggest that the AmqbHLH1 gene has some anti-neurosensory abilities in frogs and that the overexpression of a single gene may not be sufficient for stable long-term transdifferentiation in cells.

<italic>atonal</italic>

bHLH

inner ear

lateral line

neurosensory development

<italic>Neurod1</italic>

Details

Title: Subtitle: Sponge bHLH Gene Expression in Xenopus laevis Disrupts Inner Ear and Lateral Line Neurosensory Development and Otic Afferent Pathfinding
Creators: Karen L. Elliott - University of Iowa, Biology
Clayton Gordy - University of Iowa
Hannah Ingvalson - University of Iowa
Charles Holliday - University of Iowa
Jessica Halyko - University of Iowa
Douglas W. Houston - University of Iowa
Bernard M. Degnan - The University of Queensland
Bernd Fritzsch - University of Nebraska Medical Center
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: International journal of molecular sciences, Vol.26(12), p.5487
DOI: 10.3390/ijms26125487
PMID: 40564948
PMCID: PMC12193494
NLM abbreviation: Int J Mol Sci
ISSN: 1661-6596
eISSN: 1422-0067
Publisher: MDPI
Grant note: R03 DC015333; R01 AG060504; AG051443 / NIH Roy. J. Carver Charitable Trust NNX10AK63H / NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) of the University of Iowa
Language: English
Date published: 06/07/2025
Academic Unit: Biology; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center
Record Identifier: 9984833636502771

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