Vestigial-like 4 Regulates Neurogenesis and Neural Crest Formation During Xenopus Development
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: VESTIGIAL-LIKE proteins constitute a family of evolutionarily conserved proteins that act as cofactors in regulating gene expression through their binding to TEAD transcription factors. Among the four members of this family in vertebrates, VESTIGIAL-LIKE 4 has emerged as a tumor suppressor that competes with YAP in binding TEADs, thus inhibiting the HIPPO pathway downstream of YAP. Nevertheless, very few studies have addressed its function during early vertebrate development. Here, we used gain- and loss-of-function strategies to investigate the role of vestigial-like 4 during Xenopus laevis development. Our data show that vestigial-like 4 is a key regulator of neurogenesis and neural crest formation. In embryos depleted of vestigial-like 4, neurogenesis is severely impaired, and neither neurog1 nor neurod1 is able to stimulate neurogenesis. Vestigial-like 4 is also required for neural crest formation through pax3 and sox9 regulation, and this property does not necessarily require its interaction with tead. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that vestigial-like 4 is an important regulator of neurogenesis and neural crest formation. Although vestigial-like 4 can bind to tead proteins in the embryo, its function does not depend solely on this interaction, suggesting a complex level of regulation with which vestigial-like 4 regulates early steps in development and differentiation.
Source: Journal of Developmental Biology
DOI: 10.3390/jdb14010008
Authors: Pierre Thiébaud, Emilie Simon, François Moisan, Sandrine Fedou, Hamid-Reza Rezvani, Nadine Thézé
Institutions: Inserm, BoRdeaux Institute of onCology
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
OpenAlex ID: W7128676709