High impact information on nrg1-A

• The recombinant Xenopus CRD-NRG-1 when applied onto cultured myotubes was able to induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB receptors and the expression of AChR [1].
• In situ hybridization showed a strong expression of CRD-NRG-1 mRNA in developing brain, spinal cord, and myotomal muscles of Xenopus embryo [1].
• Similar to the results in other species, both CRD-NRG-1 and Ig-NRG-1 may play a role in the developing Xenopus neuromuscular junctions [1].
• The amino acid sequence of Xenopus CRD-NRG-1 is 45 to 70% identical to the human, rat, and chick homologs [1].
• A cysteine-rich form of Xenopus neuregulin induces the expression of acetylcholine receptors in cultured myotubes [1].

Biological context of nrg1-A

• Cloning of cDNAs encoding xenopus neuregulin: expression in myotomal muscle during embryo development [2].
• Neuregulin has diverse functions in neural development, and one of them is the up regulation of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the muscle fiber during the formation of neuromuscular junctions [2].

Anatomical context of nrg1-A

• Two transcripts encoding CRD-NRG-1, approximately 7.5 and approximately 9.0 kb, were revealed in adult brain and spinal cord, but the expression in muscle was below the detectable level [1].
• Although the primary source of neuregulin is derived from motor neuron, the expression in muscle has also been demonstrated [2].
• These data strongly suggest that neuregulin plays an important role in mesoderm induction [3].
• Neuregulin could induce the ectopic expression of mesoderm specific gene Xbra in animal cap explants reared to the midgastrula stage, when animal caps dissected from late blastula were cultured with Neuregulin at a low concentration (10 ng/ml) [3].
• Neuregulin induces the expression of mesodermal genes in the ectoderm of Xenopus laevis [3].

Associations of nrg1-A with chemical compounds

• The AChR-inducing activity of CRD-NRG-1 was precipitated by anti-NRG-1 antibody but not by heparin [1].

Other interactions of nrg1-A

• However, the expression of NCAM is presumed to be a secondary result of the initial mesoderm induction by Neuregulin [3].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of nrg1-A

• The temporal expression pattern of neuregulin during the early developmental stages was analyzed by RT-PCR in order to determine if neuregulin is expressed at the time of mesoderm induction [3].

References