Modulation of Na,K-ATPase expression during early development of Xenopus laevis

Abstract In amphibian and mammalian systems, regulation of Na + transport via the Na,K-ATPase plays an important role in distinct developmental processes such as blastocoele formation and neurulation. In this study, we have followed the Na,K-ATPase activity, the biosynthesis, and the cellular accumulation of catalytic α-subunits after fertilization of Xenopus laevis eggs up to neurula formation. Our data show that Na,K-ATPase activity increases significantly between stages 4 and 6 and again between stages 13 and 24. The four-fold rise in Na,K-ATPase activity during blastocoele formation is not mediated by an increased cellular pool of α-subunits. On the other hand, a five-fold increase of the biosynthesis rate around midblastula precedes a progressive accumulation up to neurula stage mainly of α 1 -subunits and to a lesser extent of a second α-immunoreactive species. In contrast, newly synthesized glycoproteinic β 1 -subunits of Na,K-ATPase cannot be detected up to late neurula. These data indicate that (1) upregulation of Na,K-ATPase activity during blastocoele and neurula formation are mediated by different regulation mechanisms and (2) α- and possibly β-isoforms are expressed in a developmentally regulated fashion during early Xenopus development.