The cytoskeletal protein Zyxin interacts with the zinc-finger transcription factor Zic1 and plays the role of a scaffold for Gli1 and Zic1 interactions during early development of Xenopus laevis.

We have shown recently that the cytoskeletal protein Zyxin participates in the fine tuning of the neural plate pattering in Xenopus laevis embryos by modulating activity of one of the effectors of Hedgehog (Shh) signaling cascade, the transcription factor Gli1. In the present work, we show that Zyxin can also interact with the potential modulator of the Shh pathway, the transcription factor Zic1. The interaction of proteins occurs primarily by mean of the zinc-finger domain of Zic1 and 2nd LIM domain of Zyxin. Moreover, we have also revealed the ability of the Zyxin, Zic1 and Gli1 to form a ternary complex. The activity of this complex resembles that of the previously described by other authors protein complex formed by Gli1 and Zic1, amplifying effect of the latter. The data obtained provide evidence for the scaffolding role of Zyxin for Gli1 and Zic1 interactions and confirm its role in the regulation of Shh signaling cascade.