16-P027 The role of ionocytes in Xenopus epidermal development

cilia. At E9.5, B9D1 is expressed throughout the spinal cord, limb bubs, and, bronchial arches; tissues that required Shh signal for proper development. To further understand its molecular mechanism, we sought out other interacting proteins using tandem IP followed by mass spec analysis. A protein complex is identified and one of them was a transmembrane protein BCAP1 (B9 Complex Associated Protein 1). KO mice for BCAP1 was made and analyzed. BCAP1 KO mice were embryonic lethal at E15.5. Analysis of the BCAP1 KO embryos showed that the phenotypes are consistent with defect in Shh signaling such as polydactyly and microopthalmia. Further analysis is carried out to determine the exact role of this protein complex in Shh signaling.