# Co-Immunoprecipitation-Coupled Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Zyxin’s Interactome and Phosphosites in Early Xenopus laevis Development

## TL;DR

This study explores how Zyxin protein interacts with other proteins and gets modified during early frog development, revealing its role in controlling cell adhesion and gene activity.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed, stage-specific map of Zyxin’s protein interactions and phosphorylation events during early Xenopus development.

## Key findings

- Zyxin interacts with focal adhesion components, transcriptional regulators, and kinases in a developmentally regulated manner.
- Stage-specific phosphorylation of Zyxin isoforms suggests dynamic post-translational control of its functions.
- Zyxin acts as a central regulator of cell adhesion, survival, and gene programs during morphogenesis.

## Abstract

Protein complexes, assembled by scaffold proteins, act as molecular machines driving development. The mechanosensitive adapter protein Zyxin is a key example, integrating actin cytoskeleton dynamics with gene expression. However, the developmental regulation of its interactions and post-translational modifications remains poorly understood. Here, we characterize the dynamic Zyxin interactome across three early developmental stages of Xenopus laevis (from gastrulation to neurulation) using co-immunoprecipitation coupled with quantitative mass spectrometry (DDA and DIA). We identify stage-specific changes in Zyxin’s association with core focal adhesion components, transcriptional regulators and kinases. Furthermore, we uncover developmentally regulated phosphorylation events on isoforms, suggesting dynamic post-translational control of its interactions. Our work provides a comprehensive resource that positions Zyxin as a central orchestrator of cell adhesion, survival, and gene regulatory programs during morphogenesis. These findings underscore the role of Zyxin as a multifaceted regulatory hub, with important implications for understanding tissue homeostasis and related pathologies.