Hspa9 is required for pronephros specification and formation in Xenopus laevis.

Background: Development of the pronephros in Xenopus laevis is largely dependent on retinoic acid signaling at the time of kidney field specification with the simultaneous occurrence of a necessary calcium signaling. At the crossroads of these two signaling pathways, we studied the role of Hspa9 (heat shock 70 kDa protein 9) encoding a mitochondrial chaperone in pronephros development.

Results: We first showed that Hspa9 is highly expressed in the pronephros territory and elongating nephric duct.