We have previously shown that the Xenpus homologue of cold-inducible RNA binding protein, XCIRP-1, is required for the morphogenetic migration of the pronephros during embryonic development. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that XCIRP is essential for embryonic cell movement, as suppression of XCIRP by microinjection of anti-sense mRNA and morpholino antisense oligonucleotides (MOs) significantly reduced protein expression, inhibited the cell migration rate, and inhibited eFGF and activin-induced animal cap elongation. By immunoprecipitation and RT-PCR, we further showed that the mRNA of a panel of adhesion molecules, including alpha E- and beta-catenin, C- and E-cadherin, and paraxial proto-cadherin, are the targets of XCIRP. Consistently, in animal cap explant Studies, Suppression of XCIRP by MOs inhibited the expression of these adhesion molecules, while over-expression of sense XCIRP-1 mRNA fully rescued this inhibition. Taken together, these results Suggest for the first time that XCIRP is required to maintain the expression of adhesion Molecules and cell movement during embryonic development. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.