Dataset on the essential role of Anks1a in Xenopus laevis morphogenesis: evidence from morpholino knockdown and mRNA rescue experiments.

Ankyrin Repeat and Sterile Alpha Motif Domain Containing 1A (ANKS1A), also known as ODIN, is a multifunctional adaptor/scaffolding protein that regulates receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and intracellular protein trafficking. While morpholino (MO)-mediated knockdown of Anks1a in Xenopus has been shown to impair ciliogenesis and motile cilia function, its role in early embryonic morphogenesis remains largely unknown. Here we report morphological phenotype images and quantification from morpholino-mediated Anks1a knockdown and mRNA rescue experiments in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. The data document dose-dependent defects in head size, melanocyte distribution, reduced or malformed cardiac region, and gut coiling, together with partial phenotypic rescue upon co-injection of mouse ANKS1A-VN mRNA. After Xenopus anks1a morpholino (xanks1a-MO), 77.6% of embryos were Severe (n = 85); co-injection with mouse ANKS1A-VN mRNA gave 16% Normal, 66% Mild and 18% Severe (n = 100). Raw image files and scoring data are available in the Zenodo repository (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21912238).