Abstract
Cell fate determining gene mab-21 regulates the proper establishment of neural cell fate and sensory organ identity in nematode. Mammalian homologs of mab-21 have also been implicated to play critical roles in mid-, hindbrain and craniofacial differentiation. We report here the isolation of a mab-21 homolog, XMab21l2, from Xenopus. We showed that its expression in Xenopus was initiated at gastrulation and prominent signal was detected in neurulating embryos at the neural tube, the optic tissue, the developing midbrain, and the pharyngeal pouches. We demonstrated by RNA interference (RNAi), together with other antisense approaches, that XMab21l2 expression is required for the completion of gastrulation and subsequent neural development.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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DNA / chemistry
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DNA / genetics
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DNA / isolation & purification
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
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Embryonic Development
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Gastrula / metabolism*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nervous System / embryology
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Nervous System / metabolism*
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Phenotype
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RNA / genetics
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RNA / metabolism
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RNA, Antisense / pharmacology
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RNA, Double-Stranded / pharmacology
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RNA, Messenger / pharmacology
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Sequence Alignment
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Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Xenopus / embryology
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Xenopus / genetics*
Substances
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Homeodomain Proteins
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RNA, Antisense
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RNA, Double-Stranded
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RNA, Messenger
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RNA
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DNA