Spatially restricted expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 during Xenopus development.
The fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play a role in Xenopus laevis embryonic development, particularly in the induction of ventral-type mesoderm. We have isolated a full-length cDNA from Xenopus that we have designated Xenopus fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (XFGFR-2), with significant amino acid sequence similarity to the previously described bek gene (FGFR-2). We expressed the XFGFR-2 cDNA in COS1 cells and showed that it functions as an FGF receptor by binding radiolabeled FGF-2. RNA gel blot analysis demonstrates that unlike Xenopus fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (XFGFR-1), XFGFR-2 mRNA expression begins during gastrulation and continues through early tadpole stages. Whole-mount in situ hybridization demonstrates that XFGFR-2 mRNA is localized to the anterior neural plate in early neurula stage embryos. Later in development, XFGFR-2 expression is found in the eye anlagen, midbrain-hindbrain boundary and the otic vesicle. In addition, XFGFR-2 transcripts are expressed in animal caps in a manner that is independent of mesoderm-inducing factors. These results indicate that XFGFR-2 may have a role in development that is distinct from that of XFGFR-1.
Friesel
R
R
Department of Molecular Biology, Holland Laboratory, American Red Cross, Rockville, MD 20855.
Brown
S A
SA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014981:Xenopus
D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1