Analysis of mouse Evx genes: Evx-1 displays graded expression in the primitive streak.
Two mouse genes, Evx-1 and Evx-2, each encoding a homeodomain closely related to that of the Drosophila even-skipped gene were isolated using a PCR-based strategy. The structure and sequence of these genes are described. Mapping studies localized Evx-1 to chromosome 6, near the Hox-1 gene cluster, and Evx-2 to chromosome 2, near the Hox-4 cluster. The evolutionary implications of these linkages are discussed. RNA in situ hybridization analysis of Evx expression in embryos demonstrated a striking pattern of Evx-1 expression during gastrulation, whereas Evx-2 RNA could not be detected at any stage by this technique. Evx-1 RNA is first detected shortly before the onset of gastrulation in a region of ectoderm containing cells that will soon be found in the primitive streak. This localized expression of Evx-1 provides the first molecular evidence for regional differences in the mouse embryonic ectoderm before gastrulation. Throughout gastrulation, Evx-1 expression is limited to cells near and within the streak and that expression is graded, with a posterior-to-anterior decrease in the level of RNA. Based on fate-mapping studies indicating that different types of mesoderm emerge from different regions of the primitive streak and our observation that high levels of expression are localized to the region that will give rise to extraembryonic and ventral mesoderm, we speculate that Evx-1 plays a role in the dorsoventral specification of mesodermal cell fate.
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology Program, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
M K
MK
Dush
G R
GR
Martin
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005775:Gastrula / Q000737:chemistry*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489555:Evx1 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C074438:Evx2 protein, mouse