Zebrafish pax[zf-a]: a paired box-containing gene expressed in the neural tube.
Murine and human sequences homologous to the paired box of the Drosophila segmentation gene paired have been reported previously. Here we describe a zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) paired box-containing clone, pax[zf-a], which is clearly distinct from reported vertebrate Pax genes. The putative protein encoded by pax[zf-a] contains a paired box and a paired-type homeobox separated by a glycine-rich, acidic linker and a carboxy-terminal end which is remarkably rich in serine, threonine and proline residues. By in situ hybridization to embryonic tissue sections and whole mount embryos, pax[zf-a] transcripts were found within restricted regions of the central nervous system and the eye. In contrast to the murine Pax genes recently characterized, pax[zf-a] is not expressed in the segmented mesoderm. At the 17 h stage, pax[zf-a] expression is detected in a defined area of the diencephalon which circumscribes the presumptive thalamus. This suggests an involvement of pax[zf-a] in pattern formation in the rostral brain. The pax[zf-a] gene is also expressed throughout the hindbrain and spinal cord. This hybridization signal is restricted to a longitudinal column which includes the basal plate. Later in development, at 36 h post-fertilization, pax[zf-a] transcripts are no longer restricted to a specific region of the diencephalon, but are distributed over the entire developing brain.
Krauss
S
S
Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
Johansen
T
T
Korzh
V
V
Moens
U
U
Ericson
J U
JU
Fjose
A
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA; D005123:Eye / Q000737:chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009420:Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics
D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA