Expression of GATA-binding proteins during embryonic development in Xenopus laevis.
Proteins that recognize the core sequence GATA are important regulators of hematopoietic-specific gene transcription. We have characterized cDNAs encoding the Xenopus laevis homologues of three related transcription factors, designated GATA-1, -2, and -3. Comparative sequence analysis reveals strong conservation of the zinc-finger DNA-binding domain among all vertebrate GATA-binding proteins. GATA-2 and GATA-3 polypeptides are homologous throughout their entire sequences, whereas GATA-1 sequence is conserved only in the region responsible for DNA binding. In Xenopus, RNAs encoding GATA-binding proteins are expressed in both larval and adult erythroid cells. GATA-1, -2, and -3 RNAs are first detectable in early gastrula (Nieuwkoop developmental stage 11). This is earlier than the appearance of the early larval alpha T1 globin RNA (stage 15), beta T1 globin RNA (stage 26), or blood island formation (stage 30). The expression of GATA-1, -2, and -3 in early development may signal an early commitment of mesoderm to form hematopoietic tissue.
Zon
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Division of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Mather
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C
Burgess
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Bolce
M E
ME
Harland
R M
RM
Orkin
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SH
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D050981:Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D015870:Gene Expression; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050981:Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; C494714:GATA2 protein, Xenopus; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494746:GATA3 protein, Xenopus; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D004247:DNA