Detection of proto-oncogenes in the genome of the amphibian Xenopus laevis.
The Xenopus laevis genome was probed by Southern Blot analysis for the presence of sequences homologous to mammalian or avian proto-oncogenes. Hybridization conditions were strictly defined with a known proto-oncogene to detect a positive signal with DNA sequences having at least 60 to 64% homology. In such conditions thirteen genes representing different oncogene families exhibited positive hybridizations with specific DNA restriction fragments. Members of the protein kinase oncogene family were detected including abl, erbB, fes, fms, ros, raf and mos. Ets, rel, and the steroid hormone related receptor erbA also gave positive signals with specific Xenopus DNA fragments. Proto-oncogenes raf and the ras family, N-ras, H-ras and c-ral, gave the strongest hybridizations and the signals remained positive in high stringency wash conditions. This study confirms the relative conservation of these genes during evolution and opens the possibility of studying their role in one of the best characterized systems of embryonic development.
Moreau
J
J
Institut Jacques Monod, Equipe d'Embryologie Moléculaire, Paris, France.
Le Guellec
R
R
Leibovici
M
M
Couturier
A
A
Philippe
M
M
Mechali
M
M
D000818:Animals; D011905:Genes, ras; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics*