title: Cell type-specific activation of actin genes in the early amphibian embryo.
abstract: Muscle actin genes are the earliest yet described to show cell type-specific activation in amphibian embryos. Gene-specific probes show that alpha-skeletal and alpha-cardiac actin genes start to be transcribed simultaneously at the end of gastrulation, but only in those regions of the mesoderm that subsequently form embryonic muscle. Their expression provides a molecular marker for early cell determination.
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005796:Genes; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA