title: Eomesodermin, a key early gene in Xenopus mesoderm differentiation.
abstract: Eomesodermin (Eomes) is a novel Xenopus T-domain gene. In normal development, it is expressed in mesodermal cells in a ventral-to-dorsal gradient of increasing concentration. It reaches its peak expression 1-2 hr before any other known panmesodermal gene. It is strongly inducible by normal vegetal cells and by mesoderm-inducing factors. Ectopic expression of Eomes in animal caps induces the transcription of nearly all mesodermal genes in a concentration-dependent way. Overexpression of Eomes dorsalizes ventral mesoderm, inducing gsc and changing cell fate to muscle and notochord. Blocking the function of Eomes causes gastrulation arrest and defective mesoderm-dependent gene activation. We propose that Eomes fulfills an essential function in initiating mesoderm differentiation and in determining mesodermal cell fate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, England.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gurdon
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000502:physiology*; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis / Q000502:physiology; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014981:Xenopus / Q000235:genetics*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000098908:Brachyury Protein
chemical_list: D028341:Activins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D007265:Inhibins; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000098908:Brachyury Protein; C103223:EOMES protein, Xenopus