Ets-1 and Ets-2 proto-oncogenes exhibit differential and restricted expression patterns during Xenopus laevis oogenesis and embryogenesis.
Xenopus XI-ets-1 and XI-ets-2 are maternally expressed. From late oogenesis to early embryogenesis their transcripts are localized to the animal pole and the intermediate zone, suggesting a function in the differentiation of animal blastomeres and future mesoderm. Their presence at the level of germ plasm suggests also a role in the differentiation of the germinal lineage. Both zygotic genes are expressed ubiquitously beginning at MBT, and then restricted to a circumblastoporal collar. In neurula and tailbud stages, ets-1 and ets-2 transcripts are detected in neural crest cells and their derivatives. Specific transcription can also be observed for ets-1 in the hemangioblastic precursors, in endothelial cells of the forming heart and blood vessels. Ets-2 is itself specifically expressed in the putative pronephros and in the forming pronephric tubules and extending pronephric duct. Like another member of the ets-gene family (XI-fli), both genes are transcribed in regions of the embryo undergoing important morphogenetic modifications, especially in migrating cells and/or along their migration pathways. We postulate that these genes orchestrate modifications of cellular adhesion. Changes in the expression of cadherins and integrins repertories would be consistent with such a role and could account for the phenotypes we reported earlier for XI-fli overexpression. Such a role would be critical for tumor cell dissemination, in addition to the one already ascribed to ets-1 in the expression of proteases specific for the extracellular matrix.
Meyer
D
D
UPR 9905 du CNRS MMDCD, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France.
Durliat
M
M
Senan
F
F
Wolff
M
M
Andre
M
M
Hourdry
J
J
Remy
P
P
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015342:DNA Probes; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D015053:Zygote / Q000378:metabolism
D015342:DNA Probes; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors