Cloning, sequencing and expression of a novel homeobox gene AxNox-1 from the Mexican axolotl.
We have cloned and sequenced a cDNA containing a homeobox gene, AxNox-1, from a stage 18 axolotl embryonic cDNA library which shows only moderate levels of similarity to other known homeobox genes. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA has an open reading frame for 335 amino acids and besides the homeodomain, there is an acidic domain and a proline-rich domain present in the protein. The transcripts for this gene are detectable at stage 4 of embryonic development and, hence, there is a good possibility that the transcripts are maternally contributed. Expression levels for AxNox-1 reach maximum levels by stage 12 of development and thereafter decline to very low levels by stage 25. High levels of the transcript for AxNox-1 are later found in the brains of both neotenous and metamorphosing adult axolotls. Low amounts of the message are also found to be present in a number of other organs that were tested. In situ hybridization studies on whole mounts and sections suggest that this gene is expressed predominantly in neural tissue during development.
Gaur
A
A
Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
Dube
D K
DK
Lemanski
L F
LF
D000558:Ambystoma mexicanum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
C114555:AxNox-1 protein, Ambystoma mexicanum; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012313:RNA