title: Characterisation and developmental regulation of the Xenopus laevis CCAAT-enhancer binding protein beta gene.
abstract: We report here the cloning, characterisation and developmental expression profile of the Xenopus laevis CCAAT-enhancer binding protein beta (xC/EBPbeta) gene. The protein synthesised from the xC/EBPbeta gene interacts specifically with a C/EBP-recognition sequence and acts as a transcriptional activator. Several conserved regions are present in the xC/EBPbeta sequence, including the basic region, leucine zipper, activation domains, three in-frame AUG codons, and a consensus site for mitogen activated protein kinase. The corresponding mRNA is present at high levels in the kidney, liver, lung, muscle and adipose tissue, and at low levels in the ovary, brain and heart. Although the xC/EBPbeta mRNA and protein are present throughout embryogenesis, there is a biphasic increase in their expression levels during development. Whole-mount in situ hybridisation shows a restricted spatial expression profile of the xC/EBPbeta gene during early embryogenesis, with transcripts present around the blastopore lip and in the endodermal cells at the mid-gastrula stage, and, the whole dorsal side at the neurula and early tailbud stage. The expression domain becomes almost ubiquitous during later embryonic development, and includes the brain, spinal cord, somites and regions that give rise to the liver and the heart.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular and Medical Biosciences, Cardiff University, P.O. Box 911, Cardiff, CF1 3US, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kousteni
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Kockar
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Ramji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins