Characterization of the Ets-type protein ER81 in Xenopus embryos.
A function for FGF-type peptide growth factors has been implied for early mesodermal patterning events in Xenopus laevis. FGF signalling operates via the MAP kinase cascade that can directly activate the transcription of organizer-expressed genes, such as Xbra and Xegr-1. We have recently provided evidence for a critical role of Ets-type transcription factors in FGF mediated Xegr-1 transcription activation. Here, we report on the identification of the Xenopus Ets-type protein ER81 that is expressed in a pattern overlapping with the ones of Xegr-1 and Xbra during gastrulation. Microinjection in XER81 encoding mRNA into ventral blastomeres of Xenopus embryos results in the induction of ectopic, tail-like protrusions, whereas dorsal overexpression results in disturbed eye development. In the animal cap assay, ectopic expression of XER81 is found to interfere with activin mediated induction of Xegr-1 and gsc, but not with the Xbra response to activin.
Chen
Y
Y
Universität GH Essen, Abteilung Zoophysiologie, Universitätsstrasse 5, Germany.
Hollemann
T
T
Grunz
H
H
Pieler
T
T
D028341:Activins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005123:Eye / Q000196:embryology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013623:Tail / Q000196:embryology; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C119264:ETV1 protein, Xenopus; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins