Expression of hunchback protein in a subset of ectodermal teloblasts of the oligochaete annelid Tubifex.
The early expression patterns of hunchback protein (T-hb protein) were examined in the oligochaete Tubifex, using an antibody raised to the LZF2 protein in leech. This antibody recognizes a 60-kDa polypeptide in the Tubifex embryo. Before teloblastogenesis, T-hb protein is expressed in every cleavage-stage blastomere. At the completion of teloblastogenesis, the only cells expressing T-hb are a fraction of the micromere-derived epithelial cells. During gastrulation, nuclear T-hb is seen in spreading micromere-derived epithelial cells and also in a subset of ectodermal teloblasts. Comparisons of these results with those from other annelids suggest that hb expression in the early cleavage blastomeres and the micromere-derived epithelium are features highly conserved among annelids. In contrast, hb expression in teloblasts appears to be an innovation evolved in the oligochaetes.
Shimizu
Takashi
T
Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan. stak@sci.hokudai.ac.jp
Savage
Robert M
RM
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005618:Fresh Water; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000145:classification / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C061245:hb protein, Drosophila