title: Xdtx1, a Xenopus Deltex homologue expressed in differentiating neurons and in photoreceptive organs.
abstract: We report the isolation of Xdtx1, a Xenopus homologue of the Drosophila Deltex gene. Starting from tailbud stage, Xdtx1 transcripts are detected in the olfactory bulbs, pineal complex and along the neural tube according to an antero-posterior gradient showing a gap at the midbrain-hindbrain boundary. At tadpole stage, Xdtx1 expression is activated in the differentiating retina, where it is also found in the neuronal fibres of the outer and inner plexiform layers, while its expression in the pineal complex becomes restricted to the photosensitive frontal organ. Differently from other vertebrate Deltex homologues, Xdtx1 is exclusively expressed in regions undergoing neuronal differentiation as shown by complementarity with X-Notch-1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Laboratori di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica, Università di Pisa, via Carducci 13, Ghezzano, 56010, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreazzoli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marracci
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panattoni
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nardi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C409218:deltex protein, vertebrate