Cloning and expression patterns of dystroglycan during the early development of Xenopus laevis.
Dystroglycan is a cell surface receptor involved in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy, and plays a critical role in the assembly and homeostasis of basement membranes. Since data about the amphibian homologue are limited, we have cloned the full-length dystroglycan cDNAs from the frog Xenopus laevis. Using in situ hybridization, we show that mRNA expression is dynamic, particularly in the notochord at the end of gastrulation and during neurulation, suggesting that the protein might play unexplored roles in the specification and/or formation of this tissue. Subsequently, the transcripts are detected in the otic vesicle, the developing brain, and in mesenchymal cells of the visceral arches, as well as in pharyngeal endoderm, the pronephros, pronephric ducts, proctodaeum and the somites.
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, UMR CNRS 7622, 9 quai Saint Bernard, 75005 Paris, France.
Nicole
N
Moreau
Dominique
D
Alfandari
Alban
A
Gaultier
Hélène
H
Cousin
Thierry
T
Darribère
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D049030:Dystroglycans; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D049030:Dystroglycans