Expression of FoxE and FoxQ genes in the endostyle of Ciona intestinalis.
We have analyzed the expression patterns of two Fox genes, FoxE and FoxQ, in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Expression of Ci-FoxE was specific to the endostyle of adults, being prominent in the thyroid-equivalent region of zone 7. Ci-FoxQ was expressed in several endodermal organs of adult ascidians, such as the endostyle, branchial sac and esophagus. In the endostyle, the pattern of Ci-FoxQ expression was similar to that of CiTTF-1, being prominent in the thyroid-equivalent regions of zones 7 and 8. Therefore, these Fox genes may perform thyroid-equivalent functions in the ascidian endostyle.
Ogasawara
Michio
M
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiba University, Yayoi-cho 1-33, Inage-ku, 263-8522 Chiba, Japan. ogasawara@bio.s.chiba-u.ac.jp
Satou
Yutaka
Y
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010614:Pharynx / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators