Pcp4l1, a novel gene encoding a Pcp4-like polypeptide, is expressed in specific domains of the developing brain.
We report the cloning of a novel mouse gene (Pcp4l1) that encodes a polypeptide with significant sequence similarity to the Purkinje cell protein 4 gene (Pcp4) and describe its expression pattern during mouse development. Similar to Pcp4, the Pc4l1 gene product is characterized by the presence of an IQ domain and is highly conserved across evolution. RNA in situ hybridization reveals instead that Pcp4l1 has a distinct pattern of expression: it is only expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), and is first detected at E9.5 in the mesencephalic and metencephalic roof plate as well as in the isthmus, in a region that overlaps the expression domains of Pax2, Fgf8 and Wnt1. Thus, the early Pcp4l1 expression pattern coincides with the regional expression of well-characterized patterning molecules in the organizing centers of the developing brain. Starting at midgestation, Pcp4l1 is mainly expressed in the structures of the circumventricular organs, including the subcommissural organ, the rhombencephalic and telencephalic choroid plexi, and the pineal gland. In the adult brain, this transcript is also detected in laminar as well as in several nuclear structures of the CNS.
Bulfone
Alessandro
A
Stem Cell Research Institute (SCRI), Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele (HSR), Via Olgettina 58, Milan 20132, Italy. bulfone.alessandro@hsr.it
Caccioppoli
Cristina
C
Pardini
Celia
C
Faedo
Andrea
A
Martinez
Salvador
S
Banfi
Sandro
S
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C496457:Fgf8 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; C497319:Pax2 protein, mouse; C489091:Pcp4 protein, mouse; C493006:Pcp4l1 protein, mouse; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C495246:Wnt1 protein, mouse; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors