Isolation and characterization of a novel Xenopus gene (xVAP019) encoding a DUF1208 domain containing protein.
We have identified a novel Xenopus gene (xVAP019) encoding a DUF1208 domain containing protein. Using whole-mount in situ hybridization and RT-PCR, we found abundant xVAP019 maternal transcripts in the animal hemisphere during the cleavage stages and blastula stages. During gastrulation xVAP019 is differentially expressed with higher levels in the animal helf and the highest in marginal zone, then further expressed widely at neuronal stages with strongest signals in the prospective CNS regions and the epidermal ectoderm. Subsequently xVAP019 was expressed predominantly in the head, the eyes, the otic vesicle, branchial arches, spinal cord, notochord, somites, and tailbud. It is absent or very weak in the endoderm. Injecting a morpholino oligo complementary to xVAP019 mRNA or injecting a caped xVAP019 mRNA caused most of embryos to die during gastrulation and neurulation. Overexpression of xVAP019 mRNA also led to eye defect, shorten interocular distance, small body size and abnormal pigment formation in parts of the survival embryos. Similar effects were induced by injecting the xVAP019 human homologous gene FAM92A1. Our results suggest that xVAP019 is essential for the normal ectoderm and axis mesoderm differentiation and embryos survival. This investigation is for the first time in vivo study examining the role of this novel gene and reveals an important role of xVAP019 in embryonic development.
Ruan
Xu Zhi
XZ
State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P.R.China.
Yang
Han Suo
HS
Yao
Shao Hua
SH
Ma
Fan Xin
FX
Zhao
Xin Yu
XY
Yan
Fei
F
Wang
Chun Ting
CT
Lai
Song Tao
ST
Deng
Hong Xin
HX
Wei
Yu Quan
YQ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000378:metabolism; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000196:embryology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000196:embryology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics
C473989:DNA unwinding factor , Xenopus; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C525516:VAP019 protein, Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins