title: Isolation and characterization of a novel Xenopus gene (xVAP019) encoding a DUF1208 domain containing protein.
abstract: 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.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P.R.China.
authors: Xu Zhi
authors: XZ
authors: Ruan
authors: Han Suo
authors: HS
authors: Yang
authors: Shao Hua
authors: SH
authors: Yao
authors: Fan Xin
authors: FX
authors: Ma
authors: Xin Yu
authors: XY
authors: Zhao
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Yan
authors: Chun Ting
authors: CT
authors: Wang
authors: Song Tao
authors: ST
authors: Lai
authors: Hong Xin
authors: HX
authors: Deng
authors: Yu Quan
authors: YQ
authors: Wei
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C473989:DNA unwinding factor , Xenopus; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C525516:VAP019 protein, Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins