Stage-specific effects of retinoic acid on gene expression during forebrain development.
Treatment of early gastrula- and neurula-staged Xenopus embryos with all-trans retinoic acid (RA) results in truncation of the anterior structures of the forebrain and head. The extent of truncation is dependent upon both the stage of immersion and the RA concentration used. As a method to investigate genes important during early forebrain regionalization, late gastrula and neurula embryos were immersed for 2h within low (1x10(-9)M to 5x10(-8)M) concentrations of RA. Embryos were allowed to develop to tadpole stages and forebrain marker genes were assessed for any alteration in patterns of expression. Comparisons of controls to experimental groups indicated that the greatest sensitivity to low levels of RA occurred just before the initial expression of the forebrain-specific markers investigated. We concluded that forebrain regionalization and gene expression occurred in the following order: Xotx2-->Xsix3-->Xrx (&Xfez1)-->Xbf1-->Xemx1. Xsix3 seems to be very important for the initial parcellation of telencephalon, retinal and diencephalon areas.
Eagleson
Gerald W
GW
Department of Biology, Loras College Dubuque, IA 52004-0178, USA. gerald.eagleson@loras.edu
Theisen
Stephanie
S
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000494:pharmacology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D000097607:Homeobox Protein SIX3
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005136:Eye Proteins; D006062:Gonadotropins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014212:Tretinoin; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000097607:Homeobox Protein SIX3; C117087:FOXG1 protein, Xenopus; C497661:Otx2 protein, Xenopus