title: Gadd45a, Gadd45b and Gadd45g expression during mouse embryonic development.
abstract: Gadd45 proteins have been implicated in the cellular response to physiological or environmental stress and the accompanying cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, cell survival and senescence or apoptosis. Although their molecular function is well studied, the expression and role of Gadd45 genes during embryonic development in mice is largely unknown. Here we provide a comprehensive comparison of Gadd45a, Gadd45b and Gadd45g expression during mouse embryonic development. In situ hybridizations on sectioned and whole mouse embryos show most prominent Gadd45a expression in the tip of the closing neural tube, the cranial and dorsal root ganglia and the somites. Mouse Gadd45b is expressed strongly in the chorion, but only weakly in the embryo proper, including somites and limb buds. Murine Gadd45g expression strongly resembles Xenopus and medaka fish expression in primary neuron precursors and post-mitotic neurons, indicating a conserved role for Gadd45g in vertebrate neurogenesis. Additionally, Gadd45 genes show conserved expression during somitogenesis. In summary, Gadd45 genes are expressed in evolutionary conserved, but also divergent domains, which predominantly encompass areas of cell differentiation, consistent with their established function in growth arrest and DNA demethylation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lilian T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Mathias S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gierl
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niehrs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000196:embryology*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D000097642:GADD45 Proteins
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C499072:Gadd45a protein, mouse; D000097642:GADD45 Proteins; C490125:Gadd45b protein, mouse; C121373:Gadd45g protein, mouse