Dynamic expression of the LAP family of genes during early development of Xenopus tropicalis.
The leucine-rich repeats and PDZ (LAP) family of genes are crucial for the maintenance of cell polarity as well as for epithelial homeostasis and tumor suppression in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Four members of this gene family are known: densin, erbin, scribble and lano. Here, we identified the four members of the LAP gene family in Xenopus tropicalis and studied their expression patterns during embryonic development. The Xenopus LAP proteins show a conserved domain structure that is similar to their homologs in other vertebrates. In Xenopus embryos, these genes were detected in animal cap cells at the early gastrula stage. At later stages of development, they were widely expressed in epithelial tissues that are highly polar in nature, including the neural epithelia, optic and otic vesicles, and in the pronephros. These data suggest that the roles of the Xenopus LAP genes in the control of cell polarity and morphogenesis are conserved during early development. Erbin and lano show similar expression patterns in the developing head, suggesting potential functional interactions between the two molecules in vivo.
Core Facility of Genetically Engineered Mice, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Qiutan
Q
Yang
Xiaoyan
X
Lv
Qinghua
Q
Kong
Chaocui
C
Li
Qin
Q
Zhou
Bingyu
B
Mao
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D008565:Membrane Proteins