DEVELOPMENTAL REGULATION OF XENOPUS BETA-AMYLOID PRECURSOR PROTEIN GENE-EXPRESSION

We isolated cDNA clones from Xenopus larvae, which encode a protein hi ghly homologous to the mammalian beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP), and analyzed developmental change of Xenopus APP gene expression. The maternal APP mRNA is accumulated from early oogenesis, but after fert ilization, this mRNA is degraded reaching a minimum level around the g astrula stage. Zygotic transcription appears to start after the gastru la stage and to continue during subsequent embryonic and larval stages . These results suggest some fundamental roles of the APP molecule in Xenopus early development.