Developmental expression of the murine Prl-1 protein tyrosine phosphatase gene

The expression of the murine Prl-1 protein tyrosine phosphatase gene was ex amined in normal embryos from E10.5 through E18.5. Prl-1 mRNA was detected in the brain, neural tube, and dorsal root ganglia, and in several non-neur onal tissues, including the skeletal system. Heart and skeletal muscle were consistently negative. At E13.5, Prl-1 was expressed in the condensing pre chondrogenic cells of the vertebrae, whereas at E18.5, Prl-1 mRNA was local ized to the hypertrophic chondrocytes. The dynamic expression of Prl-1 duri ng cartilage differentiation may suggest a functional role in skeletal deve lopment. J. Exp. Zool. 283:612-617, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.