XPAT, A GENE EXPRESSED SPECIFICALLY IN GERM PLASM AND PRIMORDIAL GERM-CELLS OF XENOPUS-LAEVIS

Citation
C. Hudson et Hr. Woodland, XPAT, A GENE EXPRESSED SPECIFICALLY IN GERM PLASM AND PRIMORDIAL GERM-CELLS OF XENOPUS-LAEVIS, Mechanisms of development, 73(2), 1998, pp. 159-168
Citations number
51
Categorie Soggetti
Developmental Biology
Journal title
ISSN journal
09254773
Volume
73
Issue
2
Year of publication
1998
Pages
159 - 168
Database
ISI
SICI code
0925-4773(1998)73:2<159:XAGESI>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
cDNAs specific to vegetal poles of Xenopus gastrula embryos were used as a probe to screen a gastrula vegetal pole cDNA library. One of the novel clones isolated had an RNA expression pattern consistent with it being a component of germ plasm and it was thus named Xpat (Xenopus p rimordial germ cell associated transcript). The open reading frame enc odes a 35 kDa protein with no clear homologies. The RNA is localised t o the vegetal pole throughout oogenesis and early cleavage. During gas trulation cells containing this message move internally and at tailbud stages they migrate in an antero-dorsal direction. Xpat mRNA is not d etectable once the dorsal mesentery forms. We show that the 3'-UTR is required and is sufficient for localisation of exogenous RNA to the ve getal pole of oocytes. We propose that Xpat UTR-containing transcripts can be localised by the Vgl or late pathway of mRNA localisation duri ng stage III of oogenesis, but endogenous Xpat appears to be localised earlier by a mitochondrial cloud mechanism similar to that proposed f or Xcat-2. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.