NCX, A HOX11 RELATED GENE, IS EXPRESSED IN A VARIETY OF TISSUES DERIVED FROM NEURAL CREST CELLS

We have isolated the murine homeobox gene (Ncx) that belong to a Hox11 gene family. Expression of the Ncx gene was analyzed in total RNAs fr om embryos by reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The mRNA was detected in embryos after 9.5 days of embryogenesis (E9.5 ) and was maximal at E12.5. The RT-PCR also detected the message in to tal RNAs from adrenal glands and intestine in adult mice. The expressi on was further examined in various tissues from embryos by in situ hyb ridization. It was detected in dorsal root ganglia, cranial nerve gang lia (V, IX, X), enteric nerve ganglia and adrenal glands from embryos between E9.5 and E13.5. Since its expression is restricted to tissues derived from neural crest cells, Ncx may play a role in differentiatio n and proliferation of neural crest lineage cells.