Expression of Xenopus T-box transcription factor Tbx2 in Xenogus embryo

We report here the cloning and expression of the Xenopus orthologue of the T-box transcription factor gene Tbx2 (optomotor-blind in Drosophila). Tbx2 is first detected in the ventral mesodermal cells just above the yolk plug at late gastrula. At the neurula stage it is strongly expressed in the ceme nt gland, dorsal root ganglia, and otic vesicle region. At the tailbud stag e strong Tbx2 expression is observed in the dorsal part of the optic cup an d trigeminal ganglia, and it is also expressed in the branchial arches, hea rt anlage, nasal pit, proctodeum, and the region around the pronephros.