Xotx1 maternal transcripts are vegetally localized in Xenopus laevis oocytes

Xotx1 is a Xenopus homeobox gene related to the Drosophila gene orthodentic le (otd). We previously reported that Xotx1 transcripts are already present in unfertilized egg. Here we report that maternal Xotx1 mRNA is vegetally localized during oogenesis. In stage II oocytes Xotx1 transcripts are local ized within the mitochondrial cloud, in a perinuclear position; later on, t hey are translocated to the vegetal cortex within the mitochondrial cloud. We also observed that in stage III oocytes the expression domain of Wnt11 i s contained within the one of Xotx1 while, at stage IV, the Xotx1 expressio n domain is contained within the one of Vg1. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Irel and Ltd. All rights reserved.