The mouse Pdgfc gene: dynamic expression in embryonic tissues during organogenesis

The signaling activity of Platelet-derived growth factors A and B (PDCF-A a nd PDGF-B) that is mediated through the two receptor kinases, PDGFR-alpha a nd PDGFR-beta has been shown to be critical for the development of the card iovascular organs, the kidney, the lung and the central nervous system. Dur ing the cloning of genes for VEGF related proteins, we isolated a mouse cDN A that can encode for a protein of 345 amino acids. A comparison of the ami no acid sequence reveals that this predicted gene product displays 95% iden tity to human PDGF-C. The mouse Pdgfc gene maps to a region of chromosome 1 7 that is syntenic to human chromosome 6p21.3 In E9.5-E15.5 mouse embryo, P dgfc is widely expressed in the surface ectoderm and later in the germinal layer of the skin, the olfactory and otic placode and their derivatives and the lining of the oral cavity. In the gut and visceral organs, such as the lung and the kidney, Pdgfc mRNA is first expressed in the endodermal epith elium and later in mesenchymal tissues associated with the endodermal struc tures. Similar to other PDGFs, Pdgfc is widely expressed in mesenchymal pre cursors and the myoblast of the smooth and skeletal muscles. Contrary to PD GF-A, Pdgfc is not expressed in the central nervous system, except in the c erebellum and neurogenic derivatives of the neural crest cells. Pdgfc is al so about from the heart and the vascular endothelium (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.