Planaria FoxA (HNF3) homologue is specifically expressed in the pharynx-forming cells

We have isolated a planarian Forkhead box A (FoxA, a new name for a gene gr oup containing HNF3 alpha,beta,gamma)-related gene, DjFoxA, and examined it s spatial and temporal distribution in both intact and regenerating planari ans by in situ hybridization. In intact worms, DjFoxA is specifically expre ssed in the cells participating in pharynx development in the region surrou nding the pharynx, which is located in the central portion of the body. Dur ing regeneration, DjFoxA-positive cells appear in the pharynx-forming regio n and migrate to the midline to form a pharynx rudiment. These results sugg est that DjFoxA is specifically expressed in the cells participating in pha rynx formation and has an evolutionarily conserved function in digestive tr act formation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B,V. All rights reserved.