H. Hikasa et M. Taira, A Xenopus homolog of a human p53-activated gene, PA26, is specifically expressed in the notochord, MECH DEVEL, 100(2), 2001, pp. 309-312
The LIM class homeodomain protein Xlim-1 is specifically expressed in the o
rganizer and later in the notochord in Xenopus. By seeking genes which are
activated by Xlim-1 in animal caps, we isolated a gene which encodes a prot
ein highly homologous to human PA26-T2, a p53-inducible nuclear factor, whi
ch we refer to as XPA26. Northern blot analysis showed that maternal transc
ripts of XPA26 are detected at cleavage stages and reduced during gastrulat
ion. Whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that zygotic transcripts of X
PA26 were initially detected in the anterior portion of developing notochor
d at neurula stages, and later in the entire notochord except its posterior
region at tailbud stages. Thus the zygotic expression of XPA26 was detecte
d exclusively in the notochord. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All
rights reserved.