Xgravin-like (Xgl), a novel putative a-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) expressed during embryonic development in Xenopus

A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are a heterogeneous family of scaffoldi ng proteins that regulate the compartmentalization of signaling components, in particular that of the broad specificity kinase PKA. Here we describe t he identification of a new member of this gene family, termed Xenopus gravi n-like (Xgl), which encodes a highly acidic protein of 268 kDa that shares extensive homology with human Gravin and murine SSeCKS. Xgl is zygotically expressed in a highly dynamic fashion. During gastrulation Xgl is expressed in posterior mesoderm of the dorsal blastopore lip. During neurulation exp ression is transiently detected in the forebrain, two bilateral neuroectode rmal stripes and the notochord. At tailbud stages expression commences in t he mandibular neural crest and the roof of the spinal cord from where neura l crest cells migrate into the intersomitic region. In addition expression is detected in the heart and the anterior aspect of the chordoneural hinge. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.