Embryonic XMab21l2 expression is required for gastrulation and subsequent neural development

Cell fate determining gene mab-21 regulates the proper establishment of neu ral cell fate and sensory organ identity in nematode, Mammalian homologs of mab-21 have also been implicated to play critical roles in mid-, hindbrain and craniofacial differentiation. We report here the isolation of a mab-21 homolog, XMab21l2, from Xenopus, We showed that its expression in Xenopus was initiated at gastrulation and prominent signal was detected in neurulat ing embryos at the neural tube, the optic tissue, the developing midbrain, and the pharyngeal pouches. We demonstrated by RNA interference (RNAi), tog ether with other antisense approaches, that XMab21l2 expression is required for the completion of gastrulation and subsequent neural development. (C) 2001 Academic Press.