Expression pattern of the frizzled 7 gene during zebrafish embryonic development

We have identified a novel frizzled gene in zebrafish, (Danio rerio): frizz led 7, highly related to mouse, chick and Xenopus fz7. No maternal expressi on was detected. Zygotic transcription starts at the end of gastrulation an teriorly in the presumptive neurectoderm and in the presomitic mesoderm. Du ring somitogenesis expression is detected in developing central nervous sys tem, including forebrain. midbrain, hindbrain and spinal cord, the lateral mesoderm and the anterior part of the forming somites. The strong sequence conservation of fz7 to the mouse, chick and Xenopus counterparts is also tr ue for their expression pattern. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.