Pitx1 and Pitx2c are required for ectopic cement gland formation in Xenopus laevis

The mucus secreting cement gland is the anterior-most ectodermal organ of t he Xenopus embryo. The homeobox genes Pltx1 and Pitx2c are expressed in the cement gland primordium. Misexpression of both genes induced ectopic cemen t gland tissue in whole embryos and transcription of the marker genes Xag1 and Xag2 in animal cap explant cultures. Antisense morpholino oligonucleoti des against Pitx1 and Pitx2c inhibited ectopic cement gland formation induc ed by otx2. Gene knock downs generated by morpholino oligonucleotides were specific and could be rescued by coinjection of Pitx mRNAs. These data demo nstrate for the first time the requirement of specific genes for cement gla nd formation by loss-of-function experiments. genesis 30:144-148, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.