Overexpression of the homeobox gene Xnot-2 leads to notochord formation in Xenopus

Linda K. Gont, Abraham Fainsod*, Sung Hyun Kim, Eddy M. De Robertis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Xnot-2 is a homeobox gene expressed in Spemann's organizer. here we present evidence that microinjection of synthetic Xnot-2 mRNA leads to the formation of notochord. Microinjection into the dorsal side of the Xenopus embryo results in greatly expanded notochords. Nearby somitic and prechordal mesoderm becomes recruited into these enlarged notochords, which also affect CNS patterning. Two early genes expressed in the developing notochord, chd and XFKH-1, are activated by Xnot-2. We conclude that gain-of-function of Xnot-2 promotes notochord formation.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)174-178
Number of pages5
JournalDevelopmental Biology
Volume174
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Bin Lu, Yoshiki Sasai, and Tewis Bouwmeester for advice and Anatalia Cuellar for technical assistance. This work was supported by the NIH (HD21502-10). E.D.R. is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

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