Mirror-image duplication of the primary axis and heart inXenopus embryos by the overexpression of Msx-1 gene
✍ Scribed by Chen, Yiping ;Solursh, Michael
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1995
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 646 KB
- Volume
- 273
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-104X
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
The Msx‐1 gene (formerly known as Hox‐7) is a member of a discrete subclass of homeobox‐containing genes. Examination of the expression pattern of Msx‐1 in murine and avian embryos suggests that this gene may be involved in the regionalization of the medio‐lateral axis during earlier development. We have examined the possible functions of Xenopus Msx‐1 during early Xenopus embryonic development by overexpression of the Msx‐1 gene. Overexpression of Msx‐1 causes a left‐right mirror‐image duplication of primary axial structures, including notochord, neural tube, somites, suckers, and foregut. The embryonic developing heart is also mirrorimage duplicated, including looping directions and polarity. These results indicate that Msx‐1 may be involved in the mesoderm formation as well as left‐right patterning in the early Xenopus embryonic development. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.