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Popeye domain containing gene 2 (Popdc2) is a myocyte‐specific differentiation marker during chick heart development
Author(s) -
Breher Stephanie S.,
Mavridou Eleftheria,
Brenneis Christian,
Froese Alexander,
Arnold HansHenning,
Brand Thomas
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20015
Subject(s) - biology , sinus venosus , endocardium , myotome , myocyte , heart development , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , in situ hybridization , gene , anatomy , medicine , genetics , embryogenesis , embryonic stem cell , somite
The Popeye domain containing ( popdc ) genes constitute a novel gene family encoding proteins of the plasma membrane in muscle cells, with three N‐terminal transmembrane domains and a cytoplasmic carboxy terminus. In vertebrates, three members of the Popdc gene family have been described. However, in the chick system only two cDNAs, Popdc1 and Popdc3, have been cloned previously. By screening a chick expressed sequence tag database, we report here the identification of five alternatively spliced chick Popdc2 cDNAs with different carboxy termini. Northern blot analysis revealed expression of Popdc2 predominantly in the myocardium and weaker expression in skeletal muscle. By whole‐mount in situ hybridization, chick Popdc2 was first detected at Hamburger and Hamilton (HH) stage 7 within the anterior part of the heart fields. In the tubular heart, atrial and ventricular precursor cells stained positively for Popdc2. Weaker expression was observed in myocardium of the outflow tract and sinus venosus. By HH stage 18, the outer curvature myocardium was strongly stained, whereas expression in myocardium of the inner curvature was negligible. Popdc2 expression was absent from the endocardium and propepicardial organ. At HH stage 36, Popdc2 expression was confined to the compact layer myocardium. In addition to the heart, Popdc2 expression was also observed in the myotome and in the muscle‐forming fields of the limbs. Our results indicate that Popdc2 is highly expressed in the developing heart and may serve as a novel marker of myocardial differentiation in the chick embryo. Developmental Dynamics 229:695–702, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.