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Antagonizing the Spemann organizer: role of the homeobox gene Xvent‐1.
Author(s) -
Gawantka V.,
Delius H.,
Hirschfeld K.,
Blumenstock C.,
Niehrs C.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1995.tb00317.x
Subject(s) - german , embryology , biology , research center , center (category theory) , library science , genetics , political science , law , history , archaeology , computer science , chemistry , crystallography
We have identified a novel homeobox gene, Xvent‐1, that is differentially expressed in the ventral marginal zone of the early Xenopus gastrula. Evidence is presented from mRNA microinjection experiments for a role for this gene in dorsoventral patterning of mesoderm. First, Xvent‐1 is induced by BMP‐4, a gene known to be a key regulator of ventral mesoderm development. Second, Xvent‐1 and the organizer‐specific gene goosecoid are able to interact, directly or indirectly, in a cross‐regulatory loop suppressing each other's expression, consistent with their mutually exclusive expression in the marginal zone. Third, microinjection of Xvent‐1 mRNA ventralizes dorsal mesoderm. The results suggest that Xvent‐1 functions in a ventral signaling pathway that maintains the ventral mesodermal state and antagonizes the Spemann organizer.