Expression of UNC-5 in the developing Xenopus visual system

Netrin-1 and its receptors deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and neogenin are expressed within the developing visual system and have been implicated in mediating axon guidance and cell migration. However, the expression of the netrin-1 receptor UNC-5 has not yet been addressed. Here we clone Xenopus UNC-5 (XUNC-5) and describe its expression within the developing visual system. Xunc-5 transcripts are expressed within the developing optic vesicles and later become restricted to the dorsal ciliary marginal zone, a site of retinoblast proliferation and differentiation. This highly restricted expression pattern could make XUNC-5 an excellent marker of dorsal retinal precursor cells.