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int-1--a proto-oncogene involved in cell signalling
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Nutley, NJ 07110.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|January 1, 1989
Summary
The int-1 gene, encoding a secreted protein, influences developmental patterning. Studies in frog embryos show that altering int-1 expression causes neural tube defects, suggesting a role in vertebrate development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The int-1 gene was identified as a mouse mammary tumor virus insertion locus.
- int-1 encodes a cysteine-rich protein potentially entering the secretory pathway.
- Homologous to Drosophila wingless (a segment-polarity gene), int-1 is involved in pattern establishment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of the int-1 gene in vertebrate development.
- To determine if int-1 influences patterning events in the neural tube.
Main Methods:
- Cloning and sequencing of the mouse int-1 gene.
- Expression studies of int-1 in mouse and frog embryos.
- Interference with int-1 expression via RNA injection into frog embryos.
Main Results:
- int-1 encodes a 41K, 370 amino acid protein with a signal peptide.
- int-1 is expressed in early neural stages, specifically the dorsal midline of the mouse neural tube.
- Injection of int-1 RNA into frog embryos caused specific anterior neural tube bifurcation.
Conclusions:
- int-1 protein is likely secreted and involved in intercellular signaling.
- int-1 plays a role in specifying positional information within the neural tube.
- int-1 influences patterning events during vertebrate development.