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Early developmental expression and experimental axis determination by the chicken Vg1 gene
E A Seleiro1, D J Connolly, J Cooke
1National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, UK.
Current Biology : CB
|November 1, 1996
Summary
Vg genes, like Vg1, are crucial for vertebrate axis formation. In chicks, cVg1 expression in the posterior marginal zone and its ability to induce primitive streaks suggest a conserved role in early development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Molecular genetics
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) superfamily genes are vital for vertebrate developmental patterning.
- Vg1 in Xenopus is a candidate for initiating axis formation, inducing axial tissue, but its processing is restricted.
- Understanding Vg protein processing is key to its spatial localization and organizing role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the chick orthologue of Vg1 (cVg1) and its developmental expression.
- To investigate the role of processed cVg1 protein in initiating embryonic axis formation.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of cVg1 developmental expression in chick embryos.
- Grafting of COS cells transfected with processed cVg1 protein onto early chick blastoderm.
Main Results:
- cVg1 expression is observed in the posterior marginal zone, a key region for axial organizing activity.
- cVg1 also shows later neural and paraxial mesodermal expression.
- Grafts of processed cVg1 protein induced the formation of complete primitive streaks, mimicking posterior marginal zone grafts.
Conclusions:
- Vg genes likely play a conserved role in the early positioning or induction of the vertebrate axis.
- cVg1's function in chick development supports an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for axis formation.