Biomaterial Database

The opposing homeobox genes Goosecoid and Vent1/2 self-regulate Xenopus patterning. 2007

Veronika Sander, and Bruno Reversade, and E M De Robertis

Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, 675 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

We present a loss-of-function study using antisense morpholino (MO) reagents for the organizer-specific gene Goosecoid (Gsc) and the ventral genes Vent1 and Vent2. Unlike in the mouse Gsc is required in Xenopus for mesodermal patterning during gastrulation, causing phenotypes ranging from reduction of head structures-including cyclopia and holoprosencephaly-to expansion of ventral tissues in MO-injected embryos. The overexpression effects of Gsc mRNA require the expression of the BMP antagonist Chordin, a downstream target of Gsc. Combined Vent1 and Vent2 MOs strongly dorsalized the embryo. Unexpectedly, simultaneous depletion of all three genes led to a rescue of almost normal development in a variety of embryological assays. Thus, the phenotypic effects of depleting Gsc or Vent1/2 are caused by the transcriptional upregulation of their opposing counterparts. A principal function of Gsc and Vent1/2 homeobox genes might be to mediate a self-adjusting mechanism that restores the basic body plan when deviations from the norm occur, rather than generating individual cell types. The results may shed light on the molecular mechanisms of genetic redundancy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D005801	Genes, Homeobox	Genes that encode highly conserved TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS that control positional identity of cells (BODY PATTERNING) and MORPHOGENESIS throughout development. Their sequences contain a 180 nucleotide sequence designated the homeobox, so called because mutations of these genes often results in homeotic transformations, in which one body structure replaces another. The proteins encoded by homeobox genes are called HOMEODOMAIN PROTEINS.	Genes, Homeotic,Homeobox Sequence,Homeotic Genes,Genes, Homeo Box,Homeo Box,Homeo Box Sequence,Homeo Boxes,Homeobox,Homeoboxes,Hox Genes,Sequence, Homeo Box,Gene, Homeo Box,Gene, Homeobox,Gene, Homeotic,Gene, Hox,Genes, Hox,Homeo Box Gene,Homeo Box Genes,Homeo Box Sequences,Homeobox Gene,Homeobox Genes,Homeobox Sequences,Homeotic Gene,Hox Gene,Sequence, Homeobox,Sequences, Homeo Box,Sequences, Homeobox
D006023	Glycoproteins	Conjugated protein-carbohydrate compounds including MUCINS; mucoid, and AMYLOID glycoproteins.	C-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycosylated Protein,Glycosylated Proteins,N-Glycosylated Proteins,O-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycoprotein,Neoglycoproteins,Protein, Glycosylated,Proteins, C-Glycosylated,Proteins, Glycosylated,Proteins, N-Glycosylated,Proteins, O-Glycosylated
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001483	Base Sequence	The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence.	DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA
D012689	Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid	The sequential correspondence of nucleotides in one nucleic acid molecule with those of another nucleic acid molecule. Sequence homology is an indication of the genetic relatedness of different organisms and gene function.	Base Sequence Homology,Homologous Sequences, Nucleic Acid,Homologs, Nucleic Acid Sequence,Homology, Base Sequence,Homology, Nucleic Acid Sequence,Nucleic Acid Sequence Homologs,Nucleic Acid Sequence Homology,Sequence Homology, Base,Base Sequence Homologies,Homologies, Base Sequence,Sequence Homologies, Base
D014157	Transcription Factors	Endogenous substances, usually proteins, which are effective in the initiation, stimulation, or termination of the genetic transcription process.	Transcription Factor,Factor, Transcription,Factors, Transcription
D014981	Xenopus	An aquatic genus of the family, Pipidae, occurring in Africa and distinguished by having black horny claws on three inner hind toes.
D051956	Goosecoid Protein	Goosecoid protein is a homeodomain protein that was first identified in XENOPUS. It is found in the SPEMANN ORGANIZER of VERTEBRATES and plays an important role in neuronal CELL DIFFERENTIATION and ORGANOGENESIS.	Goosecoid Homeodomain Protein,Goosecoid Transcription Factor,Homeodomain Protein, Goosecoid,Transcription Factor, Goosecoid
D017931	DNA Primers	Short sequences (generally about 10 base pairs) of DNA that are complementary to sequences of messenger RNA and allow reverse transcriptases to start copying the adjacent sequences of mRNA. Primers are used extensively in genetic and molecular biology techniques.	DNA Primer,Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Primer,Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Primers,Oligonucleotide Primer,Oligonucleotide Primers,Primer, DNA,Primer, Oligodeoxyribonucleotide,Primer, Oligonucleotide,Primers, DNA,Primers, Oligodeoxyribonucleotide,Primers, Oligonucleotide
D018398	Homeodomain Proteins	Proteins encoded by homeobox genes (GENES, HOMEOBOX) that exhibit structural similarity to certain prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA-binding proteins. Homeodomain proteins are involved in the control of gene expression during morphogenesis and development (GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION, DEVELOPMENTAL).	Homeo Domain Protein,Homeobox Protein,Homeobox Proteins,Homeodomain Protein,Homeoprotein,Homeoproteins,Homeotic Protein,Homeo Domain Proteins,Homeotic Proteins,Domain Protein, Homeo,Protein, Homeo Domain,Protein, Homeobox,Protein, Homeodomain,Protein, Homeotic,Proteins, Homeo Domain,Proteins, Homeobox,Proteins, Homeodomain,Proteins, Homeotic