PUBLICATION

A Drosophila doublesex-related gene, terra, is involved in somitogenesis in vertebrates

Authors
Meng, A., Moore, B., Tang, H., Yuan, B., and Lin, S.
ID
ZDB-PUB-990428-2
Date
1999
Source
Development (Cambridge, England)   126: 1259-1268 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Lin, Shuo, Meng, Anming, Yuan, Ben
Keywords
zebrafish; terra; somitogenesis; transcription factor; secreted signal
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/biosynthesis
  • Conserved Sequence
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics*
  • Drosophila/genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Humans
  • Insect Proteins/genetics
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Somites*
  • Trans-Activators*
  • Transcription Factors*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta*
  • Up-Regulation
  • Vertebrates/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish Proteins*
  • Zinc Fingers
PubMed
10021344 Full text @ Development
Abstract
The Drosophila doublesex (dsx) gene encodes a transcription factor that mediates sex determination. We describe the characterization of a novel zebrafish zinc-finger gene, terra, which contains a DNA binding domain similar to that of the Drosophila dsx gene. However, unlike dsx, terra is transiently expressed in the presomitic mesoderm and newly formed somites. Expression of terra in presomitic mesoderm is restricted to cells that lack expression of MyoD. In vivo, terra expression is reduced by hedgehog but enhanced by BMP signals. Overexpression of terra induces rapid apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that a tight regulation of terra expression is required during embryogenesis. Terra has both human and mouse homologs and is specifically expressed in mouse somites. Taken together, our findings suggest that terra is a highly conserved protein that plays specific roles in early somitogenesis of vertebrates
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping