Dynamic expression of the LAP family of genes during early development of Xenopus tropicalis

Sci China Life Sci. 2011 Oct;54(10):897-903. doi: 10.1007/s11427-011-4224-4. Epub 2011 Oct 29.

Abstract

The leucine-rich repeats and PDZ (LAP) family of genes are crucial for the maintenance of cell polarity as well as for epithelial homeostasis and tumor suppression in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Four members of this gene family are known: densin, erbin, scribble and lano. Here, we identified the four members of the LAP gene family in Xenopus tropicalis and studied their expression patterns during embryonic development. The Xenopus LAP proteins show a conserved domain structure that is similar to their homologs in other vertebrates. In Xenopus embryos, these genes were detected in animal cap cells at the early gastrula stage. At later stages of development, they were widely expressed in epithelial tissues that are highly polar in nature, including the neural epithelia, optic and otic vesicles, and in the pronephros. These data suggest that the roles of the Xenopus LAP genes in the control of cell polarity and morphogenesis are conserved during early development. Erbin and lano show similar expression patterns in the developing head, suggesting potential functional interactions between the two molecules in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA Primers
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Xenopus / embryology*
  • Xenopus / genetics

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • Membrane Proteins