Identification of XLerk, an Eph family ligand regulated during mesoderm induction and neurogenesis in Xenopus laevis

Oncogene
T L JonesI O Daar

Abstract

We have isolated and characterized the first Xenopus transmembrane Eph ligand, XLerk (Xenopus Ligand for Eph Receptor Tyrosine Kinases). While this ligand has 72% identity with the closest mammalian family member, Lerk-2, it is the cytoplasmic domain of this molecule that is the most conserved domain with 95% identity. XLerk exists as a maternally expressed mRNA, however, expression of transcripts and protein increase during gastrulation and again in the late swimming tadpole stage. In the adult, XLerk is expressed at low levels in most adult tissues with increased levels observed in the kidney, oocytes, ovary and testis. While low levels of XLerk expression are observed in the adult brain, in situ hybridization analysis demonstrates prominent expression in the developing olfactory system, retina, hindbrain, cranial ganglia, and somites. Furthermore, we have shown that XLerk transcripts are significantly elevated during mesoderm induction caused by activin and FGF, but not during noggin-induced neuralization. These results suggest a role for XLerk in the developing mesenchymal and nervous tissue.

Citations

Jan 14, 2000·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·P M HelblingA W Brändli
May 12, 1998·Pharmacology & Therapeutics·R Zhou
Aug 14, 2003·Gene Expression Patterns : GEP·Ricardo M B CostaAaron M Zorn
Dec 17, 2004·Biology of the Cell·Mary Lou KingKimberly L Mowry
Jan 22, 1998·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T L JonesI O Daar
Mar 25, 2011·BMB Reports·Teddy KamataHyun-Shik Lee
Oct 29, 2002·Current Biology : CB·J Nicholas BetleyJames O Deshler
Mar 3, 1999·Nature Biotechnology·S SchneiderC M Hovens
Mar 9, 2018·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Florence A Giger, Corinne Houart

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