HrWnt-5: a maternally expressed ascidian Wnt gene with posterior localization in early embryos

作者：Yasunori Sasakura, Michio Ogasawara, Kazuhiro W. Makabe · 发表于：The International Journal of Developmental Biology · 年份：1998 · 被引用次数：73 · 研究领域：Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation、Marine Ecology and Invasive Species、Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer

Ascidians show a highly determinate mode of development. In particular, components of the posterior-vegetal cytoplasm of fertilized eggs are responsible for the establishment of the embryonic axis. Recent studies have, however, also revealed significant roles of cell-cell interactions during embryogenesis. Proteins encoded by the Wnt family of genes act as signals and have been shown to play important roles in a wide range of developmental processes. Here we have isolated and characterized an ascidian Wnt gene, HrWnt-5, from Halocynthia roretzi. HrWnt-5 mRNA is present in the vegetal cortex in unfertilized eggs. After fertilization, HrWnt-5 mRNA moves to the equatorial region to form a crescent-like structure, after which the mRNA is concentrated in the posteriormost region of the embryo. This early pattern of HrWnt-5 mRNA localization coincides with another posterior-vegetally localized mRNA, pem, isolated from Ciona savignyi. In the gastrula, the zygotic HrWnt-5 mRNA is found in a variety of blastomeres, suggesting multiple roles of the gene.