| First Author | Gruss P | Year | 1988 |
| Journal | Mouse News Lett | Volume | 82 |
| Pages | 111 | Mgi Jnum | J:14224 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:62397 | Citation | Gruss P (1988) Search for murine developmental control genes. Mouse News Lett 82:111 |
| abstractText | Full text of MNL contribution: Search for murine developmental control genes. Peter Gruss. Dept. Molecular Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg, 3400 Gottingen, FRG. Classical genetic tools have failed thus far to reveal mouse genes involved in the control of pattern formation. As an alternative approach we have employed homologies between sequences conserved in Drosophila developmental control genes and the mouse genome in the hope that structural conservation would be indicative of functional conservation as well. To this end we have isolated three gene families possibly representing murine developmental control genes. More precisely, we have identified murine homeobox (I), "finger"-containing (2), and paired box-containing (3) genes, all encoding putative DNA-binding proteins. The analysis of the expression pattern reveals the expression of homeobox genes to be region specific particularly in developing somites, sclerotomes, and embryonal ribs. Two "finger"- containing genes are expressed in ectodermal tissue - embryonal and adult neurons. Lastly, a paired box-containing gene was found to be specifically expressed in the developing vertebral column. Current analyses involve the generation of transgenic mice carrying vectors which express individual members of the respective families with the aim of producing phenotypic changes due to dominant gain or dominant loss of function. Additionally, in accordance with the concepts on which classical genetic reasoning is based, we are attempting to insertionally inactivate individual members of these gene families via homologous recombination. 1.) Colberg-Poley, A.M., S.D. Voss, K. Chowdhury, C.L. Stewart, E. Wagner and P. Gruss: Clustered homeo boxes are differentially expressed during murine development. Cell 43, 39-45, 1985. 2.) Chowdhury, K., U. Deutsch and P. Gruss: A multigene family encoding several "finger" structures is present and differentially active in mammalian genomes. Cell 48, 771-778, 1987. 3.) Deutsch, U., G.R. Dressler and P. Gruss: Pax 1, a member of a paired box homologous murine gene family, is expressed in segmented structures during development. Cell, in press, 1988. |
