Ets-1 and Ets-2 proto-oncogenes exhibit differential and restricted expression patterns during Xenopus laevis oogenesis and embryogenesis

• Published in: The International journal of developmental biology Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 607 - 620
• Main Authors: Meyer, D, Durliat, M, Senan, F, Wolff, M, Andre, M, Hourdry, J, Remy, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain 01.08.1997
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Differentiation; DNA Probes; Embryo, Nonmammalian - metabolism; Freshwater; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; In Situ Hybridization; Molecular Sequence Data; Morphogenesis; Oocytes - metabolism; Oogenesis - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; Proto-Oncogenes; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Transcription Factors - genetics; Xenopus laevis; Zygote - metabolism
• ISSN: 0214-6282

Xenopus XI-ets-1 and XI-ets-2 are maternally expressed. From late oogenesis to early embryogenesis their transcripts are localized to the animal pole and the intermediate zone, suggesting a function in the differentiation of animal blastomeres and future mesoderm. Their presence at the level of germ plasm suggests also a role in the differentiation of the germinal lineage. Both zygotic genes are expressed ubiquitously beginning at MBT, and then restricted to a circumblastoporal collar. In neurula and tailbud stages, ets-1 and ets-2 transcripts are detected in neural crest cells and their derivatives. Specific transcription can also be observed for ets-1 in the hemangioblastic precursors, in endothelial cells of the forming heart and blood vessels. Ets-2 is itself specifically expressed in the putative pronephros and in the forming pronephric tubules and extending pronephric duct. Like another member of the ets-gene family (XI-fli), both genes are transcribed in regions of the embryo undergoing important morphogenetic modifications, especially in migrating cells and/or along their migration pathways. We postulate that these genes orchestrate modifications of cellular adhesion. Changes in the expression of cadherins and integrins repertories would be consistent with such a role and could account for the phenotypes we reported earlier for XI-fli overexpression. Such a role would be critical for tumor cell dissemination, in addition to the one already ascribed to ets-1 in the expression of proteases specific for the extracellular matrix.