A novel gene, the protein product of which is mainly expressed in germline cells and in the dorsal structures of Xenopus.

A novel cDNA was isolated from a Xenopus cDNA library using an antibody recognizing the germ plasm-specific germinal granules. The protein product of the gene ( Xdsg) was detected on the germinal granules of the cleaving embryo as determined by immunoelectron microscopy. The spatio-temporal distribution of the RNA transcript and protein product of the gene was investigated in oocytes and embryos. The protein was detected in the germ plasm and the germline cells from the cleavage to the tadpole stages, while both the protein and RNA transcript were prominent in the dorsal structures from the tailbud stage onward. The present study has shown for the first time that the protein product of the Xdsg gene was present on the germinal granules in Xenopus.