Njølstad P R, Fjose A
Laboratory of Biotechnology, University of Bergen, Norway.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1988 Dec 15;157(2):426-32. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(88)80266-3.
Vertebrate homeobox genes have been identified on the basis of sequence homology to Drosophila segmentation and homeotic genes. We have analyzed the spatial distribution patterns in hatching larvae of transcripts from two different types of zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) homeobox genes. Tritiated DNA fragments from one zebrafish gene (ZF-21) of the Antennapedia-class and one (ZF-EN) of the engrailed-type were used as probes to detect transcripts in larval tissue sections. Both zebrafish genes are expressed mainly in spatially restricted regions of the central nervous system. The transcripts from ZF-21 was detected in the posterior part of the hindbrain, and ZF-EN was found to be most intensively expressed in a restricted domain located in the region of the junction between the mid- and hindbrain. These neural expression patterns are very similar to those of the homologous murine genes Hox-2.1 and En-2 and clearly suggest a strong functional conservation.
脊椎动物的同源异型框基因是根据与果蝇分节基因和同源异型基因的序列同源性来鉴定的。我们分析了两种不同类型斑马鱼（短担尼鱼）同源异型框基因转录本在孵化后幼虫中的空间分布模式。来自触角足类的一个斑马鱼基因（ZF - 21）和engrailed型的一个基因（ZF - EN）的氚化DNA片段被用作探针，以检测幼虫组织切片中的转录本。这两个斑马鱼基因主要在中枢神经系统的空间受限区域表达。ZF - 21的转录本在后脑后部被检测到，而ZF - EN被发现最强烈地表达于中脑和后脑交界处的一个受限区域。这些神经表达模式与同源的小鼠基因Hox - 2.1和En - 2的表达模式非常相似，清楚地表明了强大的功能保守性。
