Ott T, Kaestner K H, Monaghan A P, Schütz G
Division Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
Mech Dev. 1996 May;56(1-2):117-28. doi: 10.1016/0925-4773(96)00516-3.
The region specific homeotic gene spalt (sal) of Drosophila determines the specification of terminal segments. Its mutation leads to an incomplete transformation of terminal segments into trunk-like segments. The gene product is a zinc finger protein with a novel structure. We have isolated the mouse homolog of the Drosophila spalt gene (msal). The msal cDNA sequence is similar to its Drosophila counterpart in that it contains seven C2H2-type zinc finger motifs grouped into three pairs plus a single zinc finger closely linked to the middle pair. The two genes exhibit high sequence similarity in the zinc finger regions and to a lower extent in the putative transactivation domains. We have analysed the expression pattern of msal and show that it is expressed in the developing neuroectoderm of the brain, the inner ear and the spinal cord and in urogenital ridge-derived structures such as testis, ovaries and kidneys. A weaker and transient expression is seen in early embryos in the branchial arches and in tissues like the notochord, the limb buds and the heart. Given its role in Drosophila melanogaster and its strong sequence conservation, this expression pattern suggests an important role for msal in the development of the nervous system.
果蝇的区域特异性同源异型基因spalt（sal）决定了末端节段的特化。其突变导致末端节段不完全转化为类似躯干的节段。该基因产物是一种具有新颖结构的锌指蛋白。我们分离出了果蝇spalt基因（msal）的小鼠同源物。msal cDNA序列与其果蝇对应物相似，因为它包含七个C2H2型锌指基序，分为三对，加上一个与中间一对紧密相连的单个锌指。这两个基因在锌指区域表现出高度的序列相似性，在推定的反式激活结构域中相似性较低。我们分析了msal的表达模式，发现它在大脑、内耳和脊髓的发育中的神经外胚层以及泌尿生殖嵴衍生结构如睾丸、卵巢和肾脏中表达。在早期胚胎的鳃弓以及脊索、肢芽和心脏等组织中可见较弱且短暂的表达。鉴于其在黑腹果蝇中的作用及其强烈的序列保守性，这种表达模式表明msal在神经系统发育中具有重要作用。
