Xenbase Image ID: 45067

Fig. 1. Mesoderm induction occurs normally in Rho GTPase-injected embryos but differentiated mesoderm is disorganized. mRNA (2 ng) encoding a dominant negative or constitutively active Rho GTPase was microinjected into the presumptive dorsoanterior mesoderm at the two to four-cell stage. The embryos were cultured until stage 10.5 for in situ hybridization (A–J) or stage 26 for whole-mount immunohistochemistry (K–P). In situ hybridization using cRNA probes for Xbra (Xenopus brachyury; A–E) and Gsc (goosecoid; F–J). The normal expression pattern of Xbra (A) and gsc (F) was unaffected by overexpression of dominant negative (B, D, G, I) or constitutively active (C, E, H, J) Rho GTPase. Vegetal views of embryos are shown (A–J). Whole-mount immunohistochemistry of embryos double stained with notochord-specific Tor70 (black) and somite-specific 12/101 (brown) antibodies revealed that the pattern of differentiated mesoderm was disorganized in Rho GTPase-injected embryos (L, M, O, P) compared with controls (K, N). Two views of control embryos are shown (K, lateral view; N, dorsal view). Severe examples of Rho GTPase-injected embryos are shown in (L; dorsal view) dnRho, (M; dorsal views) caRho, (O; lateral view) dnRac, and (P; lateral view) caRac. Rho GTPase-injected embryos developed with spina bifida and reduced head structures. Whereas differentiated somites and notochord were present in these embryos, both sets of structures were shorter than normal and disorganized. Image published in: Tahinci E and Symes K (2003) Copyright © 2003. Image reproduced with permission of the Publisher, Elsevier B. V. Gene Synonyms Species Stage(s) Tissue tbxt.S bra, brachyury, ntl, t, t-a, t-b, X-bra, Xbra, Xbrachyury X. laevis Throughout NF stage 10.5 mesoderm marginal zone gsc.L goosecoid, gsc-a, gsc-b, Xgsc X. laevis Throughout NF stage 10.5 upper blastopore lip Image source: Published Larger Image Printer Friendly View

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