Xenbase Image ID: 46887

Figure 2. Temporal expression of XHex and its expression pattern in early gastrulae compared with that of cerberus. (a) RNase protection analysis revealed that XHex transcript levels peaked during early gastrula stages. A probe against the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene was used as a loading control. A sample of tRNA was used as a negative control. (b,c) Results of in situ hybridisation showing XHex expression in (b) animal pole and (c) dorsal views. Transcripts were located exclusively on the dorsal side of the embryo in a wedge-shaped domain extending from the blastopore lip (arrow in panel c) to the floor of the blastocoel. (d,e) Sagittal cryosections of embryos like those in (b,c) revealed that XHex transcripts were confined to the deep non-involuting endodermal population of cells. Note the absence of XHex expression in the involuting tissue immediately adjacent to the dorsal blastopore lip (arrow in panel d). (f) Animal pole view of stage 10.5 gastrula shows that cerberus expression is detected in a wider domain of the deep endoderm than is XHex (b). Embryos in (b,c,f), specimens cleared to allow visualisation of cells within the embryo. Image published in: Jones CM et al. (1999) Copyright © 1999. Image reproduced with permission of the Publisher, Elsevier B. V. Larger Image Printer Friendly View

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