Xenbase Image ID: 87118

FIG. 4. Depletion of beta-catenin in animal cells at the 32-cell stage causes excessive anterior neural development. (A) Pairs of embryos at the tailbud stage that received 15-20 ng of MO. MO was injected into 32-celt stage embryos, targeting either four dorsal (upper right) or ventral (lower right) animal cells (A tier) or four C-tier cells (upper left). The lower left pair received 15 ng of otigo plus 100 pg of beta-catenin mRNA. Injection of the C tier has no effect on cement gland development, while dorsal or ventral animal cell injection results in embryos with normal dorsal axes but enlarged and ectopic cement glands. The phenotype is rescued by the co-injection of beta-catenin mRNA along with MO. IB] RT PCR analysis of sibling embryos of those shown in A analyzed at the gastruta stages for anterior neural markers Xagl and OTX2 and the geueral neural marker, Xnrpl. Notice that X~rpl is expressed maternally as well as zygotically and increases in level due to new zygotic transcription by the late gastrula stage, m uninjected controls. Embryos injected in dorsal or ventral animal cells with MO at the 32-cell stage overexpress all three markers compared to controls. Injections into these cells also causes a 40-50% reduction in the level of expression of Xnr3 at the early gastrula stage and enhances Xhex expression. ODC, ornithine decarboxylase is used as a control for the efficiency of mRNA synthesis in each sample. Image published in: Heasman J et al. (2000) Copyright © 2000. Image reproduced with permission of the Publisher, Elsevier B. V. Larger Image Printer Friendly View

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