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Fig. 2. The effects of overexpression of CTGF resemble those caused by inhibition of WNT signalling. (A) Overexpression of CTGF (bottom embryo) causes a shortening of Xenopus embryos. Three independent experiments were performed with similar results each time. (B,C) Compared with controls (B), CTGF-injected embryos have an enlarged cement gland (C). (D-K) Unilateral overexpression of CTGF causes changes in gene expression that resemble those caused by inhibition of WNT signalling. (D) The expression domain of Otx2 is expanded. (E) CTGF causes a down-regulation of the future hindbrain domain of Pax6 and slightly expands the anterior domain. (F) CTGF causes down-regulation of N-tubulin in the neural plate. (G) The expression domain of Xsox3 in the neural plate is expanded. (H,I) Compared with the control side of the embryo (H), CTGF causes down-regulation of XSox3 in the dorsolateral placode (I). (J) CTGF causes down-regulation of Slug. (K) The muscle-specific gene myosin light chain 1 (MLC1) is down-regulated by Ctgf. I: injected; NI: Not injected. The injected sides of embryos are identified by pale blue lacZ staining. |
