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We have identified and cloned a novel zinc finger gene, Fez (forebrain embryonic zinc-finger), as a potential downstream determinant of anterior neural plate formation in Xenopus. Fez was isolated as one of several neural-specific genes that was induced by the neuralizing factor, noggin (Smith and Harland, 1992. Cell 70, 829-840), in uncommitted ectoderm. Fez has an open reading frame comprising 466 amino acids, and contains six C(2)H(2) type zinc finger domains, which are highly conserved among Drosophila, zebrafish, mouse, and human. In Xenopus, the expression of Fez begins at stage 12 in the rostral end of the neural plate, and by stage 45, it is localized to several telencephalic regions, including the olfactory bulbs, nervus terminalis, and ventricular zone. The mouse homologue of Fez is similarly expressed in the mouse forebrain by embryonic day 11.
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Fig. 2. Fez expression pattern in Xenopus embryos and tadpolebrain. (A–D) Anterior views (top is dorsal) of embryos at stage 12 (A), stage 13/14 (B), stage 16/17 (C), and stage 24 (D). The signal intensifies during development and remains localized to the telencephalic region. (E) A lateral view of Xenopus brain at stage 45, showing the approximate boundaries of the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. A strong expression is detected in the forebrain. (F) A saggital section of the Xenopus brain at the same stage, displaying expression in the olfactory bulbs, nervus terminalis (black arrowhead) and ventricular zone (white arrowheads). A faint expression is visible near the ventral hypothalamic nucleus. Brown fiber-like processes at the top of the brain in (E,F) are epidermal pigments. Abbreviations: nt, nervus terminalis; ob, olfactory bulb; sp, spinal cord; vhn, ventral hypothalamic nucleus.
Fig. 3. Expression of Fez in relationship to other anterior genes. Double in situ hybridization at stage 17 detecting Fez (magenta) and mid/hindbrain marker, en2 (turquoise) (A); Fez (magenta) and cement gland marker, Xag1 (dark purple) (D); and Fez (dark blue) and forebrain maker, XBF-1 (turquoise) (G). (B,E,H) Sagittal sections (B,E) and a horizontal section (H) of embryos shown in (A,D,G), respectively. Note the co-expression of Fez and XBF-1 in the prosencephalic region (G,H). (C,F,I) Double in situ hybridization at stage 27 displaying Fez (magenta)+en2 (turquoise) (C); Fez (turquoise)+Xag1 (magenta) (F); and Fez (purple)+XBF-1 (turquoise) (I). Note the expression of XBF-1 in the branchial arch where Fez expression is absent (I).
