Abstract
The Ciona Brachyury gene (Ci-Bra) is regulated, in part, by a 434-bp enhancer that mediates restricted expression in the notochord. Here we present evidence that a Ciona Suppressor of Hairless {Ci-Su(H)} protein functions as an activator of this enhancer. Point mutations that reduce the binding of a GST/Ci-Su(H) fusion protein in vitro diminish the expression of mutagenized Ci-Bra/lacZ transgenes in electroporated embryos. Overexpression of a Ci-Su(H) fusion protein containing the Drosophila Hairy repression domain interferes with notochord differentiation, producing mutant tadpoles with shortened tails. Expression of a constitutively activated Xotch receptor in the notochord, endoderm, and CNS also alters tail morphogenesis. These results suggest that a Notch-Su(H) pathway might participate in notochord differentiation in Ciona.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 358-368 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Developmental biology |
Volume | 203 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 15 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Keywords
- Brachyury
- Ciona intestinalis
- Notochord
- Suppressor of Hairless