Human Molecular Genetics, Vol 7, 1997-2006, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
A Bulfone, C Gattuso, A Marchitiello, C Pardini, E Boncinelli, G Borsani, S Banfi and A Ballabio
Nature often utilizes the same metabolic 'core groups' of interacting genes
or 'pathways' in completely different organs, tissues and cellular
compartments. Deciphering the physiological role of a particular gene in a
living organism is therefore critical to understanding not only how a
gene/protein works, but also where (in which tissue/organ) and when (at
what developmental stage) it functions. We have performed systematic RNA in
situ hybridization on a subset of murine genes homologous to Drosophila
mutant genes, called Drosophila -related expressed sequences (Dres). This
approach combines functional information derived from cross-species
sequence comparisons and biochemical, physiological and pathological
studies performed in the fly with knowledge of the spatial and temporal
distribution of gene expression. Forty murine Dres were tested by RNA in
situ hybridization on sagittal, coronal and transverse sections at three
developmental stages, E10.5, E12.5 and E17.5. For some of them, whole mount
in situ hybridization was performed at earlier stages. These data are
valuable for establishing how the function of these genes and the genetic
programs underlying the development of a particular tissue or organ have
evolved during evolution. For example, six Dres genes showed restricted
expression domains within the murine retina, suggesting a different role
for each of these genes in eye development and functioning. Furthermore,
the information derived from this combined approach will be instrumental in
predicting the phenotypic consequences of gene dysfunction in both mouse
mutants and human genetic diseases.
ARTICLES
The embryonic expression pattern of 40 murine cDNAs homologous to Drosophila mutant genes (Dres): a comparative and topographic approach to predict gene function
Telethon Institute of Genetics of Medicine (TIGEM), San Raffaele Biomedical Science Park, via Olgettina 58, Milan 20132, Italy.
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?