Int. J. Dev. Biol. 52: 1119 - 1122 (2008)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.082700rm

Vol 52, Issue 8

Expression of the novel gene Ened during mouse and Xenopus embryonic development

Developmental Expression Pattern | Published: 1 October 2008

Renata Meszaros¹, Ina Strate², Edgar M. Pera² and Madeleine Durbeej*^,1

¹Department of Experimental Medical Science, Division of Cell and Matrix Biology and ²Lund Stem Cell Center, Laboratory of Vertebrate Developmental Biology University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

Abstract

We have recently identified 1110032E23Rik as a down-regulated target gene in Fgf receptor-signalling-deficient mouse embryoid bodies. Here, we present the expression pattern of this novel gene, designated Ened (Expressed in Nerve and Epithelium during Development), in mouse and Xenopus laevis embryos. Murine Ened transcripts were first seen at E9.5 in the heart and the gastrointestinal tract. At later stages of gestation, expression could be found in the floor plate, peripheral nervous system, lens epithelium, skin, midline dorsal aorta, lung, kidney and testis. In Xenopus, the expression of the Ened orthologue displayed common RNA distribution in several ectodermal and mesodermal tissues, but also distinct expression in locations including the brain, notochord and blood islands. We suggest that Ened might be a novel target gene of the Fgfr signalling pathway during embryonic development, and that its expression could be modulated by the basement membrane component laminin-111.

Keywords

Ened, embryonic development, epithelium, Fgf/Fgfr signalling, peripheral nerve