Spec1

Function

Spec1 gene serves as marker of the earliest known ectoderm lineage-specific gene expression.
It codes for a 152-amino acid calcium-binding protein from the troponin C superfamily (Xiang et al., 1988).
Spec1 is the predominant Spec protein in the early pluteus larva (Hardin and Klein, 1987).

Protein

Spec1 is a calcium-binding proteins with the molecular mass of 14,000-17,000 Da (Xiang et al.,1988).
SWISS_PROT: P04109

Subcellular location

Expression Pattern

mRNA level

Temporal accumulation
Method: RNA blot hybridization
Reference: Hardin et al., 1988

Stage Egg Cleavage Hatching blastula Midgastrula Pluteus

Level - - + + +

Spec1 mRNA is present in very low level in unfertilized egg and early clevage embryo. By hatching bastula stage Spec1 transcripts have accumulated significantly and continue to increase to maximum abundunce at gastrula stage. Spec1 transcripts decrease in abundunce, dropping to 50% of the maximum level by the pluteus stage (Hardin et al., 1988).

Spatial localization
Method: in situ hybridization
Reference: Hardin et al., 1988

Stage Egg Cleavage 18 hr hatching blastula 22 hr mesenchyme blastula 44 hr late gastrula 60 hr prism/pluteus 75 hr pluteus

Tissue - - AE AE AE AE AE