Strongylocentrotus
purpuratus Genes in Development: Transcription factors
SpMsx
Function
SpMsx is a homeobox gene, a member
of the highly conserved Msx family of transcription factors (Dobias et al., 1997).
Tan et al., (1998) suggest that SpMsx gene may be a part of the
mechanism by which the ectoderm influences both the arrangement of primary
mesenchyme cells within the blastocoel and
the shapes of the skeletal rods.
Protein
SpMsx contains a highly conserved 81 amino acid extended homeodomain ("Msx domain")(Dobias et al., 1997).
GenBank: 280921
Subcellular location
Expression Pattern
SpMsx gene is expressed during embryogenesis in a complex and dynamic pattern consistent
with roles in the development of subpopulations of endoderm, mesoderm, and oral ectoderm.
Transcripts of the SpMsx gene are first detectable at the blastula stage, between 12 and
21 h after fertilization, they decline slightly in amount by the prism stage (60 h postfertilization).
Whole mount in situ hybridization showed that in blastula stage embryos, SpMsx transcripts are distributed
througout the embryo, with the most intense signal at the vegetal plate. By the early gastrula stage,
SpMsx transctipts are localized in the invaginating archenteron, but are not detectable in
primary mesenchyme cells. In late gastrula, SpMsx transcripts are visible throughout archenteron
and in secondary mesenchyme cells at the tip of archenteron. Oral ectoderm overlying the
archenteron also contain SpMsx mRNA.
By the prism stage, SpMsx transcripts are evident in the foregut, midgut and hindgut, as well as
in the oral ectoderm, including the ciliary band.
During development to the pluteus larva, SpMsx transcripts continue to be detectable in the
gut. In addition, they were evident in the oral hood and in the elongating larval arms (Dobias et al., 1997).
mRNA level
Temporal accumulation
Method 1: RNase protection assay
Reference: Dobias et al., 1997
Stage
Egg
8 hr
12 hr
21 hr
36 hr
60 hr
Level
-
-
-
+
+
+
Spatial localization
Method 1: Whole mount in situ hybridization
Reference: Dobias et al., 1997
Stage
Blastula
Early gastrula
Late gastrula
Prism
Pluteus larva
Feeding pluteus (15 days)
Tissue
Distributed through the embryo with most intence signal at the vegetal plate
Invaginating archenteron
Archenteron, secondary mesenchyme cells at the tip of archenteron, OE overlying archenteron
Foregut, midgut, hindgut, OE, including the ciliary band
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