PUBLICATION

The evolution of WT1 sequence and expression pattern in the vertebrates

Authors
Kent, J., Coriat, A.M., Sharpe, P.T., Hastie, N.D., and van-Heyningen, V.
ID
ZDB-PUB-961014-547
Date
1995
Source
Oncogene   11: 1781-1792 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Hastie, Nicholas D.
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Chickens
  • Kidney Neoplasms/genetics
  • Zebrafish
  • Wilms Tumor/genetics
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Animals
  • Mesoderm/cytology
  • Mesoderm/physiology
  • Leucine Zippers
  • Alligators and Crocodiles
  • Humans
  • Transcription Factors/biosynthesis
  • Transcription Factors/genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Biological Evolution*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Mammals
  • Gene Expression*
  • Mice
  • Vertebrates/genetics*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/physiology*
  • Chick Embryo
  • Xenopus laevis
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Exons
  • Genes, Wilms Tumor*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • WT1 Proteins
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Zinc Fingers
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics*
PubMed
7478606
Abstract
WT1 is a Wilms' tumour predisposition gene, encoding a protein with four C-terminal Kruppel-type zinc fingers, which is also a major regulator of kidney and gonadal development. To pinpoint key regulatory domains involved in development and evolution of the vertebrate genitourinary system, we have isolated WT1 orthologues from all gnathostome classes. Partial nucleotide sequence from chick, alligator, Xenopus laevis and zebrafish reveals extensive conservation. Both the zinc fingers and the transregulatory domain exhibit a high level of similarity in all the species examined. However, of the two alternatively spliced regions only one, the three amino acid KTS insertion between zinc fingers 3 and 4, is found in species other than mammals. The 17 amino acid insertion at the C- terminal end of the transregulatory domain is present only in mammals. Residues with reported human pathological mutations are also unaltered across species, underlining their structural significance. Studies in chick and alligator reveal that the mammalian intermediate mesoderm expression pattern is conserved in birds and reptiles. A wider role in mesodermal differentiation is suggested by expression in some paraxial and lateral mesoderm derivatives.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping