Abstract
Eomesodermin (Eomes) is a novel Xenopus T-domain gene. In normal development, it is expressed in mesodermal cells in a ventral-to-dorsal gradient of increasing concentration. It reaches its peak expression 1-2 hr before any other known panmesodermal gene. It is strongly inducible by normal vegetal cells and by mesoderm-inducing factors. Ectopic expression of Eomes in animal caps induces the transcription of nearly all mesodermal genes in a concentration-dependent way. Overexpression of Eomes dorsalizes ventral mesoderm, inducing gsc and changing cell fate to muscle and notochord. Blocking the function of Eomes causes gastrulation arrest and defective mesoderm-dependent gene activation. We propose that Eomes fulfills an essential function in initiating mesoderm differentiation and in determining mesodermal cell fate.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Activins
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Cell Communication / genetics
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Cell Differentiation / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
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Embryonic Induction / physiology*
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Fetal Proteins / physiology
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics
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Genes, Immediate-Early / drug effects
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Genes, Immediate-Early / physiology
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Growth Substances / pharmacology
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Inhibins / pharmacology
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Mesoderm / cytology
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Mesoderm / physiology*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mutagenesis / physiology
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T-Box Domain Proteins*
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Time Factors
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Transcription Factors / genetics*
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Transcription, Genetic / physiology
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Transcriptional Activation
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Xenopus / genetics*
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Xenopus Proteins*
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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EOMES protein, Xenopus
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Fetal Proteins
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Growth Substances
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T-Box Domain Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Xenopus Proteins
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Activins
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Inhibins
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Brachyury protein