Clive Wilson

Tissue-specific expression of actin genes injected into Xenopus embryos.

We have isolated a complete Xenopus borealis cardiac actin gene, which is normally expressed in the myotomes and heart of the embryo and tadpole. After injection into the zygote, this cloned gene becomes distributed throughout the embryo, but it is expressed almost wholly in the myotomes. The same wide distribution of injected DNA but spatially restricted pattern of expression is found with a fusion between the first two actin gene exons and the last exon of a mouse beta-globin gene. By contrast, a histone-globin fusion gene is expressed fairly uniformly in all regions. We discuss the special advantages of using Xenopus in studies of tissue-specific gene expression from injected, cloned genes in early development.

Cytoskeletal actin gene families of Xenopus borealis and Xenopus laevis.

SummaryWe have sequenced the coding and leader regions, as well as part of the 3′ untranslated region, of aXenopus borealis type 1 cytoskeletal actin gene [defined according to the arrangement of acidic residues at the N-terminus; Vandekerckhove et al. (1981) J Mol Biol 152:413–426]. The encoded amino acid sequence is the same as the avian and mammalian β (type 1) cytoskeletal actins, except for an isoleucine at position 10 (as found in the mammalian γ cytoskeletal actins), and an extra amino acid, alanine, after the N-terminal methionine. Five introns were found, in the same positions as those of the rat and chicken β-actin genes. The 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions resemble those of the human γ (type 8) cytoskeletal actin gene more closely than the mammalian β genes.Primer extension showed that this type 1 gene is transcribed in ovary and tadpole. Sequencing of primer extension products demonstrated two additional mRNA species inX. borealis, encoding type 7 and 8 isoforms. This contrasts with the closely related speciesXenopus laevis, where type 4, 5, and 8 isoforms have been found. The type 7 isoform has not previously been found in any other species. The mRNAs of theX. borealis type 1 and 8 andX. laevis type 5 and 8 isoforms contain highly homologous leaders. TheX. borealis type 7 mRNA has no leader homology with the other mRNA species and, unlike them, has no extra N-terminal alanine codon. The evolutionary implications of these data are discussed.