Protochordate Zic genes define primitive somite compartments and highlight molecular changes underlying neural crest evolution.

Journal article

The vertebrate Zic gene family encodes C2H2 zinc finger transcription factors closely related to the Gli proteins. Zic genes are expressed in multiple areas of developing vertebrate embryos, including the dorsal neural tube where they act as potent neural crest inducers. Here we describe the characterization of a Zic ortholog from the amphioxus Branchiostoma floridae and further describe the expression of a Zic ortholog from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Molecular phylogenetic analysis and...

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Authors: Gostling, N; Shimeld, S

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Evolution and development
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 136-144
• Publication date: 2003-01-01
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1525-142x.2003.03020.x
• EISSN: 1525-142X
• ISSN: 1520-541X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Staining and Labeling; Zinc Fingers; Phylogeny; Chordata, Nonvertebrate; Neural Crest; Likelihood Functions; Amino Acid Sequence; Molecular Sequence Data; Somites; Evolution, Molecular; In Situ Hybridization; Animals; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; DNA Primers