High impact information on elrD

• In adult frogs, elrC and elrD are exclusively expressed in the brain, whereas elrB is expressed in brain, testis, and ovary [1].
• In Xenopus, three neural-specific elav-like genes (ELGs) have been identified, elrB/Xel-1, elrC and elrD [2].
• Here we show that both elrC and elrD are expressed earlier than elrB in the developing neural tube and the cranial ganglia, with different temporal specificities [2].

Biological context of elrD

• During Xenopus development, elrC and elrD RNAs are detected by late gastrula and late neurula stages, respectively, whereas a nervous system-specific elrB RNA species is expressed by early tadpole stage [1].

Anatomical context of elrD

• Also, double labeling with a motor neuron marker shows that in stage 41 tailbud embryos, elrD remains strongly expressed in motor neurons whereas elrC is mostly expressed in non-motor neuron cells [2].
• We showed that heterochronous expression of elrB in presumptive neurectoderm down-regulates the expression of neural markers, such as N-tubulin, as well as that of other Xenopus elav-like genes, elrC and elrD, whereas ectopic expression of elrB in presumptive mesoderm has no effect on MyoD [3].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of elrD

• Double in situ hybridizations on brain cross-sections allowed us to define precisely the expression domains of elrB, elrC and elrD in the brain at the tailbud stage [2].

References