# HOMEOBOXES IN XENOPUS DEVELOPMENT

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 1994 · $439,924

## Abstract

The study of homeobox genes has substantially increased our understanding
of vertebrate embryogenesis.  Work in the past Eve years has shown that
vertebrate homeodomain proteins, like their fruit fly counterparts, specify
the antero-posterior (A-P) identity of body regions.  We now propose to
study how homeobox genes specify the gradual elaboration of the vertebrate
A-P axis.
          We have recently found that microinjection of homeobox mRNA into
Xenopus laevis embryonic cells is sufficient to cause induction of new
axial structures after transplantation into a host embryo.  This provides
a powerful direct method for testing whether different homeobox genes
confer regional specificity and, if so, which parts of the protein are
responsible.  Other in vivo methods, such as microinjection of purified
mRNAs and antibodies, transplantation of germ layers, culture of explants,
and the generation of transgenic animals, will also be utilized.
          Three crucial stages in amphibian development have been defined
by embryological studies.  We propose to study Xenopus homeobox genes:
               a) accumulated in the unfertilized egg
               b) activated in the dorsal lip of the blastopore
               c) expressed in the mesodermal mantle at the neurula stage.
          By studying these genes, which act at different stages of the
same regulatory pathway, we hope to. understand how the vertebrate' body
plan is gradually established.
          The proposed experiments exploit the accessibility of Xenopus
embryos to manipulation at stages before the aids is determined, and during
which equivalent experiments in mammalian embryos would be much more
difficult.  However, because all vertebrates develop similarly, it is
expected that these studies will provide insights into the causes of
congenital malformation and embryo wastage in all vertebrates, including
man.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2198294
- **Project number:** 5R01HD021502-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **SAM.gov UEI:** RN64EPNH8JC6
- **Principal Investigator:** EDWARD M DE ROBERTIS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $439,924
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-04-01 → 1996-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2198294

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2198294, HOMEOBOXES IN XENOPUS DEVELOPMENT (5R01HD021502-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2198294. Licensed CC0.

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