Gene Networks Database

Heliocidaris erythrogramma Genes in Development: Primary mesenchyme-specific genes

msp130

Function

msp130 is a sceletogenic mesenchyme lineage-specific gene (Klueg et al., 1997).
The function of msp130 remains unclear, however it is evident that it has been implicated in major primary mesenchyme cell functions (Parr et al., 1989).
There is also some experimental evidence that msp130 may play a role in the entrance of calcium ions into the PMCs (Carson et al., 1985; Kabakoff et all., 1992).
msp130 is a single copy-gene in Heliocidaris (Klueg et al., 1995).

Protein

GenBank: 1070158

Subcellular location

Expression Pattern

A probe made from a single msp130 exon from this species hybridizes strongly to three transcripts of approximately 3.8, 3.0, and 1.8 kb.
Expression of the msp130 is not seen in blastulae or during gastrulation. All three transcripts are present after gastrulation, in larval stages. Very low levels of the three msp130 transcripts are detected at 36 and 48 hr (Klueg and Raff, unpublished data). This is consistent with the observation that only a small subset of mesenchyme cells express msp130 protein during the early stages of sceletogenesis in H. erythrogramma.
The levels of each of these transcripts are not coincident throughout these later stages of development. As development progresses, the relative level of the 3.8 kb transcript increases, and the relative levels of the 3.0- and 1.8-kb transcripts decrease.
The results of RNA blots suggest that the 3.0- and 1.8-kb transcripts are products of alternative splicing (Klueg et al., 1997).
In H. erythrogramma the msp130 protein is not expressed in mesenchyme blastula or early gastrula stages. It is first detected over 10 hr later in a small subset in mesenchyme cells between late gastrula and early larval stages and continues to be expressed during adult rudiment formation (Parks et al., 1988). This pattern of protein expression correlates with the timing of the remnant larval and adult sceleton secretion in H. erythrogramma (Parks et al., 1988; Emlet, 1995). The delayed expression pattern of msp130 is an example of a molecular heterochrony associated with a the change in developmental mode (Klueg et al., 1997).

mRNA level

Temporal accumulation
Method: RNA gel blot hybridization
Reference: Klueg et al., 1997

Stage 32 cells 16-hr early gastrula 24-hr larva 36 hr larva 48 hr larva 53-hr larva 66-hr larva

Level - - - + - + - + +