Spatiotemporal expression pattern of Sjfz7 and its expression comparison with other frizzled family genes in developmental stages of Schistosoma japonicum

Publication date: Available online 6 March 2019Source: Gene Expression PatternsAuthor(s): Zhongxue Ye, Jingxiu Xu, Xingang Feng, Yingying Jia, Zhiqiang Fu, Yang Hong, Hao Li, Ke Lu, Jiaojiao Lin, Mingxin Song, Liqun Wang, Chunxiu YuanAbstractWnts are secreted signaling molecules that are implicated in a variety of growth-related processes. Frizzled proteins have been identified as receptors for Wnt ligands in vertebrates and invertebrates, but a functional role for dioecious flatworm Frizzleds has not been determined. To evaluate the endogenous role of Frizzled proteins during development, we have identified and characterized a Schistosoma japonicum frizzled gene (Sjfz7). We found that Sjfz7 encodes a 698 amino acid protein with typical characteristics of Frizzled proteins. The immunohistochemical localization pattern showed that Sjfz7 protein was extensively distributed in almost all tissues of S. japonicum, including subtegumental muscle cells, parenchymal cells, intestinal epithelial cells and male and female germ cells. This indicated that Sjfz7-mediated Wnt signaling might be associated with the development of musculature, intestinal tract and reproductive organs in schistosome. Comparing mRNA levels between frizzled family members showed that Sjfz7 mRNA was consistently higher in the developmental stages analyzed, suggesting that Sjfz7 may be respon1q dsible for more functional tasks than other frizzled family members. Comparing frizzled mRNA levels between not fully de...

Source: Gene Expression Patterns - March 8, 2019 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research