Partial cloning and expression pattern analyses of fibroblast growth factor-like cDNA in Xenopus oocytes

We cloned a partial sequence of novel Xenopus cDNA which showed a siginficant homology to fibroblast growth factor cDNA. This gene was expressed maternally and presented throughout embryonic stages. The level of this gene expression was gradually decreased during the developmental stages from fertilized egg to early gas-trula and began to increase after mid gastrula stage, indicating zygotical expression of the gene after mid gastrula. The wholemount in situ hybridization analysis revealed that this novel gene was expressed in somites, notochord, central nervous system, eye, gill slit and cement gland. These expression analyses indicated that this novel gene might be invoved in neuronal development or formation of chordamesoderm.