Pair-rule gene expression in the somitic stage chick embryo: association with somite segmentation and border formation

Abstract. In vertebrates, metameric organization is highlighted by the formation of somites from mesenchymal cells of the segmental plate which then differentiate into dermamyotomal and sclerotomal tissues. The resegmentation of the sclerotome into rostral and caudal halves follows, coincident with the production of specific extracellular matrix molecules at the abutment of these two cell types. Ultimately, cells from the caudal sclerotome migrate ventrally and contribute to the chondrogenic prevertebrae. The objective of this work is to investigate the molecular steps regulating these events. Our study is focused on the paired-box containing genes, which have been implicated in delineating boundaries early in development. A chick embryo system, which is readily accessible to manipulation and observation during early development, is used in this study. We have identified the existence of the paired-box motif in the chicken genome by polymerase chain reaction and hybridization with the mouse Pax 1 paired-box sequence. Expression of paired-box genes occurs early in development as shown by Northern analysis, and is localized by in situ hybridization to the edge of each somite, a patch at the central core of each somite, and the periphery of the neural tube. This specific spatial pattern of expression is consistent with the hypothesis that the pair-rule genes function as effecters of border formation in the early embryo. Moreover, the patch of positive cells at the center of a resegmenting somite appear to migrate ventrally, and may contribute to structures of the prevertebrae. These findings are relevant to our understanding of the mechanism of somite resegmentation and implicate the involvement of pair-rule genes in the process.