A novel zinc finger transcription factor resembles krox-20 in structure and in expression pattern in zebrafish

Krx-20, a zinc finger protein, plays an essential role in hindbrain segmentation of vertebrates. Zebrafish gene frb35 encodes a novel zinc finger protein that shares a high homology with Krx-20. The expression domains of frb35 overlap those of krx-20. The expression of frb35 first occurs in the 3rd rhombomere primordium. at the onset of segmentation, which is soon followed by expression in the 5th rhombomere. From mid-segmentation onward, the 5th rhombomere has a higher frb35 expression level than the 3rd rhombomere. Unlike krx20, frb35 expression persists in the 5th rhombomere until the end of pharyngula period. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.