DS-epi1 regulates gene markers of the neural plate border and CNC. Whole-mount in situ hybridization of early neurula embryos in an anterior view. The injected side is marked with a star. (A-F) A single injection of Dse-MO into embryos causes expansion of Pax3 and Msx1 expression at the neural plate border (arrows). The Dse-5MM-MO has no effect. A quantification of the percentage of embryos with defects is shown in C and F. (G-T) Dse-MO has no significant effect on Sox9; however, it triggers a reduction in Foxd3 and Twist expression, as well as an expansion of c-Myc expression (arrows). Normal Twist and c-Myc expression is restored by the co-injection of Dse-MO and 250 pg Dse* mRNA. nlacZ mRNA was injected as a lineage tracer (red nuclei). A quantification of the percentage of embryos with defects is shown in I, L, P and T. The proportion of examined embryos with the indicated phenotype was as follows: A, 37/42; B, 32/38; D, 26/30; E, 30/31; G, 35/37; H, 58/63; J, 30/30; K, 26/36; M, 13/20; N, 48/61; O, 16/27; Q, 90/90; R, 77/89; and S, 15/26. ****P<0.0001 (Fisher's exact test with two-tailed P-value calculation).