We show that DONSON is expressed in progenitor cells of
embryonic human brain and other proliferating tissues, is co-expressed
with components of the DNA replication machinery, and that Donson is essential for
early embryonic development in mice as well, suggesting an essential conserved role for DONSON in the cell cycle.
For example, clusters containing genes that are upregulated during the course of ES cell differentiation (Table 3) include in order of time of expression: cluster 30 that represents genes which take part in the formation of the three
embryonic germ layers during gastrulation, i.e., Goosecoid, Cerberus like 1 homolog, Wnt3, Mesp1, Mixl1, mEomes and Even - skipped 1; cluster 15 containing molecular regulators of
early mesoderm
development including Bmp2, Bmp5, Msx1, Msx2, Cripto, Tbx20, Hey2, Smad6, Vegfr2 (Kdr), Foxf1 and Hand1; cluster 20, which comprises regulatory and structural genes linked to hemopoiesis such as Gata1, Nfe2, Klf1, Tie1, hemoglobins (Hba - x, Hbb - b1) and Glycophorin A; cluster 12, which is rich in genes involved in cardiac
development, e.g., Mef2c, Myl4, cardiac Troponin T2, Tropomodulin 1, myosin binding protein C, Bves, Angiopoietin 1 and Angiopoietin 2; and, cluster 4, which consists mostly of genes associated
with neuronal
development and differentiation, for example, Neurog1, Neurog2, Olig2, Nkx6.1, Neurod4, Pou3f2, Pou3f4, Cacna2d3, Cacng4, Kcnq2 and EphA5.