Dapper, Antagonist Of Beta Catenin Homolog 3 (DACT3)

The human and mouse proteins share 85% sequence identity. Northern blot and quantitative PCR analyses indicated that Dact3 expression is initially low in mouse embryo, peaks at E10.5, and then declines. In adult tissues, Dact3 is expressed in uterus and is the principally expressed Dact family member in adult brain. In situ hybridization experiments in mouse embryos detected expression of Dact3 in the branchial arch mesenchyme, the aortic sac, aortic arches, limb bud mesenchyme, craniofacial mesenchyme, and ventral somites. Dact3 is also expressed in the developing mouse central nervous system. In adult brain, Dact3 is expressed in the Purkinje cell layer, in the hippocampus, and in all layers of the cerebral cortex in the dorsal forebrain.