在调控神经形成因子的筛选中，我们发现一个参与神经形成的新因子Fam49a。Fam49a是一个全新的基因家族Fam49的一员，这个基因家族（Fam49a,b,c）具有一个保守的未知功能结构域DUF1394，有关Fam49基因的背景和研究还未有相关文献报道。生物信息学和比较基因组学的分析表明Fam49基因是一类在进化上高度保守的基因。我们的初步研究表明早期胚胎发育时Fam49基因的表达则主要富集于神经板以及神经嵴部位，并且对Fam49a的功能敲落表明其与神经系统发育密切相关。为了阐明Fam49基因家族的本质特性和功能，本项目以模式动物Xenopus tropicalis为研究对象，结合其经典发育生物学和基因功能研究的优势，从分子、进化、细胞、发育等多角度对这个基因家族在早期胚胎发育过程中的表达、功能和相关的分子、细胞、发育机理进行全面深入的研究。

From our screen for factors regulating neurogenesis, we isolated a novel gene,Fam49a. Fam49a is one member of the small Fam49 gene family,which is characterized by a conserved DUF1394 domain with unknown functions.Up to date, there is less report about the information of this gene family.To better characterize Fam49, RT-PCR and whole mount in situ hybridization were performed to detect their expressions in Xenopus tropicalis embryos.Our preliminary data reveal that Fam49 are mainly abundant expressed in the neural plate and neural crest during early embryogenesis.Further,antisense MO knockdown assays were implemented to investigate the function of Fam49a.Results both from ATG-MO and splicing MO knockdown strongly indicate that Fam49a may play potential roles during central nervous system and neural crest development through inhibiting apoptosis.. Based on the high level conservation on amino acid sequences and expression pattern,we propose that Fam49 members may play similar critical roles in central nervous system and neural crest development.To test our hypothesis, here in this study,we will perform molecular, evolutionary,cellular,developmental biolgoy and genetic studies in Xenopus tropicalis system by virtues of its advantages on classic develomnetal biology and functional genomics researchs.Our goal is to charaterize this novel gene family and elucidate the mechanisms that how Fam49 members exert their funtions to regulate cell fates and even the embryo development.And, at the same time, we will also investigate the expressions and functions of FAM49 genes in different human cell lines to explore the underlying clues for related diseases.