Differential Expression of the Actin Gene Family of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Abstract
Molecular probes that individually recognize the 3′ nontranslated regions of six actin genes were utilized in RNA gel blot hybridizations to detect RNAs complementary to each gene in embryonic and adult tissues of Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus. In addition the probes were used in DNA excess filter hybridizations to estimate the relative contribution of the different actin genes. All six genes produce relatively stable mRNAs, and each displays a characteristic and distinct pattern of expression. On the basis of their expression in the egg, early embryos, or in adult coelomocytes, it is concluded that genes termed CyI, CyIIa, CyIIb, CyIIIa, and CyIIIb encode cytoskeletal actin proteins. Actin gene M gives rise to mRNAs that are found only in tissues containing muscle. Actin genes CyI, CyIIa, CyIIb, and M are expressed in both adult and embryonic tissues, giving rise to transcripts 2.1–2.2 kb in length. Expression of genes CyIIIa and CyIIIb is confined to the embryo. Gene CyIIIa provides the major embryonic actin mRNA, which is 1.8 kb in length. Three of the cytoskeletal actin genes are linked over a 30-kb distance in the S. purpuratus genome. We show that the actin genes included in this linkage group are not coordinately expressed.
Additional Information
© 1984 Academic Press, Inc. Received August 10, 1984. We are indebted to Mr. Patrick Leahy for excellent technical assistance in culturing embryos and larvae. We thank Dr. Barbara Hough Evans for assistance in dissecting tubefeet from adult sea urchins and Dr. Steven Johnson and Dr. Constantin Flytzanis for gifts of intestine RNAs. We are grateful to Dr. William Klein and Dr. Terry Thomas for the provision of their gastrula stage cDNA libraries. We are also grateful to Dr. Elias Lazarides of this Institute for a helpful and expert review of the manuscript. This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 05753). R.J.S. is supported by a long-term EMBO fellowship. J.J.L. is supported by a National Institutes of Health Training grant (GM-07616).Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 66091
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20160412-144315585
- HD 05753
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
- GM-07616
- NIH Predoctoral Fellowship
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2016-04-12Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field