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Transcription of a quail gene expressed in embryonic retinal cells is shut off sharply at hatching.

Authors :
Guermah M
Crisanti P
Laugier D
Dezelee P
Bidou L
Pessac B
Calothy G
Source :
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A] 1991 May 15; Vol. 88 (10), pp. 4503-7.
Publication Year :
1991

Abstract

The avian neuroretina (NR) is part of the central nervous system and is composed of photoreceptors, neuronal cells, and Müller (glial) cells. These cells are derived from proliferating neuroectodermal precursors that differentiate after terminal mitosis and become organized in cell strata. Genes that are specifically expressed at the various stages of retinal development are presently unknown. We have isolated a quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) cDNA clone, named QR1, encoding a 676-amino acid protein whose carboxyl-terminal portion shows significant similarity to those of the extracellular glycoprotein osteonectin/SPARC/BM40 and of the recently described SC1 protein. The QR1 cDNA identifies a mRNA detected in NR but not in other embryonic tissues examined. The levels of this mRNA are markedly reduced when nondividing NR cells are induced to proliferate by the v-src oncogene. QR1 expression in NR is limited to the middle portion of the inner nuclear layer, a localization that essentially corresponds to that of Müller cells. Transcription of QR1 takes place only during the late phase of retinal development and is shut off sharply at hatching. Signals that regulate this unique pattern of expression appear to originate within the NR, since the QR1 mRNA is transcribed in cultured NR cells and is shut off also in vitro at a time coinciding with hatching.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0027-8424
Volume :
88
Issue :
10
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
2034690
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.88.10.4503