Expression of the chicken 'delta 2-crystallin' gene in mouse cells: evidence for encoding of argininosuccinate lyase.
In the chicken genome, downstream from the delta 1 gene, encoding delta-crystallin, a highly homologous gene called delta 2 is found, but neither its expression nor its function has been clarified. Close similarity of the delta 2 gene to mammalian argininosuccinate lyase (ASL)-encoding genes in organization and deduced amino acid sequence of the encoded protein suggested that this gene may encode chicken ASL. To test this possibility, we cloned the delta 2 gene on a plasmid, introduced it into mouse cells, and assessed expression and ASL activity in comparison with delta 1. We found that delta 2 was expressed well in fibroblastic L cells, which resulted in synthesis of a protein with a size (50 kDa) and antigenicity very close to delta-crystallin, but it was repressed in lens cells in which expression of delta 1 was activated. Transfectant L cell lines expressing delta 2 exhibited significantly higher ASL activity than those without. We conclude that the delta 2 gene codes for chicken ASL, but has a tissue specificity distinct from delta 1 in its expression.
Kondoh
H
H
Department of Molecular Biology, School of Science, Nagoya University, Japan.
Araki
I
I
Yasuda
K
K
Matsubasa
T
T
Mori
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001123:Argininosuccinate Lyase / Q000235:genetics*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
D003459:Crystallins; D001123:Argininosuccinate Lyase