Lurcher Purkinje cells express glutamic acid decarboxylase and calbindin mRNAs.
Purkinje neurons in immature Lurcher (Lc/+) mice are destined to die as a result of a defect intrinsic to the dying cells. We have used in situ hybridization to determine whether the Lc allele interferes with the normal program of gene expression in the doomed Purkinje cells. In P21 mice, degeneration of Purkinje cells is well underway, but the surviving Purkinje cells continue to express the mRNAs for both glutamate decarboxylase and calbindin D28K, two proteins whose expression is characteristic of normal Purkinje neurons. We conclude that the Lc allele probably does not interfere with the developmental program but acts to cause cell death in already differentiated Purkinje neurons.
Wuenschell
C W
CW
Department of Biology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-1606.
Messer
A
A
Tobin
A J
AJ
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D064092:Calbindin 1; D064026:Calbindins; D002470:Cell Survival; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D015342:DNA Probes; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
C576499:Calb1 protein, mouse; D064092:Calbindin 1; D064026:Calbindins; D015342:DNA Probes; D004745:Enkephalins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; C029992:proenkephalin; D004247:DNA; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase