Analysis of SCG10 gene expression in transgenic mice reveals that neural specificity is achieved through selective derepression.
SCG10 is a neural-specific, growth-associated protein that is broadly expressed in the embryonic central and peripheral nervous systems. Transgenic mice harboring a chimeric gene containing 4 kb of SCG10 5' flanking DNA fused to the bacterial CAT gene exhibit expression in brain but not in nonneuronal tissues. A low level of expression is detected in adrenal gland as well, consistent with the behavior of endogenous SCG10. Such a transgene is also activated at the same relative stage of embryonic development as its endogenous counterpart. Deletion of the 5'-most 3.7 kb of SCG10 sequence yields deregulated expression of the transgene in numerous nonneuronal tissues, although expression remains highest in brain. In contrast to other tissue-specific genes, therefore, the specificity of SCG10 expression appears to be achieved predominantly through selective repression in nonneuronal tissues.
Wuenschell
C W
CW
Division of Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125.
Mori
N
N
Anderson
D J
DJ
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D050777:Stathmin; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D050777:Stathmin; C512849:Stmn2 protein, mouse