Transcription in nematodes: early Ascaris embryos are transcriptionally active.
In this report we analyze early zygotic gene expression in the parasitic nematode Ascaris lumbricoides var. suum. Using synchronous populations of early embryonic stages, nuclei were isolated, and in vitro run-off transcription assays were performed. We find transcriptional activity as early as the 4- to 8-cell stage. The percentage of RNA polymerase II activity, as measured in these assays, is greater than 80% of the total transcription at the 60-cell stage. Furthermore, we show that a specific transcript (actin) can be identified in all early stages tested.
Cleavinger
P J
PJ
Department of Microbiology, University of Missouri-Columbia 65212.
McDowell
J W
JW
Bennett
K L
KL
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000546:Amanitins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001200:Ascaris / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015342:DNA Probes; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015053:Zygote / Q000378:metabolism*
D000199:Actins; D000546:Amanitins; D015342:DNA Probes; D012313:RNA; D012319:RNA Polymerase II