Illegitimate transcription: transcription of any gene in any cell type.
Using in vitro amplification of cDNA by the polymerase chain reaction, we have detected spliced transcripts of various tissue-specific genes (genes for anti-Müllerian hormone, beta-globin, aldolase A, and factor VIIIc) in human nonspecific cells, such as fibroblasts, hepatoma cells, and lymphoblasts. In rats, erythroid- and liver-type pyruvate kinase transcripts were also detected in brain, lung, and muscle. The abundance of these "illegitimate" transcripts is very low; yet, their existence and the possibility of amplifying them by the cDNA polymerase chain reaction provide a powerful tool to analyze pathological transcripts of any tissue-specific gene by using any accessible cell.
Chelly
J
J
Unité de Recherches en Génétique et Pathologie Moléculaires, Unité 129, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, CHU Cochin, Paris, France.
Concordet
J P
JP
Kaplan
J C
JC
Kahn
A
A
D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000235:genetics; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase / Q000235:genetics; D005784:Gene Amplification; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase / Q000235:genetics; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013735:Testicular Hormones; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005169:Factor VIII; D005914:Globins; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase