mRNA for interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP): distribution and size diversity in vertebrate species.
Northern blots of total retinal RNA from a number of different vertebrate species were probed with a cDNA fragment corresponding to translated portions of bovine IRBP mRNA. A hybridizing band was detected in normal human retina (4.6 kb), Y-79 human retinoblastoma cells (4.4 kb), and in retinas of monkey (4.6 kb), guinea-pig (4.9 kb), mouse (6.1 kb), rat (two bands at 5.4 kb and 6.6 kb), rabbit (6.3 kb), cow (6.5 kb), and hamster (7.6 kb). Thus, the IRBP gene is expressed in the retinas of a wide variety of mammalian species. The mRNAs could be readily detected in about 20 micrograms of total RNA, suggesting that, in these species, IRBP message is relatively abundant. In contrast, only very weak hybridization was detected on northern blots of the three bird species examined (chicken, duck, quail). IRBP mRNA is thus relatively well expressed in mammals, but not in birds.
Laboratory of Retinal Cell and Molecular Biology, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
L N
LN
Inouye
A
A
Albini
G J
GJ
Chader
T M
TM
Redmond
J M
JM
Nickerson
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002417:Cattle; D006224:Cricetinae; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial
D005136:Eye Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial