title: Organization, sequence, and expression of a gene encoding goldfish neurofilament medium protein.
abstract: The goldfish visual pathway displays a remarkable capacity for continuous neurogenesis, plasticity, and regeneration. The intermediate filament protein composition of this system differs from that of higher vertebrates, which lack the capacity for continued nerve growth and development. In an effort to determine how intermediate filament proteins are regulated during nerve growth, we isolated and characterized cDNA and genomic clones representing the goldfish neurofilament medium (NF-M) protein. The tissue-specific expression of goldfish NF-M mRNA was analyzed by RNase protection assays and by in situ hybridization. The expression of goldfish NF-M is qualitatively the same as in other species. Although the intermediate filament protein composition of the goldfish visual pathway is unusual when compared with higher vertebrates, the goldfish NF-M protein is similar to higher vertebrate NF-M proteins. In addition, the organization of the goldfish NF-M gene is identical to the NF-M genes in all other vertebrate species. In contrast, the promoter region of the goldfish NF-M gene has several potential regulatory sequences that are not found in the promoter regions of higher vertebrate NF-M genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Glasgow
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schechter
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006054:Goldfish / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C061195:neurofilament protein M; D004247:DNA