Bcl-2 gene is highly expressed during neurogenesis in the central nervous system.
An analytical method for quantitation of the RNA transcripts of murine bcl-2 gene was developed. The PCR products from bcl-2 alpha and bcl-2 beta mRNA were fluorometrically analyzed and their specific contents were calculated by the internal standard method. Both bcl-2 mRNAs in adult mice were transcribed at the highest level in the thymus and at a comparable level in the spleen. Aside from the immune system, the brain gave the most abundant levels of the bcl-2 mRNAs. The ratios of bcl-2 beta mRNA to bcl-2 alpha mRNA in the thymus and spleen were significantly higher than those in other tissues. During development of the brain, the bcl-2 alpha and bcl-2 beta mRNA levels were highest on embryonic day 15, and about two and three times higher than those of adult, respectively. The results suggest that the bcl-2 gene functions to regulate development and survival of neurons in the central nervous system.
Abe-Dohmae
S
S
Department of Biochemistry, Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan.
Harada
N
N
Yamada
K
K
Tanaka
R
R
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA