The pattern of prothymosin alpha gene expression coincides with that of myc proto-oncogenes during mouse embryogenesis.
The nuclear protein prothymosin alpha is thought to play a critical role in cellular proliferation. Transcription of the gene encoding prothymosin alpha has been shown to be activated by the proto-oncogene c-myc. Also, prothymosin alpha mRNA expression correlates with that of c-myc in human colon cancer. We compared the previously reported embryonic expression pattern of the proto-oncogene c-myc and the pattern of the prothymosin alpha gene by in situ hybridization. Prothymosin alpha is transcribed in all tissues expressing c-myc, including brown adipose tissue, salivary gland, thymus and liver. In addition, we show that the prothymosin alpha gene is active in tissues expressing specifically N-myc such as the neuronal anlage and hair follicles in skin. Therefore, during mouse foetal development the temporal, spatial and tissue-specific expression patterns of both myc proto-oncogenes coincide with the pattern of prothymosin alpha.
Moll
J
J
Department of Biotechnology, Ciba-Geigy Ltd., Basel, Switzerland.
Schmid
P
P
Sansig
G
G
van der Putten
H
H
D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005865:Gestational Age; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000235:genetics; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C040782:prothymosin alpha; D013947:Thymosin