Differential expression of maf-1 and maf-2 genes in the developing rat lens.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression of maf-1 and maf-2 protocogenes in the developing rat lens.


METHODS
Maf-1 and maf-2 transcripts were assayed in rat lenses on embryonic days 13 and 16 (E13 and E16) by in situ hybridization using single-stranded RNA probes. Proteins encoded by the maf-2 gene were assayed immunocytochemically in embryonic (E12, 13, 16, 19) and postnatal day 14 and 90 (P14 and P90) lenses.


RESULTS
In embryonic lenses, we detected maf-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in the lens epithelium and maf-2 mRNA diffusely distributed in the lens fiber cells. By immunocytochemistry, Maf-2 was detected on E12 in the nuclei of almost all lens pit cells. On days E13, E16, and E19, however, lens epithelial cells showed no immunoreactivity, but nuclei of fiber cells reacted strongly. On P14, nuclei containing Maf-2 protein were confined to the equator of the lens, but at 3 months of age, no Maf-2 could be detected in the rat lens. Western blotting showed that the anti-Maf-2 antiserum reacted with a single protein, of molecular weight approximately 39 kDa, in rat lens.


CONCLUSIONS
Results showed the spatial and temporal regulation of maf gene expression and suggest that these genes participate in transcriptional regulation during the development of the lens in the rat.
Yoshida
K
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. kyoshida@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Imaki
J
J
Koyama
Y
Y
Harada
T
T
Shinmei
Y
Y
Oishi
C
C
Matsushima-Hibiya
Y
Y
Matsuda
A
A
Nishi
S
S
Matsuda
H
H
Sakai
M
M
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C495609:Maf protein, rat; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger