Expression of actin mRNA in embryos of the leech Helobdella triserialis.
A cDNA clone (Htr-actin) containing a 1.48 kb insert corresponding to actin was isolated from a stage 10-11 Helobdella triserialis cDNA library by cross hybidization to a Drosophila melanogaster actin clone. The cDNA is equivalent in size to the adult actin mRNA detected by Northern analysis. Genomic Southern blot analysis revealed that Htr-actin is a single copy gene and is one member of a family of actins in H. triserialis. Protein sequence comparisons revealed that Htr-actin was most similar to actin-1 of the earthworm and like other invertebrate actins, Htr-actin was found to be more similar to mammalian cytoplasmic actins than to mammalian muscle-specific actins. In situ hybridization revealed that at early stages the actin mRNA was distributed primarily in the yolk-deficient cytoplasm of all cells. At later stages, elevated levels were detected over the germinal bands and plate. Following muscle formation, a subset of the actin mRNA expression pattern resembled the immunostaining pattern obtained with the muscle specific antibody, Lan3-14. The Htr-actin transcript was undetectable in the segmental nervous system. These studies lay the groundwork for any future ectopic gene expression studies using the Htr-actin promoter in the leech embryo.
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla 10595, USA. cathy_wedeen@nymc.edu
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Figueroa
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018628:Gene Dosage; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D007865:Leeches / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D000199:Actins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger