Identification of a novel gene product preferentially expressed in rat lens epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
We searched for an mRNA that is differentially expressed in rat lens epithelial and fiber cells to use as a marker for differentiation.


METHODS
An mRNA differential display method was used to identify genes with altered expression during differentiation of lens epithelial cells.


RESULTS
One gene (partial sequence) was identified and confirmed to be expressed preferentially in undifferentiated rat lens epithelial cells. Among non-lens tissues, a trace amount was detected in cornea, but not in retina or eleven non-ocular tissues tested. This cloned partial gene sequence (322 base pairs) is at least 93% identical to overlapping rat and mouse EST sequences, and extends the sequence of both ESTs at the 5' end.


CONCLUSIONS
A clone has been isolated that is preferentially expressed in lens epithelial cells. Expression of this gene was down-regulated when rat pup lens epithelial cell explants were induced to differentiate. The unusual pattern of expression suggests a novel function for this gene.
Cai
H
H
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. hui_cai@bausch.com
Howells
R D
RD
Wagner
B J
BJ
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D012333:RNA, Messenger