Identification of a new gene family specifically expressed in chicken embryonic stem cells and early embryo.
Chicken embryonic stem (CES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from chicken early blastoderm. In order to identify new genes specifically expressed in these pluripotent cells, we have used a gene trap strategy and cloned a novel gene family called cENS for chicken Embryonic Normal Stem cell gene. The cENS genes expression decreases after induction of CES cells differentiation in culture and is restricted in vivo to the very early embryo. We have characterized three different cENS genes. One, cENS-1, is composed of an open reading frame inserted between two terminal direct repeats which are the common point of the cENS genes. cENS-1 encodes a protein identical to cERNI, a recently described protein. cENS-2 is a truncated form of cENS-1. cENS-3 presents two adjacent open reading frames coding respectively for env and pol related proteins. The presence of conserved direct repeats, of retrovirus related genes and the absence of introns argue in favor of a retroviral origin of the cENS genes. In the cENS we identified a promoter region whose activity is strong in CES cells and decreases after induced differentiation showing a highly specific transcriptional activity specific of undifferentiated chicken embryonic stem cells.
Acloque
H
H
Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR5665, INRA LA 913, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
Risson
V
V
Birot
A M
AM
Kunita
R
R
Pain
B
B
Samarut
J
J
D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007438:Introns; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
D030161:Avian Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C432147:ENS-1 protein, chicken; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D008156:Luciferases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase