Cataract- and lens-specific upregulation of ARK receptor tyrosine kinase in Emory mouse cataract.
OBJECTIVE
The Emory mouse is a well-characterized model for age-onset cataract. The purpose of the present study was to identify differentially expressed genes between pre- and postcataract Emory mouse lenses.


METHODS
Eyes were extracted from Emory mice at 3 weeks (precataract) and 7.5 months (postcataract) of age, and lenses were dissected. Lens RNA was compared for gene expression differences by RT-PCR differential display, and transcripts exhibiting altered levels of gene expression were cloned and identified by sequencing. The levels of two transcripts were further evaluated by RT-PCR in 3-week- and 7.5-month-old lenses and the remainder of the eye. The same transcripts were also measured in lenses from three non-Emory mouse strains (FVB/N, 129Sv, and CD1) ages 4 weeks to 11.5 months.


RESULTS
Three transcripts were identified as exhibiting altered levels of gene expression between 3-week- and 7.5-month-old Emory mouse lenses. These encoded alphaA-crystallin (decreased), betaA3/A1-crystallin (decreased), and adhesion-related kinase (ARK) receptor tyrosine kinase (increased). Decreased alphaA-crystallin and increased ARK expression were not detected in lenses isolated from three non-Emory mouse strains of similar age. Increased expression of ARK was not detected between 3-week- and 7.5-month-old Emory mouse eye nonlens tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data confirm that expression of the alphaA-crystallin gene is decreased in cataract in the Emory mouse lens relative to age-matched control lenses and they provide evidence for cataract- and lens-specific upregulation of the ARK receptor tyrosine kinase in the Emory mouse.
Sheets
Nancy L
NL
Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6057, USA.
Chauhan
Bharesh K
BK
Wawrousek
Eric
E
Hejtmancik
J Fielding
JF
Cvekl
Ales
A
Kantorow
Marc
M
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000201:enzymology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
D003459:Crystallins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012313:RNA; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase; C000722290:AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, mouse