RhoA is highly up-regulated in the process of early heart development of the chick and important for normal embryogenesis.
We have used molecular techniques, combined with classic embryological methods, to identify up-regulated genes associated with early heart development. One of the cDNAs identified and isolated by screening a chick lambda cDNA library was the small guanosine triphosphatase RhoA. RhoA has at least three different length mRNA species, each varying in the length of the 3' untranslated region. In situ hybridisation and immunocytochemistry analysis of RhoA expression show marked up-regulation in the heart-forming region. In other systems, RhoA signalling has been shown to be important for both gene expression and morphology. To investigate the function of RhoA in early heart development, we used small interfering RNAs (siRNA) in early chick embryos. Disruption of RhoA expression by siRNA treatment resulted in lack of heart tube fusion and abnormal head development. These data indicate that RhoA is important for normal embryogenesis.
Kaarbø
Mari
M
School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia.
Crane
Denis I
DI
Murrell
Wayne G
WG
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015854:Up-Regulation; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein