title: A microarray analysis of developmentally regulated genes during macronuclear differentiation in the stichotrichous ciliate Stylonychia lemnae.
abstract: After sexual reproduction in ciliated protozoa a new macronucleus differentiates from a micronuclear derivative. In the course of macronuclear development dramatic DNA- and chromatin reorganisation processes occur, which include splicing of DNA sequences such as IES (internal eliminated sequences) and transposon-like elements during formation of polytene chromosomes, degradation of the polytene chromosomes and specific elimination of micronuclear-specific DNA, de novo addition of telomeres and specific amplification of DNA sequences. In order to understand the molecular basis of this nuclear differentiation process, analysis of developmentally regulated genes seems to be a necessary prerequisite. We performed a microarray analysis to identify genes differentially expressed during macronuclear differentiation. 467 sequences from cDNA libraries were identified as possible candidates from which 384 sequences were further characterised by sequence analysis. These sequences were identified, if possible, by DNA and protein BLAST analysis. Expression of one of these sequences was silenced by RNAi and a preliminary functional analysis performed. Results presented in this study provide the basis for a functional characterisation of genes differentially expressed during this nuclear differentiation process.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Zellbiologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Germany.
authors.forename: Adrian G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Paschka
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Horejschi
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindecke
authors.forename: Gero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weier
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaltschmidt
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lipps
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016053:RNA, Protozoan