cDNA cloning and functional characterization of Xenopus laevis DNase gamma.
We report here the cDNA cloning and functional analysis of Xenopus DNase gamma (xDNase gamma). Two forms of cDNAs are isolated from adult spleen: one composing a 933 bp open reading frame for the enzymatically active xDNase gamma protein, and the other encoding an inactive short alternative form. Northern blot analysis revealed that the xDNase gamma mRNA is expressed in spleen, liver, testis, and ovary. xDNase gamma expression is scarcely detected in the tail muscle of tadpoles; however, it increases during metamorphosis and reaches a maximum during the late metamorphic climax. The ectopic expression of xDNase gamma results in the appearance of extensive DNA fragmentation in C2C12 myoblasts after the induction of apoptosis. In contrast, Xenopus DNase I fails to induce apoptotic DNA ladder formation under the same conditions. Our results suggest a possible involvement of xDNase gamma in apoptosis during amphibian metamorphosis.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan.
D
D
Shiokawa
T
T
Hatanaka
M
M
Hatanaka
Y
Y
Shika
A
A
Nishikawa
S
S
Tanuma
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; C105124:deoxyribonuclease gamma