title: Gene expression dynamics in deer antler: mesenchymal differentiation toward chondrogenesis.
abstract: Annual re-growth of deer antler represents a unique example of complete organ regeneration. Because antler mesenchymal cells retain their embryonic capacity to develop into cartilage or bone, studying antler development provides a natural system to follow gene expression changes during mesenchymal differentiation toward chondrogenic/osteogenic lineage. To identify novel genes involved either in early events of mesenchymal cell specialization or in robust bone development, we have introduced a 3 K heterologous microarray set-up (deer cDNA versus mouse template). Fifteen genes were differentially expressed; genes for housekeeping, regulatory functions (components of different signaling pathways, including FGF, TGFbeta, Wnt), and genes encoding members of the Polycomb group were represented. Expression dynamics for genes are visualized by an expression logo. The expression profile of the gene C21orf70 of unknown function is described along with the effects when over-expressed; furthermore the nuclear localization of the cognate protein is shown. In this report, we demonstrate the particular advantage of the velvet antler model in bone research for: (1) identification of mesenchymal and precartilaginous genes and (2) targeting genes upregulated in robust cartilage development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics, Agricultural Biotechnology Center, Szent-Györgyi Albert u 4, 2101, Gödöllo, Hungary.
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gyurján
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: Adrienn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borsy
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stéger
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hackler
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zomborszky
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.forename: Erno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duda
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deák
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lakatos
authors.forename: László G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Puskás
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orosz
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D003670:Deer / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins