ISSN:
1573-4927
Keywords:
mice
;
β-minor and β-major globin
;
dot blot hybridization
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract Dot blot hybridization was used to determine the relative amounts of the β-major and β-minor globin RNAs present in reticulocytes of mice at 14.5 and 17.5 days of gestation, newborns, and adults of the Hba b /Hba b ;Hbb s2 /Hbb s2 globin genotype. RNAs isolated from embryonic yolk sac, fetal liver, and adult reticulocytes were hybridized with the following labeled DNA probes: α-1, β-minor specific, and β-major specific. The level of β-sminor RNA in reticulocytes at 14.5 and 17.5 days of gestation is nearly the same as in induced reticulocytes of adult mice. In contrast, the level of β-s2major RNA in reticulocytes at 14.5 days of gestation is 0.23× and at 17.5 days of gestation is 0.66× the amount found in reticulocytes of adult mice. These results correlate well with earlier observations that the β-sminor globin gene approaches its normal adult level of expression by 14.5 days of gestation, whereas the β-s2major globin gene expression increases between 14.5 days of gestation and 6 days postnatally. They indicate that the differential expression of β-sminor and β-s2major globins during development is regulated at the level of transcription. Expression of the β-minor globin gene in reticulocytes of adult normal mice is not maximal, however, because the levels of the β-minor globin and its RNA are increased further in reticulocytes of thalassemic mice.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00502793
