δ- and β-crystallin mRNA levels in the embryonic and posthatched chicken lens: Temporal and spatial changes during development

J. Fielding Hejtmancik, David C. Beebe, Harry Ostrer, Joram Piatigorsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

The levels of δ- and β-crystallin mRNAs were examined by cDNA hybridization in the embryonic and posthatched chicken eye lens. Four different cloned β-crystallin cDNAs were used, allowing discrimination among different members of the β-crystallin family. Each crystallin mRNA displayed a characteristic temporal and spatial pattern in the developing lens. δ-Crystallin mRNA accumulated rapidly during early embryonic development; by contrast, the β-crystallin mRNAs began to accumulate rapidly near the end of embryogenesis. Both δ- and β-crystallin mRNAs increased in the lens for the first month after hatching and began to decrease 3 months after hatching. The levels of the δ- and the different β-crystallin mRNAs were also differentially regulated in cultured embryonic lens epithelia. The most fiber cell specific crystallin gene product in the differentiating lens was the β35 mRNA. These experiments provide a quantitative basis for exploring the differential expression of the δ- and β-crystallin gene families in the chicken lens.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)72-81
Number of pages10
JournalDevelopmental Biology
Volume109
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1985
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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