ABSTRACT
The expression of three different actin genes in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, was monitored in embryos and adult tissues by using untranslated mRNA sequences as specific hybridization probes. Three distinct patterns of expression were found: muscle specific, embryo specific, and constitutive (i.e., present in all tissues examined). The actin genes encoding the muscle-specific and constitutively expressed genes were each found to be present once in the haploid genome. The embryo-specific probe could derive from either a single gene or a small subset of actin genes. These data demonstrate that at least three members of the sea urchin actin gene family are expressed in distinct ways and thus are probably associated with different regulatory programs of gene expression necessary for development of this metazoan.
Subject(s)
Actins/genetics , Cloning, Molecular , Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism , Genes , Muscles/metabolism , Sea Urchins/growth & development , Animals , DNA Restriction Enzymes , Female , Nucleic Acid Hybridization , Plasmids , RNA, Messenger/geneticsABSTRACT
Polyribosomes were obtained in high yield from Rhynchosciara salivary glands by a method which uses the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P 40, in moderate salt buffer and DTT as RNase inhibitor. The polysomal profiles from glands of animals which have just started to spin the communal cocoon are slightly but consistently different from those obtained from about 5 day older animals, in which DNA puffs were open in the salivary gland chromosomes. The heaviest polyribosomes which could be detected by either radioactive uridine or amino acid incorporation have 8 to 9 ribosomes. The data indicate the existence of stable messengers in the salivary glands.
