Levels of ovalbumin messenger RNA sequences in nonoviduct tissues of the chicken

Establishment of a chick embryo model for analyzing liver development and a search for candidate genes

The liver plays a crucial role in metabolism. There is considerable interest in how the liver develops, as such knowledge could prove of importance in regenerative medicine. However, our understanding of liver development remains somewhat limited. We have developed a model system using the chick embryo that is cost effective and is easy to manipulate experimentally. We performed four fundamental studies: (i) construction of an atlas of the developing chick liver; (ii) identification of differentiation marker genes in the developing chick embryo; (iii) development of germ-layer specific electroporation; and (iv) establishment of organ culture from the developing chick liver. Using this system, we have been able to demonstrate the functions of candidate genes within a shorter period and in a more cost-effective manner. In parallel with the establishment of this system, we examined the expression patterns of genes known to be required for organ development in the developing chick embryo in order to identify genes also involved in liver development. To date, we have found sixteen genes that are expressed in the developing chick liver (GELD, genes expressed in liver development). This knowledge will be fundamental to the establishment of the basic technology for engineering liver tissue in the future.

Analysis of gene expression patterns in the developing chick liver

The chick embryo has been used widely for studying liver development. However, in the past 30 years, the usage has decreased markedly due to lack of appropriate marker genes for differentiation in the developing chick liver. To use the chick embryo for analyzing the molecular mechanism of liver development, we surveyed marker genes in the developing chick liver by examining the expression pattern of genes that are well-characterized in the developing mammalian liver. By whole-mount in situ hybridization, Fibrinogen-gamma (FIB) expression was first detected at stage 12, specifically in the anterior intestinal portal, and its liver-specific expression persisted in the later stages. Albumin (ALB) expression was first detected at stage 30, when the liver starts maturing. Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) was first detected at stage 37 in the ductal plate of the liver, and its expression continued in the intrahepatic bile ducts derived from the ductal plate. Hex, a transcription factor, is an additional marker of bile duct differentiation. Hence, FIB, ALB, and CK19 expression can be used to trace hepatic induction, maturation, and bile duct differentiation, respectively.

The ovalbumin gene is associated with the nuclear matrix of chicken oviduct cells

The DNA in a eucaryotic nucleus is arranged into a series of supercoiled loops that are anchored at their bases to the nuclear matrix. Using nuclease digestion, one can progressively cleave DNA from the loops, thereby isolating residual DNA that is progressively closer to the nuclear matrix anchorage sites. We have determined that the ovalbumin gene is preferentially associated with the nuclear matrix of chicken oviduct cells, but is not preferentially associated with the nuclear matrix of chicken liver cells. As a control, the beta-globin gene, which is not transcribed in oviduct cells, was found not to be preferentially associated with the oviduct nuclear matrix. The observation that the transcriptionally active ovalbumin gene is preferentially associated with the nuclear matrix may have significant implications for gene expression and the organization of nuclear DNA into supercoiled-loop domains.

Developmental shifts in frequency distribution of polysomal mRNA and their posttranscriptional regulation in the sea urchin embryo

The frequency distributions of polyadenylylated RNAs from the polysomes of sea urchin blastulae and gastrulae were estimated from their kinetics of hybridization with complementary DNA. Developmental decreases in complexity were observed among abundant, intermediate, and rare frequency classes. The class of highest abundance in the blastula polysomes had a complexity of 5.6 X 10(4) nucleotides and contained about 30 mRNA species, which divided into subsets according to developmental fate. Studies with purified DNA complementary to this abundant class revealed that five of these mRNA species remained abundant in the gastrula, wherein each comprised 2% of the polyadenylylated RNA in the polysomes. Approximately 5 species decreased to a nearly rare frequency and 20 were absent or at the limits of detection in polyadenylylated RNA of gastrula polysomes. These distinctly different developmental fates suggest distinct modes of regulation of mRNA concentration for different subsets. Focusing on the small number of abundant blastula mRNAs, we ascertained that those which were absent from gastrula polysomes were nevertheless represented in the gastrula nuclear RNA. Therefore, the appearance of abundant mRNA species in polysomes can be regulated by posttranscriptional processes.