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Identification of gammaA-like protocadherin expressed during chick development
Anthony A Capehart1, Christine B Kern
1Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA. capehartt@mail.ecu.edu
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
|October 3, 2003
Summary
Researchers identified a novel gammaA-like protocadherin in embryonic chicks. This cell adhesion molecule shows significant expression in the developing brain, suggesting a role in neural development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Protocadherins are calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules crucial for embryonic development.
- While less studied than classical cadherins, protocadherins mediate vital cell-cell interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clone and characterize a novel protocadherin from embryonic chick limb tissue.
- To investigate the expression pattern of this novel protocadherin during chick development.
Main Methods:
- Screening a lambdaZAP cDNA expression library using a monoclonal antibody.
- cDNA cloning, Northern blotting, and 3' Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE).
- In situ hybridization to determine mRNA localization.
Main Results:
- A 2.8 kb cDNA encoding a novel chick protocadherin with five extracellular repeats and a conserved cytoplasmic domain was isolated.
- Northern blotting confirmed a 4.6 kb transcript highly enriched in the stage 43 chick brain.
- In situ hybridization revealed expression in the neural tube, dorsal root ganglia, and specific regions of the developing brain, including the optic lobe.
Conclusions:
- The novel chick protocadherin is a gammaA-like protocadherin, sharing identity with the human subfamily.
- Its expression pattern suggests a significant role in chick neural development, particularly in the central and peripheral nervous systems.