Analysis of isoactin expression in cultured mouse cells by in situ hybridization

The expression of cytoskeletal isoactin genes in NIH 3T3 and L cells was studied by in situ hybridization. Anti-sense RNA probes specific for beta- and gamma-actin were prepared by in vitro transcription of the 3'-untranslated regions of each cDNA which diverge in an isoactin-specific manner. Both NIH 3T3 and L cells showed a higher expression of beta- and gamma-actin mRNAs in a growing state than in a stationary one. Among these changes, the suppression of gamma-actin mRNA in L cells was most prominent and that of beta-actin in 3T3 cells was least profound.