[Tissue specificity of expression of k51 gene in rodents]

A new method for studding gene expression--the histoblotting was used for the detection of k51 gene expression in rodent tissues. We have demonstrated several advantages of this method over in situ hybridization for the study of gene expression in epitelial tissues in particular. The transcription of the new gene k51 was detected in the upper layers of mouse and rat skin during epidermis development before and after rat birth. These data were confirmed by Northern hybridization analysis. We found that the expression of k51 occurs mainly in flat multilayer epithelium and is not simply connected with the degree of days of rat embryo development; it is high in newborn skin and lowers during hair growth. The expression of k51 can serve as a marker of a certain stage of adult skin development.