Cloning of DNA complementary to rat liver fatty acid synthetase mRNA

Clones, containing DNA complementary (cDNA) to rat liver fatty acid synthetase mRNA, were constructed and identified. cDNA of these clones was then used as a probe to quantify mRNA. The cDNA was synthesized to partially purified rat liver fatty acid synthetase mRNA. Double-stranded cDNA was then prepared and inserted into the PstI site of pBR322 using oligo(dG) X oligo(dC) tailing. Initial selection of the clones was by differential colony hybridization employing [32P]cDNA synthesized from poly(A)-rich mRNA, enriched and non-enriched in fatty acid synthetase mRNA, as probes. Plasmids, containing specific sequences complementary to the fatty acid synthetase mRNA, were identified by hybrid-arrest translation. Cloned cDNA inserts ranged from 300 to 1400 base pairs. Cloned cDNA was employed to probe for mRNA in hybridizations via the dot-blot method. These studies demonstrated an increase in fatty acid synthetase mRNA during dietary induction, which suggests that regulation may involve changes in transcription or changes in post-transcriptional processing of the mRNA.