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Structure of the mouse osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) gene and its expression in embryogenesis
A Mizuno1, A Murakami, N Nakagawa
1Research Institute of Life Science, Snow Brand Milk Products, Co. Ltd., 519, Ishibashi-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 329-0512, Japan.
Abstract:
Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) is a novel soluble-form member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and is involved in the regulation of bone mass. Here we isolated genomic and cDNA clones for mouse OCIF and determined their structures. Mouse OCIF gene spans 29 kb and contains five exons of 270, 367, 192, 225 and 1765 bp long. Four cysteine-rich domains and two death domain homologous regions characterized in human OCIF are rigidly conserved in mouse OCIF. The onset of OCIF gene expression in mouse embryogenesis is at day 8.5. In a pregnant female mouse, OCIF gene is expressed in decidua, a maternal tissue surrounding each embryo, immediately after implantation. The isolation of mouse OCIF gene should facilitate studies on OCIF knock-out mice for a better understanding of the role of OCIF in vivo.
Insights
Researchers isolated the mouse osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) gene, revealing conserved structures and early embryonic expression. This discovery aids in understanding OCIF
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) is a soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor family member.
- OCIF plays a role in regulating bone mass.
- Understanding OCIF's structure and expression is crucial for bone metabolism research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize the genomic and cDNA clones of mouse OCIF.
- To determine the structural features and gene organization of mouse OCIF.
- To investigate the expression pattern of the OCIF gene during mouse embryogenesis and pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of genomic and cDNA clones for mouse OCIF.
- Determination of gene structure, including exon lengths and overall size.
- Analysis of conserved domains (cysteine-rich and death domain homologous regions).
- Study of OCIF gene expression during mouse embryogenesis (onset at day 8.5) and in pregnant females (decidua).
Main Results:
- The mouse OCIF gene spans 29 kb and comprises five exons.
- Key structural domains (four cysteine-rich, two death domain homologous regions) are conserved between mouse and human OCIF.
- OCIF gene expression begins at embryonic day 8.5 and is detected in the decidua of pregnant mice post-implantation.
Conclusions:
- The structural and expression data provide a foundation for further OCIF research.
- Isolation of the mouse OCIF gene facilitates the creation of OCIF knock-out models.
- These models will enhance the understanding of OCIF's in vivo functions, particularly in bone mass regulation and pregnancy.