Structure and expression of the chicken beta nerve growth factor gene (original) (raw)
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Structure and expression of the chicken β Nerve Growth Factor gene
The EMBO Journal
The 3' exon of the chicken ,3 nerve growth factor (NGF) gene was isolated by the use of a murine cDNA probe. DNA sequence analysis of the clone suggests a mature chicken NGF protein of 118 amino acids, showing-85% homology to mouse and human NGF. In addition to this conservation of the mature NGF, parts of the propeptide and the untranslated 3' end of the NGF gene are also highly homolgous in chicken, human and mouse. Therefore, these sequences probably subserve important functions. Expression of NGF mRNA in various chicken tissues was examined by RNA blot analysis with a chicken NGF probe. A single mRNA of 1.3 kb was detected at high levels in heart and brain of 10-week-old roosters, and, at lower levels in spleen, liver and skeletal muscle. These data suggest a correlation between NGF expression and the density of sympathetic innervation in peripheral organs, in analogy with rmdings for mammalian tissues. In the adult avian brian, NGF mRNA is found at higher concentration in the optic tectum and cerebellum than in the cortex and hippocampus. This pattern of NGF expression differs from that previously described for the rat brain. During late stages of development (day 18), NGF mRNA was expressed both in heart and brain of embryos but at lower levels than in the adult.
Detection of nerve growth factor mRNA in the developing chicken embryo
Development (Cambridge, England), 1988
Nerve growth factor (beta NGF) is a protein supporting sympathetic and sensory innervation in the peripheral tissues as well as cholinergic innervation in the brain. A DNA probe derived from a genomic clone coding for chicken NGF was used to study NGF mRNA levels during development. NGF mRNA was detected in the chicken embryo as early as day 3.5 of incubation. The level of NGF mRNA in total embryo increased four-fold until day 8, remained high until day 12, and subsequently decreased. No corresponding peak in NGF mRNA expression was found in heart and brain measured separately. Instead these organs showed increased NGF mRNA levels after hatching. The highest levels of NGF mRNA in the day-8 embryo were found in skin and eye (in particular cornea, but also iris, sclera-choroid and neural retina) suggesting a correlation between sensory innervation and this early peak of NGF expression.
Developmental and regional expression of β-nerve growth factor receptor mRNA in the chick and rat
Neuron, 1988
The presence of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA and protein in the rat central nervous system is documented. Blot-hybridization analysis showed an abundance of NGF mRNA in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and olfactory bulb. Enzyme immunoassay confirmed significant levels of a NGF-like protein in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Bioassay of a NGF-like immunoaffinity-purified protein from these regions was physiologically indistinguishable from NGF. Immunohistochemistry revealed a widespread distribution of NGF-like reactivity in the adult brain, preferentially in fiber tracts. NGF mRNA accumulation began at birth, with adult levels reached 3 weeks postnatally. Enzyme immunoassay detected the presence of a NGF-like protein in the embryonic rat brain. Postnatally, the level of NGF-like protein reached a maximum at 3 weeks. Additionally, a distinct fetal form of NGF may exist.
Developmental expression of the chicken nerve growth factor receptor gene during brain morphogenesis
Developmental Brain Research, 1989
Neural development proceeds in an ordered fashion in which a variety of genetic and epigenetic factors exert an influence at well defined times. Using a cloned chicken genomic fragment for the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor, we have detected strong expression in chicken brain at early stages of embryonic development. Expression of the receptor gene was greatly diminished at birth. This pattern of NGF receptor mRNA level was observed in all cranial regions and was further correlated with the appearance and disappearance of cell surface receptors. The transient developmental expression of NGF receptors in chick brain and the requirement for receptors to mediate NGF's effects suggests that NGF may possess a broader range of actions during development of the nervous system.
Development (Cambridge, England), 1990
In situ hybridization with beta-nerve growth factor receptor (NGF-R) oligonucleotide probes was used to study NGF-R mRNA expression in early chicken embryos. Sections through the region of the visceral arches showed high levels of NGF-R mRNA in mesenchyme of the visceral arches, neural tube and myotomes. Labelling was also seen over E3 primordium of the trigeminal ganglion (V) and in the placodal thickening of the petrosal (IX) and nodose (X) ganglionic primordia. In the E5 embryo, all cranial sensory ganglia (V, VII, VIII, IX, X) expressed NGF-R mRNA although at varying levels with higher levels in the ganglia of the Vth, IXth and Xth cranial nerves than in ganglia of the VIIth and the VIIIth nerves. Within ganglia of the Vth, IXth and Xth cranial nerves, levels of NGF-R mRNA were higher in regions containing placode-derived neurons, than in regions with neural-crest-derived neurons. The placode-derived nodose ganglion (X) expressed NGF-R mRNA at all stages of development. In the E...
Expression of nerve growth factor during the development of nervous system in early chick embryo
Developmental Brain Research, 2002
In the chick gastrula, nerve growth factor (NGF) is localized to the endoblast mesoblast presumptive head ectoderm but not in the presumptive neuroectoblast. During early morphogenesis the dorsal body ectoderm presumptive neural crest cells exhibit strong NGF positive cell surface reaction. NGF appears to be a marker of cells participating in morphogenetic movements but not early neural differentiation. NGF is localized where neural folds fuse and cells die allowing detachment of the neural tube from head ectoderm as well as in dead cells in the neurocoele. NGF reactivity in cells lining the evaginated extremities of the optic vesicle the floor of the neural tube the splanchnopleure heart primordia the inner outer surfaces of somites is suggestive of the role of NGF in primitive organ shaping.
European Journal of Neuroscience, 1993
Degenerate primers from conserved regions in nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) were used in the polymerase chain reaction to isolate DNA fragments from the chicken BDNF and NT-3 genes. A genomic clone coding for chicken NT-3 was isolated and the structure of the chicken NT-3 mature protein was subsequently deduced from nucleotide sequence analysis of the isolated chicken NT-3 gene. Comparison of the chicken BDNF and NT-3 with the corresponding rat molecules showed that the avian molecules are very similar to their mammalian homologues. Northern blot analyses of messenger RNA (mRNA) from chicken embryos from embryonic day 3.5 (E3.5), E4.5, E8, E12 and E18 showed that expression of both BDNF and NT-3 mRNA peaked at E4.5 and decreased at later stages of development. Both probes revealed two transcripts; larger mRNAs of 4.5 kilobases (kb) for BDNF and 4.0 kb for NT-3 predominated over the smaller transcripts of 1.4 and 1.3 kb, respectively. The cellular localization of BDNF and NT-3 mRNA in the E4 and E6 embryos was studied by in situ hybridization. In the E4 embryo, labelling for BDNF was seen over cells in restricted parts of the epithelium of the otic vesicle. Analysis of adjacent sections for the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor mRNA showed that regions in the otic vesicle epithelium which labelled for BDNF mRNA also labelled for low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor mRNA. No labelling for NT-3 was detected in the otic vesicle. Labelling for BDNF mRNA was also found over mesenchyme dorsal to the wing bud, in the wing bud and in the splanchnopleural lining of the stomach. Labelling for NT-3 mRNA was found at E4 over the epidermis on the ventral side in the region of the branchial arches. The labelling extended up the maxillary processes to Rathke's pouch. The closely located infundibulum was weakly labelled for NT-3 mRNA. NT-3 mRNA was also detected in the mesenchyme surrounding the oesophagus and lung buds. The regional expression pattern is in agreement with the established role for BDNF and NT-3 as target-derived neurotrophic factors, but the results also suggest that BDNF may be an intrinsic factor important for the development of the inner ear. The results support the emerging view that neurotrophic factors can play a role in early differentiation of both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues.
Effects of nerve growth factor on autonomic neurons in the chick embryo: A stereological study
International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 1987
Quantitative effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the sympathetic, Remak and ciliary ganglia in chicken embryos were investigated. Purified mouse IBNGF was injected (80 p.g per day for three or four consecutive days) into the yolk sac at different stages (starting on days 6, 8, 10 and 13) of embryonic development. Ganglia were taken for fixation and embedding one day after the last NGF injection. The number of neurons belonging to the different size classes was determined by a computer aided stereological method based on unfolding of cell diameter frequencies. The volume of sympathetic ganglia was increased at all stages with a maximum of 8-fold occurring on day 10. The ganglion of Remak showed a 3-fold volume increase up to embryonic days 10 and 12. Ciliary ganglia did not exhibit any differences in volume or neuron size between the controls and the embryos injected with NGF. The number of neurons was increased in younger sympathetic and Remak ganglia in response to NGF, as was the recruitment of neurons to the larger size classes.