Biomaterial Database

Differential expression of alpha- and beta-globin genes during differentiation of cultured erythroleukemic cells. 1975

S H Orkin, and D Swan, and P Leder

Murine erythroleukemic cells induced to differentiate in vitro with dimethylsulfoxide provide a model for events involved in the regulated expression of the globin genes. Here we examine alpha- and beta-globin gene expression in such cells which contain no detectable globin RNA prior to induction. To quantitate alpha- and beta-globin RNAs in cellular RNA samples by molecular hybridization techniques, highly radioactive complementary DNAs were synthesized using mouse alpha- and beta-globin RNAs purified by formamide gel electrophoresis. Maximally induced erythroleukemic cells and mouse reticulocytes contain nearly equal relative amounts of alpha- and beta-globin RNA. During the period in which globin RNA accumulates in differentiating erythroleukemic cells, however, alpha- and beta-globin RNAs are not present in equivalent amounts. alphaRNA is present in substantial excess (alpha/beta ratio 3.7) early in induction, and the alpha/beta RNA ratio progressively approaches 1 as differentiation proceeds further. These observations directly suggest that the alpha- and beta-globin genes are differentially expressed during cellular differentiation and raise questions as to how relative expression of globin genes is controlled during normal development.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008807	Mice, Inbred BALB C	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research.	BALB C Mice, Inbred,BALB C Mouse, Inbred,Inbred BALB C Mice,Inbred BALB C Mouse,Mice, BALB C,Mouse, BALB C,Mouse, Inbred BALB C,BALB C Mice,BALB C Mouse
D009691	Nucleic Acid Denaturation	Disruption of the secondary structure of nucleic acids by heat, extreme pH or chemical treatment. Double strand DNA is "melted" by dissociation of the non-covalent hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Denatured DNA appears to be a single-stranded flexible structure. The effects of denaturation on RNA are similar though less pronounced and largely reversible.	DNA Denaturation,DNA Melting,RNA Denaturation,Acid Denaturation, Nucleic,Denaturation, DNA,Denaturation, Nucleic Acid,Denaturation, RNA,Nucleic Acid Denaturations
D009693	Nucleic Acid Hybridization	Widely used technique which exploits the ability of complementary sequences in single-stranded DNAs or RNAs to pair with each other to form a double helix. Hybridization can take place between two complimentary DNA sequences, between a single-stranded DNA and a complementary RNA, or between two RNA sequences. The technique is used to detect and isolate specific sequences, measure homology, or define other characteristics of one or both strands. (Kendrew, Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, 1994, p503)	Genomic Hybridization,Acid Hybridization, Nucleic,Acid Hybridizations, Nucleic,Genomic Hybridizations,Hybridization, Genomic,Hybridization, Nucleic Acid,Hybridizations, Genomic,Hybridizations, Nucleic Acid,Nucleic Acid Hybridizations
D010944	Plants	Multicellular, eukaryotic life forms of kingdom Plantae. Plants acquired chloroplasts by direct endosymbiosis of CYANOBACTERIA. They are characterized by a mainly photosynthetic mode of nutrition; essentially unlimited growth at localized regions of cell divisions (MERISTEMS); cellulose within cells providing rigidity; the absence of organs of locomotion; absence of nervous and sensory systems; and an alternation of haploid and diploid generations. It is a non-taxonomical term most often referring to LAND PLANTS. In broad sense it includes RHODOPHYTA and GLAUCOPHYTA along with VIRIDIPLANTAE.	Plant
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D004121	Dimethyl Sulfoxide	A highly polar organic liquid, that is used widely as a chemical solvent. Because of its ability to penetrate biological membranes, it is used as a vehicle for topical application of pharmaceuticals. It is also used to protect tissue during CRYOPRESERVATION. Dimethyl sulfoxide shows a range of pharmacological activity including analgesia and anti-inflammation.	DMSO,Dimethyl Sulphoxide,Dimethylsulfoxide,Dimethylsulphinyl,Dimethylsulphoxide,Dimexide,Rheumabene,Rimso,Rimso 100,Rimso-50,Sclerosol,Sulfinylbis(methane),Rimso 50,Rimso50,Sulfoxide, Dimethyl,Sulphoxide, Dimethyl
D005914	Globins	A superfamily of proteins containing the globin fold which is composed of 6-8 alpha helices arranged in a characterstic HEME enclosing structure.	Globin
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia