The pattern of expression of the """"""""early"""""""" histone genes during development of sea urchin embryos is characterized by a high level of transcription from the 16 to 200 cell stage, followed by diminishing transcription, mRNA turnover and cessation of expression after the 500 cell mesenchyme blastula stage. The regulation of changes in expression of these histone genes, and the description of expression of some non-histone chromatin protein genes, is the focal point of the proposed research. The influence of cytoplasm on gene expression will be studied by fusion of embryo blastomeres that display different modes of histone gene expression, and the level of transcription and persistence of cytoplasmic mRNA will be studied in the resultant heterokaryons by nucleic acid hybridization, in situ. The influence of altering the nueclear DNA/cytoplasmic rations by polyspermy and various inhibitors on the establishment of high mRNA synthesis rates will be studied. The cessation of early histone mRNA synthesis in embryos in which cell division and DNA synthesis have been inhibited will also be studied. The run-off transcription of histone genes will be studied in order to clarify the nature of the polymerase II-gene interaction at different stages of development. Some non-histone chromatin proteins are also synthesized at a high level during cleavage. Attempts will be made to isolate cDNA clones encoding some of these proteins, and the structure and expression of these sequences will be studied and compared to the histone genes. These studies should contribute to our understanding of how genes are turned on and off during normal and abnormal development.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD015043-06
Application #
3312936
Study Section
Molecular Biology Study Section (MBY)
Project Start
1981-09-01
Project End
1989-08-31
Budget Start
1986-09-01
Budget End
1987-08-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
094878337
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
Ingersoll, Eric P; McDonald, Kent L; Wilt, Fred H (2003) Ultrastructural localization of spicule matrix proteins in normal and metalloproteinase inhibitor-treated sea urchin primary mesenchyme cells. J Exp Zool A Comp Exp Biol 300:101-12
Urry, L A; Hamilton, P C; Killian, C E et al. (2000) Expression of spicule matrix proteins in the sea urchin embryo during normal and experimentally altered spiculogenesis. Dev Biol 225:201-13
Yamasu, K; Wilt, F H (1999) Functional organization of DNA elements regulating SM30alpha, a spicule matrix gene of sea urchin embryos. Dev Growth Differ 41:81-91
Wilt, F H (1999) Matrix and mineral in the sea urchin larval skeleton. J Struct Biol 126:216-26
Ingersoll, E P; Wilt, F H (1998) Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors disrupt spicule formation by primary mesenchyme cells in the sea urchin embryo. Dev Biol 196:95-106
Wilt, F H (1997) Looking into the sea urchin embryo you can see local cell interactions regulate morphogenesis. Bioessays 19:665-8
Lane, M C; Keller, R (1997) Microtubule disruption reveals that Spemann's organizer is subdivided into two domains by the vegetal alignment zone. Development 124:895-906
Killian, C E; Wilt, F H (1996) Characterization of the proteins comprising the integral matrix of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus embryonic spicules. J Biol Chem 271:9150-9
Frudakis, T N; Wilt, F (1995) Two cis elements collaborate to spatially repress transcription from a sea urchin promoter. Dev Biol 172:230-41
Akasaka, K; Frudakis, T N; Killian, C E et al. (1994) Genomic organization of a gene encoding the spicule matrix protein SM30 in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. J Biol Chem 269:20592-8

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