Expression patterns of Doppel gene in golden hamster: Quantification using real-time RT-PCR

Doppel (prion-like protein, Dpl) may act as a useful molecular marker in tumor diagnosis and in tumor grade definition, as over-expression of Dpl protein has been found in tumors with different histologic origin. Accordingly, the quantitative analysis of the expression of Dpl in different tissues is essential for understanding its role in tumor progression and cancer diagnostic. Herein we report Dpl mRNA quantification in golden hamster by calibrated highly sensitive externally standardized real-time RT-PCR with LightCycler instrument. Total RNA was isolated from nine different organs of golden hamster in different stages of development: from neonatal to adult golden hamster. Highest level of Dpl mRNA was detected in the testis, and lower levels of Dpl mRNA were detected in the following tissues: spleen, heart, bone marrow, skeletal muscles and neocortex (only in neonatal hamster). The expression of Dpl was not detected in kidney, liver and lung. This is the first study to report the expression of Dpl in bone marrow of murine and the difference of expression levels of Dpl in testis between adult and neonatal hamsters.