Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5907828 | Genomics | 2013 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
We have previously reported a molecular and cytogenetic characterization of three different 5S rDNA clusters in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and recently, demonstrated the presence of high heterogeneity in functional 5S rRNA. In this paper, we show some important distinctive data on 5S rRNA transcription for this organism. Using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, we demonstrate the existence of two classes of 5S rRNA, one which is embryo-specific and encoded by the smallest (700Â bp) cluster and the other which is expressed at every stage and encoded by longer clusters (900 and 950Â bp). We also demonstrate that the embryo-specific class of 5S rRNA is expressed in oocytes and embryonic stages and is silenced in adult tissue and that this phenomenon appears to be due exclusively to DNA methylation, as indicated by sensitivity to 5-azacytidine, unlike Xenopus where this mechanism is necessary but not sufficient to maintain the silenced status.
Keywords
Related Topics
Life Sciences
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Genetics
Authors
Daniele Bellavia, Eufrosina Dimarco, Flores Naselli, Fabio Caradonna,