engleski

Tumor-specific nucleolar protein P120 is involved in embryo development

Proliferation-associated nucleolar protein P120 is one of the major antigens associated with malignant tumors. Its expression was not detectable in normal resting cells or in quiescent cells, but was detected in rapidly dividing cells. Using the gene trap strategy in order to analyse developmentally important genes we obtained an ES cell line with the gene trap insertion within the mouse P120 gene, and subsequently generated a mouse carrying this genetical change. The analysis of expression pattern done according to the activity of lacZ fused to P120 protein showed its expression in undifferentiated ES cells. Within the cell the lacZ staining was very strong in the nucleolus, but as well present in a lower extent in the nucleus and cytoplasm. The expression pattern analysis during embryo development showed that P120 expression is wide-spread within the embryo varying from ubiquitous to restricted to the scattered groups of cells all around the embryo. We could not detect any expression in the adult mouse. The intercrosses between heterozygous animals gave no homozyogus offspring, so we presume that the loss of P120 is embryonic lethal.

nucleolus; gene trap; P120; embryo; mouse

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