Differential expression of nuclear lamin proteins during chicken development

• Published in: The Journal of cell biology 1987-07, Vol.105 (1), p.577-587
• Main Authors: Lehner, C.F, Stick, R, Eppenberger, H.M, Nigg, E.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ANIMAL PROTEIN; Animals; Antibodies; Biological and medical sciences; Cell differentiation, maturation, development, hematopoiesis; Cell physiology; Cells; Cells, Cultured; Chick Embryo - metabolism; CHICKENS; DESARROLLO EMBRIONARIO; DEVELOPPEMENT EMBRYONNAIRE; Embryonic and Fetal Development; EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT; Embryos; Erythrocytes; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation; Germ cells; Hepatocytes; Immunoelectrophoresis; Lamin Type A; Lamin Type B; Lamins; Liver; Male; Meiosis; Molecular and cellular biology; Neurons; Nuclear lamina; Nucleoproteins - biosynthesis; Nucleoproteins - genetics; Oocytes - metabolism; POLLO; POULET; PROTEINAS DE ORIGEN ANIMAL; PROTEINE ANIMALE; Spermatocytes - metabolism; Xenopus laevis - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-9525; 1540-8140
• DOI: 10.1083/jcb.105.1.577

By immunocytochemistry, quantitative immunoblotting, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we have analyzed the distribution of nuclear lamin proteins during chicken embryonic development. Whereas no qualitative differences in the patterns of expression of lamins A, B1, and B2were observed during gametogenesis in either the female or the male germ line, profound changes in the composition of the nuclear lamina occurred during the development of somatic tissues. Most unexpectedly, early chicken embryos were found to contain little if any lamin A, although they contained substantial amounts of lamins B1and B2. During embryonic development, lamin A became increasingly prominent, whereas the amounts of lamin B1decreased in many tissues. Interestingly, the extent and the developmental timing of these changes displayed pronounced tissue-specific variations. Lamin B2was expressed in fairly constant amounts in all cell types investigated (except for pachytene-stage germ cells). These results have implications for the purported functional specializations of individual lamin proteins. In addition, they suggest that alterations in the composition of the nuclear lamina may be important for the establishment of cell- or tissue-specific differences in nuclear architecture.