| Abstrakt: |
The Ped(preimplantation embryonic development) gene influences the rate of mouse preimplantation embryonic development and subsequent survival. Four similar tandem genes in the Q region of the major histocompatibility complex—Q6, Q7, Q8, and Q9—were identified as Pedgene candidates. In this study, expression of these genes during preimplantation development was examined and quantitated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and single nucleotide primer extension assays in order to investigate their contribution to the Pedgene phenotype. The Q7/Q9gene pair was found to be transcribed in preimplantation mouse embryos, whereas transcription of the Q6/Q8gene pair was undetectable. Both Q7and Q9are expressed in embryos from one Ped faststrain, C57BL/6, while only the Q9gene is expressed in another Ped faststrain, B6.K2. These results suggest that both the Q7and Q9genes can function as the Pedgene in the mouse. Interestingly, the expression pattern of the Q7and Q9genes in preimplantation embryos is the same as in splenic lymphocytes. However, the Q6and Q8genes are expressed in splenic lymphocytes but not in preimplantation embryos. Treatment of mouse preimplantation embryos with interferon gamma (γ-IFN) did not induce expression of the Q6/Q8genes but enhanced expression of the Q7/Q9genes. The mechanism of this differential transcription pattern is currently under investigation. |
