TY - JOUR
T1 - Mucin gene expression in the rat middle ear
T2 - An improved method for RNA harvest
AU - Lin, Jizhen
AU - Ho, Samuel
AU - Paparella, Michael M.
AU - Shekels, Laurie L
AU - Kim, Youngki
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Mucins are heavily glycosylated proteins characterized by high molecular weight and heterogeneous structure. Mucin genes are expressed in a tissue- or epithelium-specific manner. Although mucins are known to be important structural components of the mucociliary transport system that protects epithelium against invading microorganisms, very little is known about mucin gene expression unique to the middle ear. This study demonstrated that middle ear messenger RNA specifically hybridized with rat MUC2 and human MUC2 (SMUC- 41) complementary DNA probes. MUC3 and MUC5AC mucin genes, dominantly expressed in rodent intestine and trachea, were not detected in the rat middle ears in this study. The middle ear MUC2 messenger RNA harvested by lavage was characterized by a single transcript unlike its counterpart in intestine and airways, which is characterized by polydispersity suggestive of a better method for RNA analysis. It was concluded that rat middle ears possess a MUC2 mucin gene or homologue of human MUC2 (SMUC-41).
AB - Mucins are heavily glycosylated proteins characterized by high molecular weight and heterogeneous structure. Mucin genes are expressed in a tissue- or epithelium-specific manner. Although mucins are known to be important structural components of the mucociliary transport system that protects epithelium against invading microorganisms, very little is known about mucin gene expression unique to the middle ear. This study demonstrated that middle ear messenger RNA specifically hybridized with rat MUC2 and human MUC2 (SMUC- 41) complementary DNA probes. MUC3 and MUC5AC mucin genes, dominantly expressed in rodent intestine and trachea, were not detected in the rat middle ears in this study. The middle ear MUC2 messenger RNA harvested by lavage was characterized by a single transcript unlike its counterpart in intestine and airways, which is characterized by polydispersity suggestive of a better method for RNA analysis. It was concluded that rat middle ears possess a MUC2 mucin gene or homologue of human MUC2 (SMUC-41).
KW - MUC2 mucin gene
KW - Middle ear epithelial cells
KW - Sprague-dawley rats
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U2 - 10.1177/000348949910800809
DO - 10.1177/000348949910800809
M3 - Article
C2 - 10453784
AN - SCOPUS:0032800819
SN - 0003-4894
VL - 108
SP - 762
EP - 768
JO - Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
JF - Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
IS - 8
ER -