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Cell cycle dependent expression of Plk1 in synchronized porcine fetal fibroblasts
Author(s) -
Anger Martin,
Kues Wilfried A.,
Klima Jiri,
Mielenz Manfred,
Kubelka Michal,
Motlik Jan,
Esner Milan,
Dvorak Petr,
Carnwath Joseph W.,
Niemann Heiner
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.10289
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , polo like kinase , mitosis , cell cycle , plk1 , messenger rna , complementary dna , somatic cell , kinase , cell , gene , biochemistry
Enzymes of the Polo‐like kinase (Plk) family are active in the pathways controlling mitosis in several species. We have cloned cDNA fragments of the porcine homologues of Plk1, Plk2, and Plk3 employing fetal fibroblasts as source. All three partial cDNAs showed high sequence homology with their mouse and human counterparts and contained the Polo box, a domain characteristic for all Polo kinases. The expression levels of Plk1 mRNA at various points of the cell cycle in synchronized porcine fetal fibroblasts were analyzed by both RT‐PCR and the ribonuclease protection assay. Plk1 mRNA was barely detectable in G0 and G1, increased during S phase and peaked after the G2/M transition. A monoclonal antibody was generated against an in vitro expressed porcine Plk1‐protein fragment and used to detect changes in Plk1 expression at the protein level. Plk1 protein was first detected by immunoblotting at the beginning of S phase and was highest after the G2/M transition. In summary, the Plk1 expression pattern in the pig is similar to that reported for other species. The absence of Plk1 mRNA and protein appears to be a good marker for G0/G1 and thus for the selection of donor cells for nuclear transfer based somatic cloning. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 65: 245–253, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.