Hecht, Ralph M.Tu, Shiao-Chun2024-01-052024-01-051988-08198820583730https://hdl.handle.net/10657/15804The differential expressions of the glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene family and their mRNA localizations in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans were studied. Two tandemly linked direct-repeat GAPDH genes, gpd- 2 and gpd-3 , were isolated and sequenced. Compared with the two identical previously cloned GAPDH genes gpd-1 and gpd-4, gpd-2 and gpd-3 have slightly different structures regarding the locations of introns and the encoded amino acids. Northern blot analysis of total RNAs isolated from worms at different developmental stages shows that gpd-1 and gpd-4 are coordinately expressed and their transcripts are enriched in embryos which are predominantly composed of non-muscle cells. gpd-2 and gpd-3 are also coordinately transcribed, but show greater post-embryonic expression. Results of in situ hybridization with biotinylated asymmetrical DNA probes indicate that gpd-1 and gpd-4 mRNAs are present in all cells in small amounts. In contrast, gpd-2 and gpd-3 mRNAs are specifically localized within the actin-containing zones of body-wall muscle cells. These results suggest that gpd-1 and gpd-4 encode for the embryo-enriched minor isoenzyme GAPDH-I, while gpd-2 and gpd-3 encode for the body-wall muscle specific isoenzyme GAPDH-2. In addition, the actin genes act-1 and act-3 were shown to encode body-wall specific mRNAs that were also localized to the thin myofilaments.application/pdfenThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.Caenorhabditis elegans--PhysiologyNematodes--GeneticsDehydrogenasesThesisreformatted digital