CHARACTERIZATION OF CDXA GENE ALONG SMALL INTESTINES OF TAENIOPYGIA GUTTATA

TAVERNELLI, L; FERNÁNDEZ MARINONE G.; GATICA SOSA CP; CHEDIACK, JG; KARASOV, WH; CAVIEDES-VIDAL E

San Luis

Congreso; Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2012

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

CdxA is a transcriptional factor specifically expressed in the small intestine. It is considered to play a pivotal role in intestinal differentiation and maturation by regulating specific genes. Gene expression of this factor has not been characterized in passerine birds, such as zebra finches.  Therefore, the goal of this study is to characterize CdxA mRNA in the intestine of granivorous zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Different pairs of primers were designed and tested for CdxA gene, based on the most conserved regions among RNA sequences of related species. Intestinal tissue samples were extracted from zebra finches following surgical procedures. The intestines were divided into three portions: proximal, medial and distal. Total RNA was obtained using Trizol reagent and integrity was evaluated by agarose gels 1%, stained with Gel Red. DNAseI treatment was performed to avoid genomic DNA contamination. Reverse transcription reactions were performed using MMVL from 10 µg of total RNA. Dilutions of cDNA were tested to carry out PCRs. Levels of mRNA were semi-quantified from agarose gels (2%) with β-actin as reference gene using an appropriate software. CdxA gene is expressed along the entire small intestine of T. guttata. Supported by NSF 1025886 to ECV&WHK, by UNSL CyT 9502 and PIP N°0998 CONICET and CyT-UNSL 0110 to JGC.