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RhoA is highly up-regulated in the process of early heart development of the chick and important for normal embryogenesis

  1. Mari Kaarbø,
  2. Denis I. Crane,
  3. Wayne G. Murrell*

Article first published online: 20 MAR 2003

DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.10283

Issue

Developmental Dynamics

Developmental Dynamics

Volume 227, Issue 1, pages 35–47, May 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kaarbø, M., Crane, D. I. and Murrell, W. G. (2003), RhoA is highly up-regulated in the process of early heart development of the chick and important for normal embryogenesis. Developmental Dynamics, 227: 35–47. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.10283

Author Information

  1. School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia

*School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 APR 2003
  2. Article first published online: 20 MAR 2003
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 16 JAN 2003
  4. Manuscript Received: 13 DEC 2002

Funded by

  • National Heart Foundation of Australia
  • Rotary Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Griffith University

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Keywords:

  • heart development;
  • tissue differentiation;
  • differential display;
  • chick;
  • cDNA;
  • cRhoA;
  • siRNA

Abstract

We have used molecular techniques, combined with classic embryological methods, to identify up-regulated genes associated with early heart development. One of the cDNAs identified and isolated by screening a chick lambda cDNA library was the small guanosine triphosphatase RhoA. RhoA has at least three different length mRNA species, each varying in the length of the 3′ untranslated region. In situ hybridisation and immunocytochemistry analysis of RhoA expression show marked up-regulation in the heart-forming region. In other systems, RhoA signalling has been shown to be important for both gene expression and morphology. To investigate the function of RhoA in early heart development, we used small interfering RNAs (siRNA) in early chick embryos. Disruption of RhoA expression by siRNA treatment resulted in lack of heart tube fusion and abnormal head development. These data indicate that RhoA is important for normal embryogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 227:35–47, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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