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Transcription of cloned Xenopus ribosomal genes visualised after injection into oocyte nuclei

Nature volume 276, pages 292–294 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

DNA CLONING and the direct visualisation of chromatin transcription by electron microscopy provide useful details of the structure and function of genes, but the value of these techniques would be even greater if they could be applied to the same genes or segments of DNA. Our previous work1 on amplified ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of the water beetle Dytiscus showed that rDNA injected into oocytes is correctly transcribed. Gradients of growing rRNA fibrils could be unambiguously recognised as correct transcription when compared to the characteristic transcription pattern observed in the original cell type. We have now extended the usefulness of this technique to recombinant DNA, choosing as an example of a cloned vertebrate gene a single rDNA repeat of Xenopus laevis contained in plasmid DNA. The results show that this gene may be transcribed with remarkable fidelity in injected oocytes, and that untranscribed genes are converted into a characteristic chromatin structure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University Medical School, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK

    M. F. TRENDELENBURG & J. B. GURDON

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  1. M. F. TRENDELENBURG
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  2. J. B. GURDON
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TRENDELENBURG, M., GURDON, J. Transcription of cloned Xenopus ribosomal genes visualised after injection into oocyte nuclei. Nature 276, 292–294 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/276292a0

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