Abstract
Purpose::
Frs2 is a molecular scaffolding protein that has been shown to mediate signals from activated Fgf receptors (Fgfrs). Fgfr signaling plays an essential role in mammalian lens development. The purpose of these studies was to determine if Frs2 is present in the normal mouse lens.
Methods::
Total RNA was isolated from adult mouse lenses. RNA was converted to cDNA using reverse transcriptase. Resultant cDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific to three different regions of the mouse Frs2 alpha gene sequence. All of these primer sets were designed to cross introns present in the murine Frs2 alpha genomic DNA. Negative controls included RNA samples that were not reverse transcribed. cDNA quality was assessed by amplification of the ubiquitously expressed Hprt1 gene.
Results::
All three primer sets amplified DNA bands consistent with the size expected from correctly spliced Frs2 alpha transcripts. No amplification products were detected using RNA samples that had not been reverse transcribed.
Conclusions::
The adult murine lens expresses transcripts encoding the Frs2 alpha protein.
Keywords: growth factors/growth factor receptors • signal transduction • genetics