IRON METABOLISM-RELATED GENES AND MITOCHONDRIAL GENES ARE INDUCED DURING INVOLUTION OF MOUSE MAMMARY-GLAND

To understand molecular mechanisms of mammary gland involution, severa l clones were isolated after the primary differential screening of a t otal 40,000 pfu of involution-specific cDNA library, and further chara cterized. The partial sequences and Northern analysis revealed that ir on metalbolism-related genes and mitochondrial genes were induced duri ng mammary gland involution. The expression of the lactoferrin gene wa s induced at involution days 1, 2, and 3. The expression of ferritin h eavy chain gene was induced at involution days 1, 2, 3 and 3. Cytochro me oxidase subunit 1 and cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 genes were induc ed at involution days 4 and 7. The expression of cytochrome b gene was induced at involution day 7. These results imply that iron metabolism and mitochondrial function may be altered during mammary gland involu tion. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.