Integrated genomic approaches implicate osteoglycin (Ogn) in the regulation of left ventricular mass.

Left ventricular mass (LVM) and cardiac gene expression are complex traits regulated by factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to the heart. To dissect the major determinants of LVM, we combined expression quantitative trait locus1 and quantitative trait transcript (QTT) analyses of the cardiac transcriptome in the rat. Using these methods and in vitro functional assays, we identified osteoglycin (Ogn) as a major candidate regulator of rat LVM, with increased Ogn protein expression associated with elevated LVM.

Detection and quantification of sulfated disaccharides from keratan sulfate and chondroitin/dermatan sulfate during chick corneal development by ESI-MS/MS.

Purpose: To identify and quantify changes in keratan sulfate (KS) and chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) sulfated disaccharides in the developing chick cornea using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS).

Methods: Cryostat sections of fresh nonfixed corneas were obtained from White Leghorn embryonic day (E)8 to E20 chicks, and from 4- and 70-week-old chickens. Tissue sections on glass slides were incubated with selected glycosidase enzymes.

Proteoglycan expression during transforming growth factor beta -induced keratocyte-myofibroblast transdifferentiation.

Keratocytes of the corneal stroma secrete a unique population of proteoglycan molecules considered essential for corneal transparency. In healing corneal wounds, keratocytes exhibit a myofibroblastic phenotype in response to transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), characterized by expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin. This study examined proteoglycan and collagen expression by keratocytes in vitro during the TGF-beta-induced keratocyte-myofibroblast transition.

Molecular cloning and relative tissue expression of decorin and lumican in embryonic quail cornea.

We have cloned and sequenced the cDNAs for quail cornea proteoglycan core proteins, decorin and lumican. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequences shows that two of five amino acid differences in the mature protein between quail and chick decorin, and two of three for lumican, are non-conservative. Ribonuclease protection assay of Day 16 embryonic quail tissues reveals that decorin and lumican are most highly expressed in cornea, and that both are also highly expressed at approximately equal levels in most other tissues.

Molecular cloning and relative tissue expression of keratocan and mimecan in embryonic quail cornea.

We have cloned and sequenced the cDNAs for quail cornea keratan sulfate proteoglycan core proteins, keratocan and mimecan. The deduced quail keratocan protein contains a single conservative amino acid difference from the chick sequence, whereas quail mimecan protein contains a 58 amino acid-long avian-unique sequence that shares no homology with mammalian mimecan. Ribonuclease protection assay of Day 16 embryonic quail tissues reveals that keratocan and lumican are expressed at highest levels in cornea, whereas mimecan mRNA is expressed at a much lower level.