Genetic Differences in the Duration of the Lymphocyte Heat Shock Response in Mice

• Published in: Genetics (Austin) Vol. 124; no. 4; pp. 949 - 955
• Main Authors: Mohl, V. K, Bennett, G. D, Finnell, R. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Genetics Soc America 01.04.1990; Genetics Society of America
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Densitometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Heat-Shock Proteins - biosynthesis; Hot Temperature; Investigations; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred DBA; Mice, Inbred Strains; Time Factors; Vertebrata; Gel electrophoresis; Induction; Rodentia; Inheritance; Autoradiography; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Protein synthesis; F1 hybrid; Heat shock protein; Densitometry; Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0016-6731; 1943-2631; 1943-2631
• DOI: 10.1093/genetics/124.4.949

Lymphocytes from adult mice bearing a known difference in genetic susceptibility to teratogen-induced exencephaly (SWV/SD, and DBA/2J) were evaluated for changes in protein synthesis following an in vivo heat treatment. Particular attention was paid to changes indicative of the heat shock response, a highly conserved response to environmental insult consisting of induction of a few, highly conserved proteins with simultaneous decreases in normal protein synthesis. The duration of heat shock protein induction in lymphocytes was found to be increased by 1 hr in the teratogen-sensitive SWV/SD strain as compared to the resistant DBA/2J strain. Densitometric analysis revealed a significant decrease in the relative synthesis of at least two non-heat shock proteins (36 kD and 45 kD) in the SWV/SD lymphocytes as compared to DBA/2J cells. The increased sensitivity of protein synthesis to hyperthermia in the SWV/SD lymphocytes were lost in the F1 progeny of reciprocal crosses between SWV/SD and DBA/2J mouse strains. Sensitivity to hyperthermia-induced exencephaly is recessive to resistance in these crosses. The relationship between altered protein synthesis and teratogen susceptibility is discussed.