Maximal possible rate of gene expression for any given gene

Value 660 mRNA/hour/cell
Organism Sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Reference Howard-Ashby M, Materna SC, Brown CT, Chen L, Cameron RA, Davidson EH. Identification and characterization of homeobox transcription factor genes in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, and their expression in embryonic development. Dev Biol. 2006 Dec 1 300(1):74-89 p. 82 right column 1st paragraphPubMed ID17055477
Primary Source Davidson, E.H., 1986. Gene Activity in Early Development. Academic Press, Inc., Orlando.
Method QPCR was used to determine the expression profile of each identified transcription factor from unfertilized egg to 48 h. mRNA was isolated from egg, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 h embryos with the Sigma GenElute Mammalian Total RNA Miniprep Kit, per the manufacturers instructions.
Comments Even if only 10 cells were expressing the gene per embryo, all of these rates are far below the maximal possible rate of gene expression. This is about 660 molecules/h per cell for any given gene, assuming that both genomic copies are active (primary source). As observed earlier, low rates of expression are typical for genes encoding transcription factors (Bolouri and Davidson, 2003 PMID 12883007).
Entered by Uri M
ID 105631