Colonic expression of c-myb is initiated in utero and continues throughout adult life

Abstract

c-myb expression is an indicator of hemopoietic cell proliferation and its down-regulation occurs as an early event in cellular differentiation in vitro. We have previously demonstrated c-Myb protein expression in normal adult colon and tumor-derived colonic cell lines and have also shown that the proliferation of colon carcinoma cell lines is c-myb dependent. This study used the techniques of RNase protection and immunohistochemistry to define c- myb mRNA and protein expression in the normal adult mouse and mouse embryos, with special focus on the colon. These experiments revealed wide-spread c- myb mRNA expression in mouse embryos including nonhemopoietic tissues, and developmental time co..