Developmental changes of the content of acetyl-CoA carboxylase mRNA in chicken liver

Utilizing RNA blot hybridization and immunoblotting techniques, the changes of the hepatic contents of acetyl-CoA carboxylase mRNA and of the enzyme protein in growing chicks have been investigated. In the post-hatching period, the hepatic mRNA level markedly increased at least 70-fold when compared to that before hatching. This increase was not observed in chicks receiving no diet. These changes were closely paralleled with the rise of the hepatic content of acetyl-CoA carboxylase protein in chicks up to 10 days old. Neither the acetyl-CoA carboxylase mRNA level nor the enzyme quantity significantly changed in heart. It is concluded from these results that the developmental regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the post-hatching period of chicks is tissue specific and occurs primarily at a pretranslational step. The content of acetyl-CoA carboxylase mRNA in adult chicken liver was low, which is comparable to those in embryos at 3 days before hatching and chicks at hatching day. Although acetyl-CoA carboxylase mRNA was detected in adult chicken brain, heart, lung, kidney, uropygial gland, spleen, testis, and chest muscle as well as liver, the mRNA level in these tissues was much lower than that in liver of growing chicks.