Relationship between the levels of calbindin synthesis and calbindin mRNA in chick intestine. Quantitation of calbindin mRNA

An RNA-excess filter hybridization assay was established to measure the absolute amount of calbindin mRNA in chick tissues. The tissue with the highest level of mRNA is intestine, followed by kidney and cerebellum; the mRNA was not detected in liver and skin. Calbindin mRNA in intestine and kidney is vitamin D-dependent. The maximum concentration of calbindin and its mRNA found after dosing vitamin D-deficient chicks with dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) is less than 5% of that found with vitamin D dosing. Secondary 1,25-(OH)2D3 stimulation produced greatly increased amounts of both calbindin mRNA and the protein, at least reaching levels similar to those found after vitamin D dosing. In this last case, each mucosal cell contains about 2000 calbindin mRNA molecules which are translated at a rate sufficient to account for the levels of calbindin found. Calbindin mRNA is translated most rapidly in the very short time periods after its release into the cytoplasm. 1,25-(OH)2D3 has two effects on calbindin mRNA formation: first, to permit the expression of the calbindin gene and a second effect, of slower onset but more persistent, which increases either the rate of calbindin gene transcription or the stability of calbindin mRNA.