Differential calmodulin gene expression in fetal, adult, and neoplastic tissues of rodents.

Differential expression during rat development of three genes for calmodulin (CaM I-III) was examined in amnion, decidua, embryo, liver, placenta, parietal and visceral yolk sacs and uterus. CaMI expression was constant except for increasing activity in VYS during gestation. CaMII expression increased in all tissues except for a decrease in embryo. CaMIII did not change dramatically. Differential expression was also found in chemically or virally induced rat tumors, and in metastatic lung nodules of mouse mammary carcinoma. CaMII was the major gene expressed in all these neoplastic tissues.