Identification of differentially expressed genes induced in pancreatic islet neogenesis.

Cellophane wrapping of the hamster pancreas induces islet neogenesis. We have used the mRNA differential display technique to select for genes expressed during islet neogenesis but not in control pancreata. Ten candidate clones have been identified. Upon sequencing, 6 clones showed a high degree of homology to known genes, 1 showed some, and 3 showed no homology to genes of known sequence. Thus, mRNA differential display is a useful technique to identify genes induced during islet neogenesis, and in combination with screening hamster pancreatic cDNA libraries for full length clones, will enhance the likelihood of capturing the participants in this process.