Confocal imaging of gene expression during hamster submandibular gland biogenesis.

The data presented here provide evidence that the abundance of the ALG7 protein product, GPT, correlates with high proliferative activity during the postnatal development of the hamster SMG development, and that it becomes downregulated with differentiation. Based on our previous studies with yeast, changes in the level of ALG7 expression may be necessary for the events directing salivary cell polarization, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis at distinct developmental stages.