FIGURE 2.

AgSF1 and AgSF2 mRNA are expressed in elevated amounts in the aggregate gland. Real time quantitative PCR was used to determine the expression pattern of AgSF1 and AgSF2 in a variety of different silk producing glands: A, AgSF1; B, AgSF2. Total RNA was isolated from the major ampullate gland (MA), minor ampullate gland (MI), tubuliform (TB), flagelliform (FL), aciniform (AC), and the aggregate gland (AG). For AgSF1 studies, the pyriform (PY) and fat (FT) were also included. Equivalent amounts of total RNA were reverse-transcribed using SuperScript® III and aliquots used for real time quantitative PCR. Samples were analyzed in triplicates and normalized internally using the black widow actin mRNA. Data are representative of experimental results obtained from at least two independent trials.