title: Appearance and fate of a beta-galactanase, alpha, beta-galactosidases, heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate degrading enzymes during embryonic development of the mollusc Pomacea sp.
abstract: The characterization and properties of a beta-galactanase and alpha- and beta-galactosidases as well as heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate degrading enzymes which appear during the 15 days of the embryonic development of the mollusc Pomacea sp. is reported. The beta-galactanase, which appears around day 7 of development, was separated from alpha- and beta-galactosidase which emerge at day 1 and 4 after oviposition, respectively. The galactanase seems to be responsible for the degradation of an acidic beta-galactan (which is also synthesized by the eggs around day 5) to galactose and di- and tri-galactosides. Heparan sulfate appears around day 10 of development together with a heparan sulfate endoglucuronidase responsible for the degradation of its N-acetylated region. An alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase and a beta-glucuronidase which act upon the N-acetylated fragments formed from heparan sulfate emerge around day 4 of development. Chondroitin sulfate and a chondroitin sulfate sulfatase emerge around day 9 of development whereas a beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase and the beta beta-galactan, heparan and chondroitin sulfate, respectively. The possible role of these elements in the migration of mesenchymal cells, in the processes of cell-cell recognition and control of cell growth is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Chavante
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Nader
mesh_terms: D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005685:Galactans / Q000378:metabolism; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D012908:Snails / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D005685:Galactans; D005966:Glucuronidase; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; C089138:beta-galactanase