title: Parvalbumin-immunoreactive proteins in the nervous system of planarians.
abstract: 1. Using immunological methods, we have identified parvalbumin-like material in the triclade flatworms, Polycelis nigra, Polycelis auriculata, Crenobia alpina, Dugesia tahitiensis, and Dugesia polychroa. 2. Western immunoblot analysis of these five species revealed heat stable parvalbumin-immunoreactive proteins between 32 kD and 44 kD. 3. Proteins at 19 and 32 kD revealed intense labeling with 45Ca2+. 4. Double immunodiffusion of planarian supernatants showed complete fusion of precipitates, indicating immunological relatedness of the parvalbumin-like material among the species investigated. 5. Immunocytochemical studies exhibit parvalbumin-immunoreactive material exclusively in neurons supporting the notion of an early evolutionary appearance of these proteins in the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal-Physiology, University of Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hutticher
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kerschbaum
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kainz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009420:Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D010932:Planarians / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D010320:Parvalbumins