title: Mouse cathepsin K: cDNA cloning and predominant expression of the gene in osteoclasts, and in some hypertrophying chondrocytes during mouse development.
abstract: We have constructed cDNA clones covering the entire coding region of mouse, human and rabbit preprocathepsin K mRNA for studies on bone turnover. The clone pMCatK-1 for mouse cathepsin K shares 87% nucleotide homology with the corresponding human and rabbit sequences. Analysis of a panel of mouse tissues for tissue distribution of cathepsin K mRNA revealed the highest levels in musculoskeletal tissues: bone, cartilage and skeletal muscle. In situ hybridization of developing mouse embryos was performed to identify the cellular source of cathepsin K mRNA. The strongest mRNA signal was detected in osteoclasts of bone, identified in serial sections by positive TRAP staining. Cathepsin K mRNA was also observed in some hypertrophic chondrocytes of growth cartilages. Association of cathepsin K production with degradation of bone and cartilage matrix suggests that this enzyme and its mRNA levels could serve as markers for matrix degradation in diseases affecting these tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Turky, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rantakokko
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Aro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savontaus
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vuorio
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001846:Bone Development; D002356:Cartilage / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D056657:Cathepsin K; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004396:Coloring Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000201:enzymology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011817:Rabbits; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002403:Cathepsins; C534130:CTSK protein, human; D056657:Cathepsin K; C534132:Ctsk protein, mouse