title: Differential distribution of the mitochondrial heat-shock protein 60 in rat gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: Immunohistochemical studies on various parts of the rat gastrointestinal tract by means of an antibody against the mitochondrial chaperonin, heat-shock protein 60 (hsp60), has revealed a cell-specific distribution pattern. The active form of hsp60 is a heptameric complex that is involved in the import and refolding of nuclear-encoded proteins destined for the mitochondrial matrix. This chaperonin is detectable in highly replicating cells, e. g., keratinizing cells of the esophagus and short-living epithelial cells of the intestine. In the stomach, some of the oxyntic cells contain hsp60-positive mitochondria lying near intracellular canaliculi. Neuronal cells of the enteric nervous system present intense positive staining for hsp60 in some areas. All other non-epithelial cells of the digestive tract show weak or no hsp60 immunoreactivity. The presence of hsp60 in mitochondria seems to reflect two different forms of mitochondrial renewal: (1) total reformation of mitochondria and their content after mitotic division and (2) regeneration of these organelles following high activity, e. g., ATP synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Philipps-Universität, Robert-Koch-Str. 6, D-35033 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Möbius
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Groos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meinhardt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seitz
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000032:analysis*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D004947:Esophagus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D018834:Chaperonin 60; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate