Differential expression of rat brain bcl-2 family proteins in development and aging.
We have previously examined the involvement of the B cell leukemia-2 gene product (Bcl-2) family proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Bax, Bak, and Bad) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and found that Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Bak, and Bad were upregulated. As AD is an aging-associated disease, in the present study we examined the developmental and aging-related changes in Bcl-2 family proteins in the rat brain. Immunoblot analyses of brain extracts from embryonic day 19 (E19) to postnatal 96-week-old rats indicated that the Bcl-2 protein level was highest at E19 and decreased after birth. Bcl-x levels remained high from E19 to 96 weeks. Bax levels were high from E19 to 2 weeks and decreased from 4 weeks onward. Bak levels were highest at E19 and decreased abruptly after birth. Bad levels were high from E19 to 2 weeks and decreased abruptly at 4 weeks. The present results suggest that the expression of each Bcl-2 family protein is differentially regulated during development and aging and that the changes in the senescent brains are different from those observed in AD.
Shimohama
S
S
Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Sakyoku, 606, Japan.
Fujimoto
S
S
Sumida
Y
Y
Tanino
H
H
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
C494821:Bad protein, rat; C494774:Bak1 protein, rat; C494828:Bax protein, rat; C494813:Bcl2l1 protein, rat; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein