title: Distribution of cathepsin E in the larval and adult organs of the bullfrog with special reference to the mature form in the larval fore-gut.
abstract: The distibution of cathepsin E in several organs of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was analyzed at pre- and post-metamorphic stages by the acid proteinase assay, by visualization of enzyme activity on polyacrlamide fore-gut gels after electrophoresis and by immunoblotting with anti-cathepsin E serum. Cathepsin E was mainly distributed in the foregut at the larval stage and in the stomach, duodenum, large intestine and gall bladder at the post-metamorphic stage. In the larval fore-gut, a higher amount of the mature form of cathepsin E was observed in addition to the proform, but in other organs, including the stomach at the post-metamorphic stage, the mature form was barely detected. Developmental changes in the amount of cathepsin E were found in the digestive tract and the gall bladder by quantitative immunoblotting analysis. Finally, the larval fore-gut was stained immunohistochemically with anti-cathepsin E serum and the surface epithelium gave a strong immunoreactive signal.
authors.affiliation: Life Science Institute, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mineta
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inokuchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D020059:Cathepsin E / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000201:enzymology; D011892:Rana catesbeiana / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013270:Stomach / Q000201:enzymology; D014018:Tissue Distribution