Localization of two enzymes of the tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthetic pathway in embryonic chick retina.
Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential co-factor for the biosynthesis of catecholamine-type neurotransmitters and of nitric oxide (NO). The expression of the enzymes catalyzing the first two steps of the BH4 biosynthetic pathway was studied in the developing chicken retina by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. GTP-cyclohydrolase-I (GTP-CH-I) and 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) were already expressed in the undifferentiated and proliferating retina of E7. At stage E11 both enzymes were expressed in photoreceptors, amacrine cells, displaced amacrine cells, and ganglion cells, and in the plexiform layers in which synaptic connections take place. At stage E18 the labeling was comparable to E11 but appeared to be more concentrated in photoreceptors and ganglion cells.
Holdengreber
Vered
V
Tel-Aviv University, Department of Cell Research and Immunology, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Krieger
Cornelia
C
Gütlich
Markus
M
Schramek
Nikolas
N
Vechoropoulos
Michal
M
Fischer
Markus
M
Bacher
Adelbert
A
Ben-Shaul
Yehuda
Y
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019761:Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011622:Pterins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism
D011622:Pterins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C011552:tetrahydropterin; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase; D019761:Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases; C043497:6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase