title: Expression and localization of cytochrome P450(11beta,aldo) mRNA in the frog brain.
abstract: The present study is focused on biosynthesis of adrenal steroids in the frog brain. Employing RT-PCR method using total RNA from the adult Rana nigromaculata brain, we isolated a 419-bp fragment of cDNA encoding cytochrome P450(11beta,aldo), which catalyzes the final step of biosynthesis of the frog adrenal steroids, corticosterone and aldosterone. The deduced amino acid sequence of R. nigromaculata brain cytochrome P450(11beta,aldo) shared a high homology (88.8%) with that of R. catesbeiana adrenal cytochrome P450(11beta,aldo). Southern blot analysis of the RT-PCR product confirmed the P450(11beta,aldo) transcription in the frog brain without a clear-cut sex difference. Then, we analyzed the P450(11beta,aldo) mRNA expression in different brain regions of the adult frog by RT-PCR method. The P450(11beta,aldo) gene was transcribed in the telencephalon, diencephalon, midbrain, and cerebellum. The transcript level of the frog beta-actin gene was relatively constant in all the frog samples examined. In situ hybridization analysis showed that the P450(11beta,aldo) gene was transcribed abundantly in the cells throughout the frog brain, such as the pallium mediale in the telencephalon, the nucleus preopticus in the diencephalon, the stratum griseum superficiale tecti in the midbrain, and Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. These results taken together suggest that the frog brain synthesizes adrenal steroids, such as corticosterone and aldosterone.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Amphibian Biology, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 739-8526, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takase
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ukena
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011898:Ranidae; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase