title: Expression and localization of prohormone convertase PC1 in the calcitonin-producing cells of the bullfrog ultimobranchial gland.
abstract: We examined the expression and localization of the prohormone convertases, PC1 and PC2, in the ultimobranchial gland of the adult bullfrog using immunohistochemical (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques. In the ultimobranchial gland, PC1-immunoreactive cells were columnar, and were present in the follicular epithelium. When serial sections were immunostained with anti-calcitonin, anti-CGRP, anti-PC1, and anti-PC2 sera, PC1 was found only in the calcitonin/CGRP-producing cells. No PC2-immunopositive cells were detected. In the ISH, PC1 mRNA-positive cells were detected in the follicle cells in the ultimobranchial gland. No PC2 mRNA-positive cells were detected. RT-PCR revealed expression of the mRNAs of PC1 and the PC2 in the ultimobranchial gland. However, very little of the PC2 mRNA is probably translated because no PC2 protein was detected either by IHC staining or by Western blotting analysis. We conclude that the main prohormone convertase that is involved in the proteolytic cleavage of procalcitonin in the bullfrog is PC1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, Ohya 836, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaoi
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomura
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurabuchi
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasayama
authors.forename: Shigeyasu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D045664:Proprotein Convertase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011892:Rana catesbeiana; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014460:Ultimobranchial Body / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002116:Calcitonin; D045664:Proprotein Convertase 1; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2