title: Proprotein convertase genes in Xenopus development.
abstract: Proprotein convertases (PCs) are a family of serine endoproteases that proteolytically activate many precursor proteins within various secretory pathway compartments. Loss-of-function studies have demonstrated a critical role for these proteases in embryonic patterning and adult homeostasis, yet little is known about how substrate selectivity is achieved. We have identified Xenopus orthologs of three PCs: furin, PC6, and PC4. In addition to previously described isoforms of PC6 and furin, four novel splice isoforms of PC6, which are predicted to encode constitutively secreted proteases, and a putative transmembrane isoform of PC4 were identified. Furin and PC6 are expressed in dynamic, tissue-specific patterns throughout embryogenesis, whereas PC4 transcripts are restricted primarily to germ cells and brain in adult frogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, School of Medicine, Portland, Oregon 97239-3098, USA.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nelsen
authors.forename: Linnea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Crispin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Christian
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D045683:Furin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D043484:Proprotein Convertases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D045683:Furin