title: Menkes protein localization in rat parotid acinar cells.
abstract: The aim was to study the subcellular localization of the Menkes protein (MNK; ATP7A) in the rat parotid acinar cell. MNK protein is a copper transporting P-type ATPase whose absence or dysfunction causes a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, MNK disease. Rat parotid glands were fixed and low-temperature embedded in Lowicryl K4M resin, and ultrathin sections were prepared for immunocytochemical analysis. Immunolocalization of MNK was demonstrated mainly over the trans Golgi network (TGN) area. Immature and mature secretory granules were also labelled, indicating that MNK protein could be involved here in copper secretion from acinar cells into saliva, consistent with a proposed cariostatic role for copper.
authors.affiliation: CMEM-Medical Electron Microscopy Unit, Univeristy of Catania, Via Androne 87/A, I-95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skarmoutsou
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanfilippo
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camakaris
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000073840:Copper-Transporting ATPases; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012463:Saliva / Q000502:physiology; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D003300:Copper; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C486202:Atp7a protein, rat; D000073840:Copper-Transporting ATPases