Immunocytochemical analysis of glycogen phosphorylase isozymes in the developing and adult retina of the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus).
Glycogen is the major energy reserve in neural tissues including the retina. A key-enzyme in glycogen metabolism is glycogen phosphorylase (GP) which exists in three differentially regulated isoforms. By applying isozyme-specific antibodies it could be demonstrated that the GP BB (brain), but not the GP MM (muscle) isoform is expressed in the chicken retina in neuronal and glial (Müller) cells. In the embryonic chicken retina, GP showed a development-dependent expression pattern. Double-labeling experiments with cell type-specific antibodies revealed that GP is expressed in various layers of the retina some of which, e.g., the photoreceptor inner segments, are known to be sites of high energy consumption. This suggests important roles of GP BB, and therefore glycogen, in early differentiation, spontaneous wave generation and in formation and stabilization of synapses.
Rothermel
Andrée
A
Molekularbiologisch-biochemische Prozesstechnik, Biotechnologisch-Biomedizinisches Zentrum, Universität Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
Weigel
Winnie
W
Pfeiffer-Guglielmi
Brigitte
B
Hamprecht
Bernd
B
Robitzki
Andrea A
AA
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002645:Chickens; D024981:Glycogen Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D012160:Retina / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development
D007527:Isoenzymes; D024981:Glycogen Phosphorylase