Developmental chanegs in protocollagen lysyl hydroxylase activity in the chick embryo

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects Vol. 343; no. 1; pp. 121 - 128
• Main Authors: Ryhänen, Lasse, Kivirikko, Kari I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 20.03.1974
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-4165(74)90243-8

Developmental changes in protocollagen lysyl hydroxylase activity were studied in whole chick embryos and in several tissues of chick embryos. In whole chick embryos, the enzyme activity increased between the 7th and 15th day of development, and decreased thereafter. In bone and skin the enzyme activities likewise had maximum values on the 15th day of development, whereas in lung, kidney, heart, spleen and liver the enzyme activities showed relatively small changes between the 9th and 21st day of development. Comparison of lysyl hydroxylase activities in several bones and other tissues of 15-day-old embryos indicated that the enzyme activity in all bones studied was considerably higher than that in skin. Howerever, values even higher than those in bone were found in leg tendon. The lowest enzyme activities were measured in heart, spleen and liver. Attempts to influence the development of lysyl hydroxylase activity by administration of lactate or ascorbate on to the chorioallantoic membrane caused no significant changes in the enzyme activity. The chanegs in lysyl hydroxylase activity observed in the present study agree with previous data on changes in prolyl hydroxylase activity and in collagen biosynthesis in the developing chick embryo. It seems possible that changes in lysyl hydroxylase activity like those in prolyly hydroxylase activity may correlate with changes in collagen biosynthesis in several situations.