Prion protein mRNA expression in Xenopus laevis: No induction during melanotrope cell activation
In mammals, the prion protein (PrP) is expressed in most tissues, but predominantly in neuronal tissues. Here, we investigated the temporal and spatial mRNA expression of PrP in the non-mammalian South African claw-toed frog Xenopus laevis. PrP transcripts were maternally expressed and detected thro...
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Published in | Brain research Vol. 1075; no. 1; pp. 20 - 25 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
London
Elsevier B.V
23.02.2006
Amsterdam Elsevier New York, NY |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | In mammals, the prion protein (PrP) is expressed in most tissues, but predominantly in neuronal tissues. Here, we investigated the temporal and spatial mRNA expression of PrP in the non-mammalian South African claw-toed frog
Xenopus laevis. PrP transcripts were maternally expressed and detected throughout embryonic development, most strongly from neurulation onwards and including the tadpole stage. Microinjection of PrP mRNA into fertilized
Xenopus eggs did not affect early embryonic development. In adult frogs, PrP mRNA expression was observed in all tissues examined, with high expression in brain, pituitary and testis. In
Xenopus, the intermediate pituitary melanotrope cells are involved in background adaptation of the animal and produce high levels of the prohormone proopiomelanocortin (POMC) when the melanotrope cells are active (i.e. when the animal is black-adapted). Remarkably and in contrast to most secretory pathway components, PrP was not upregulated in the melanotropes of black-adapted animals, arguing against a direct role of this protein in POMC biosynthesis. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0006-8993 1872-6240 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.brainres.2005.12.105 |