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ProSAAS and prohormone convertase 1 are broadly expressed during mouse development
Yun Feng1, Sandra E Reznik, Lloyd D Fricker
1Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
Brain Research. Gene Expression Patterns
|March 17, 2004
Summary
ProSAAS, a neuroendocrine protein, and its peptides inhibit prohormone convertase 1 (PC1). Their expression patterns during mouse development suggest ProSAAS acts as an endogenous PC1 inhibitor.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- ProSAAS (pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 inhibitor) is a neuroendocrine secretory pathway protein.
- ProSAAS and its processing intermediates inhibit prohormone convertase 1 (PC1).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of ProSAAS by examining the developmental distribution of ProSAAS-derived peptides and PC1.
- To test the hypothesis that ProSAAS acts as an endogenous PC1 inhibitor.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the distribution of ProSAAS-derived peptides and PC1.
- Expression patterns were examined throughout mouse development, from embryonic day 9 (E9) to E15.
Main Results:
- Both SAAS (a ProSAAS-derived peptide) and PC1 showed broad distribution from E9 to E11, with enrichment in neural tube-derived tissues.
- By E15, SAAS expression was mainly restricted to neuroendocrine tissues.
- PC1 expression generally overlapped with SAAS and other ProSAAS-derived peptides.
Conclusions:
- The overlapping expression patterns of ProSAAS-derived peptides and PC1 support the hypothesis that ProSAAS functions as an endogenous inhibitor of PC1.
- ProSAAS plays a role in the regulation of neuroendocrine peptide processing during development.