Immunoblot demonstration of protein kinase C in pig epidermis

Protein kinase C, which has an important role in cell surface signal transduction, has at least 7 subspecies. The role of each isozyme remains unknown; however, the distribution of the subspecies has been reported to differ from tissue to tissue. In order to investigate the subspecies of protein kinase C in epidermis, we used monoclonal anti-protein kinase C antibodies against the alpha and beta subspecies and against the gamma subspecies. Protein kinase C activity was detected in both cytosol and membrane bound fractions in the extract of pig epidermis, although with immunohistochemical analysis the enzyme was not detected in the epidermis. The protein kinase C in pig epidermis was extracted and partially purified with DE52 column chromatography and immunoblot analysis was performed. Western blot analysis with each anti-protein kinase C antibody showed protein kinase C of the alpha and/or beta subspecies in pig epidermis. The gamma subspecies of the enzyme was not demonstrated. Since this gamma subspecies has only been demonstrated in the brain, it is regarded not to be present in epidermis. The differing patterns of the expression of the multiple subspecies of protein kinase C may closely related to its specific function in each tissue. The subspecies of the enzyme expressed in the epidermis should be clarified further.