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Characterization of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors in brain, retina and vitreous chick embryo
Insights
We purified acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) from chick embryos. These FGFs share biochemical properties with human FGFs, suggesting roles beyond angiogenesis in tissues lacking blood vessels.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are crucial signaling molecules.
- Understanding FGF properties in embryonic development is key to deciphering their roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To purify and characterize acidic and basic FGFs from chick embryo brain, retina, and vitreous.
- To compare the biochemical properties of chick FGFs with their human counterparts.
- To investigate the tissue-specific distribution and activity of FGFs in the chick embryo.
Main Methods:
- Heparin-Sepharose chromatography for FGF purification.
- Reverse-phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for further purification.
- Mitogenic activity assays to assess biological function.
Main Results:
- Purified chick acidic FGF (c-aFGF) and basic FGF (c-bFGF) were analogous to human and bovine FGFs in molecular weight and biological activity.
- Tissue-specific ratios of c-aFGF to c-bFGF activity were observed: brain (66%:34%), retina (16%:84%), and vitreous (78%:22%).
- Heparin stimulated purified c-aFGF activity but inhibited retina extract activity in the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS).
Conclusions:
- Chick embryo FGFs share biochemical properties with adult human FGFs.
- The presence of FGFs in avascular chick retina and vitreous suggests functions beyond angiogenesis.
- FGFs likely play diverse roles in embryonic tissue development and maintenance.
Abstract:
We have purified acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (c-aFGF, c-bFGF) from 11 day-old chick embryo brain, retina and vitreous by heparin-Sepharose chromatography and reverse phase HPLC. The analysis of their biological activity as well as their molecular weight indicates that they were analogous to basic or acidic human and bovine FGF. The ratio of c-aFGF to c-bFGF activity depended of the tissue. In brain c-aFGF represented 66% of the total mitogenic activity retained on the heparin-sepharose column and c-bFGF 34% while retina contained 16% of c-aFGF and 84% of c-bFGF; vitreous 78% of c-aFGF and 22% of c-bFGF. Like human aFGF, Heparin stimulated purified c-aFGF mitogenic activity in the absence of serum but inhibited the activity of the retina acid soluble extract, in the presence of foetal calf serum (FCS). Thus, chick embryo and adult human acidic and basic FGF respectively share the same biochemical properties. Since there are no blood vessels in chick retina or vitreous, their presence in these tissues suggests that angiogenesis is not the only role of these growth factors.