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Rapid increase of profilin-like proteins during liver development

R Kishimoto, S Murano, K Nagai

    Biochemistry International
    |August 1, 1984
    PubMed

    Insights

    Liver profilin-like proteins, identified as a 12K protein, significantly increase during early development in rats. This protein

    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Developmental Biology

    Background:

    • Cytoplasmic protein extraction from rat liver using perchloric acid (PCA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA).
    • Identification of a predominant 12,000 molecular weight (12K) protein in rat liver extracts.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To characterize the 12K protein found in rat liver cytoplasm.
    • To investigate the developmental changes and functional properties of this 12K protein.
    • To compare the 12K protein with known profilins.

    Main Methods:

    • Differential extraction of rat liver cytoplasm using 5% PCA and 20% TCA.
    • Gel chromatography to separate protein components.
    • Amino acid composition analysis.
    • Actin polymerization inhibition assays.

    Main Results:

    • A predominant 12K protein was recovered from rat liver extracts.
    • The 12K protein exhibited a 9-fold increase between 2 and 10-20 weeks of age, followed by a decrease.
    • Gel chromatography separated the 12K protein into two components (12K-1 and 12K-2).
    • 12K-1 showed similar amino acid composition to profilin and inhibited actin polymerization, while 12K-2 did not.

    Conclusions:

    • Rat liver contains profilin-like proteins that undergo significant developmental regulation.
    • The 12K-1 component functions similarly to profilin by inhibiting actin polymerization.
    • These findings highlight the dynamic changes in liver profilin-like proteins during development.

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