Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
07:35
Quantifying Liver Size in Larval Zebrafish Using Brightfield Microscopy
Published on: February 2, 2020
Rapid increase of profilin-like proteins during liver development
Biochemistry International
|August 1, 1984
Summary
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.
Related Concept Videos
01:32Lipids as Anchors
In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
01:09Cytoskeletal Linker Proteins - Plakins
Plakins are large proteins with binding domains for microtubules, microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and membrane-associated protein complexes at cell junctions. Plakin functions are evolutionarily conserved and are primarily involved in organizing the different components of the cytoskeleton by crosslinking them to each other and connecting them to the cell-matrix and cell adhesion complexes. They are also known to interact with signal transducers, serve as scaffolds for signaling...
01:42Phosphoinositides and PIPs
Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
01:24Liver Regeneration
The liver is an important organ in vertebrates that plays an essential role in metabolism. It is also responsible for storing and redistributing nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins in the body. Additionally, the liver releases bile salts which are critical for digesting food and eliminating toxic metabolites from the body.
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are large...
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are large...
01:24Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology
Cirrhosis is a progressive chronic liver injury caused by prolonged inflammation, excessive fibrotic remodeling, and impaired regeneration. Over time, repeated hepatic insults disrupt the liver’s architecture and function, leading to reduced blood flow, impaired bile drainage, and diminished metabolic capacity.Pathophysiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis arises from three main responses to chronic liver damage: inflammation, immune activation, and hepatocyte death. These processes lead to structural...