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Molecular polymorphism of lumican during corneal development
P K Cornuet1, T C Blochberger, J R Hassell
1Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and Ear Institute of Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Lumican and decorin expression are independently regulated during chick corneal development. The shift to sulfated lumican proteoglycans correlates with increasing corneal transparency, suggesting a key role in this process.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Ophthalmology
- Proteoglycan Research
Background:
- The corneal stroma's transparency is crucial for vision.
- Lumican and decorin are major proteoglycans in the adult corneal stroma.
- Understanding their role during development is key to understanding corneal transparency acquisition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the expression of lumican and decorin during chick embryonic corneal transparency development.
- To investigate the temporal relationship between proteoglycan synthesis and corneal maturation.
Main Methods:
- Northern blot analysis measured lumican and decorin mRNA levels from embryonic day 9 to 18.
- Biosynthetic radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation assessed precursor protein synthesis.
- DEAE chromatography and Western blotting determined proteoglycan accumulation.
Main Results:
- Both lumican and decorin mRNA levels increased throughout development.
- Lumican precursor synthesis peaked early (days 7-9) and then declined, while decorin synthesis remained low.
- Nonsulfated lumican was present early, but sulfated lumican and decorin proteoglycans appeared around day 15, coinciding with increased transparency.
Conclusions:
- Lumican and decorin expression are independently regulated during corneal transparency acquisition.
- The switch to producing sulfated lumican proteoglycans at the onset of transparency suggests its importance.
- Sulfation of lumican may play a critical role in the development of corneal transparency.