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Developmental pattern of plasminogen activator activity in chick brain hemispheres
G Scicolone1, S Pereyra-Alfonso, J L Ferrán
1Institute of Cell Biology and Neurosciences Prof. Eduardo De Robertis, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentine. gscicolo@mail.retina.ar
Insights
Developing chick brain hemispheres show a unique temporal pattern of urokinase-type plasminogen activator activity, distinct from general developmental markers. This suggests specific regulatory functions during brain development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Plasminogen activators are crucial for various developmental processes.
- Previous studies identified developmental protease activity patterns in chick optic lobe and cerebellum.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal development pattern of plasminogen activator activity in chick brain hemispheres.
- To identify the specific type of plasminogen activator present during brain development.
Main Methods:
- Assayed plasminogen activator activity in soluble fractions from membrane preparations using a radial fibrinolytic assay.
- Utilized enzyme inhibitors and antibodies against plasminogen activators for enzyme identification.
- Compared activity patterns with general developmental parameters.
Main Results:
- Developing brain hemispheres exclusively express urokinase-type plasminogen activator.
- The temporal pattern of this activity differs significantly from general developmental parameters.
- The urokinase-type plasminogen activator activity exhibits a distinct developmental regulation.
Conclusions:
- Plasminogen activator activity in developing brain hemispheres is primarily urokinase-type.
- This activity is developmentally regulated and follows a unique temporal pattern.
- The findings suggest specific roles for plasminogen activators in distinct stages of brain development.
Abstract:
Plasminogen activators play key roles in several developmental events. In previous works we demonstrated the existence of typical developmental patterns of protease activity in the chick optic lobe and cerebellum. The aim of this work is to study the temporal pattern of development of plasminogen activator activity in the brain hemispheres. Plasminogen activator activity was assayed in soluble fractions derived by ultracentrifugation from Triton X-100 treated membrane fractions by using a radial fibrinolytic assay. Employing different inhibitors and anti-plasminogen activators antibodies we showed that developing brain hemispheres express only one type of enzyme which corresponds to the urokinase-type. Other results indicate that the protease activity displays a temporal pattern which completely differs from those of general parameters of development. This suggests that the plasminogen activator activity is developmentally regulated and could display specific functions during particular stages of development.