Abstract
Proprotein convertases (PCs) are a family of serine endoproteases that proteolytically activate many precursor proteins within various secretory pathway compartments. Loss-of-function studies have demonstrated a critical role for these proteases in embryonic patterning and adult homeostasis, yet little is known about how substrate selectivity is achieved. We have identified Xenopus orthologs of three PCs: furin, PC6, and PC4. In addition to previously described isoforms of PC6 and furin, four novel splice isoforms of PC6, which are predicted to encode constitutively secreted proteases, and a putative transmembrane isoform of PC4 were identified. Furin and PC6 are expressed in dynamic, tissue-specific patterns throughout embryogenesis, whereas PC4 transcripts are restricted primarily to germ cells and brain in adult frogs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1038-1044 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Developmental Dynamics |
Volume | 233 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2005 |
Keywords
- Embryogenesis
- Furin
- PC4
- PC6
- Proprotein convertase
- Xenopus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology