Faculty Collaboration Database

Region specific expression of furin mRNA in the rat brain. Neurosci Lett 1993 Jan 04;149(1):27-30

Date

01/04/1993

Pubmed ID

8469374

DOI

10.1016/0304-3940(93)90339-m

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0027466131 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   55 Citations

Abstract

The distribution of furin mRNA was examined in the rat central nervous system. Northern blot analysis reveals the presence of a 4.4 kb band in all brain tissues examined. In situ hybridization analysis of frozen rat brain sections using a radioactively labeled antisense cRNA probe to rat furin demonstrated moderate to low levels of expression in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissue in all areas examined. Interestingly, higher levels of furin were expressed in selective regions which include the ventricles (the choroid plexus and ependymal cells), the islands of Calleja, the hippocampus and the pineal gland. the ubiquitous localization of furin in the brain is consistent with its postulated role as a vital convertase important in the processing of proproteins negotiating the constitutive pathway of secretion. However, the higher expression of furin mRNA in distinct brain areas suggests a more active role in the processing of proproteins synthesized in these tissues.

Author List

Day R, Schafer MK, Cullinan WE, Watson SJ, Chrétien M, Seidah NG

Author

William E. Cullinan PhD Adjunct Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Brain
Furin
Histocytochemistry
In Situ Hybridization
Male
Proprotein Convertase 2
Proprotein Convertases
RNA, Messenger
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Serine Endopeptidases
Subtilisins
Tissue Distribution