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Localization of xenopsin and xenopsin precursor fragment immunoreactivities in the skin and gastrointestinal tract of Xenopus laevis

Cell and Tissue Research volume 270, pages 257–263 (1992)Cite this article

Summary

Xenopsin (Xp) and xenopsin precursor fragment (XPF) are bioactive peptides derived from a single precursor molecule; both were isolated previously from extracts of Xenopus laevis skin. The present immunohistochemical study was undertaken to determine the specific cellular localization of these two peptides in the skin and also in the gastrointestinal tract of adult Xenopus. We report here that Xp-like and XPF-like immuno-reactivities co-exist in the granular glands of the skin and specific granular cells in the lower esophagus and stomach. However, only Xp-like immunoreactivity, not XPF-like immunoreactivity, was detected in tall, thin cells of the duodenum and in club-shaped cells of the large intestine. The immunochemical co-localization of the two peptides in specific cells of the skin, lower esophagus and stomach suggests that the same gene is expressed in each of these cells, and that the precursor molecule undergoes similar post-translational processing. In contrast, the observation that certain cells of the duodenum and large intestine display only one peptide immunoreactivity suggests an alternative phenomenon, possibly involving selective peptide accumulation or expression of a different gene.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, 01075, South Hadley, MA, USA

    Kirsten C. Sadler & Jane C. Kaltenbach

  2. Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 19104, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Charles L. Bevins

Authors
  1. Kirsten C. Sadler
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  2. Charles L. Bevins
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  3. Jane C. Kaltenbach
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Sadler, K.C., Bevins, C.L. & Kaltenbach, J.C. Localization of xenopsin and xenopsin precursor fragment immunoreactivities in the skin and gastrointestinal tract of Xenopus laevis . Cell Tissue Res 270, 257–263 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328011

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328011

Key words

  • Xenopsin
  • Xenopsin precursor fragment
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Skin
  • Gastrointestinal tract
  • Xenopus laevis (Anura)