Shuler C F, Schwartz S A
Exp Cell Biol. 1986;54(5-6):310-8.
Throughout embryogenesis of the rat palate, from the early fetal to adult stages, a consistent subset of keratin proteins is synthesized in the epithelial lining cells. Although the relative abundance of particular keratins has been shown to vary with ongoing palatogenesis, the expression of finite keratins appears to be genetically predetermined. In order to preliminarily ascertain whether conformational changes accompanied intermediate filament 'maturation' from monomeric to polymeric keratin formation, we screened cytokeratins with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies generated against adult-type keratins. Until epithelial stratification occurred on the 16th day of gestation, the keratin proteins were weakly immunoreactive. On the other hand, subsequent to epithelial thickening, adult-type immunoreactivity was initiated and progressed concomitantly with ongoing palatal development. These findings suggest that the cytokeratin intermediate filaments may progress through conformational 'maturation' during polymerization, and play a role in the eventual acquisition of the adult-type epithelial structure and function.
在大鼠腭部的整个胚胎发育过程中，从胎儿早期到成年阶段，上皮衬里细胞中会合成一组一致的角蛋白。尽管特定角蛋白的相对丰度已被证明会随着腭部发育的进行而变化，但有限角蛋白的表达似乎是由基因预先决定的。为了初步确定在中间丝从单体角蛋白形成聚合物的“成熟”过程中是否伴随构象变化，我们用针对成年型角蛋白产生的多克隆和单克隆抗体筛选细胞角蛋白。在妊娠第16天上皮分层出现之前，角蛋白的免疫反应较弱。另一方面，在上皮增厚之后，成年型免疫反应开始，并随着腭部的持续发育而进展。这些发现表明，细胞角蛋白中间丝在聚合过程中可能经历构象“成熟”，并在最终获得成年型上皮结构和功能中发挥作用。
