Expression of caspase 3 in ovarian follicle cells of the lizard Podarcis sicula

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• 作者：Stefania Tammaro ; Palma Simoniello ; Filomena Ristoratore&#8230
• 关键词：Caspase 3 expression ; Apoptosis and tissue differentiation ; Caspase 3 activation ; Ovarian follicular epithelium remodelling ; Pyriform cells
• 刊名：Cell and Tissue Research
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：February 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：367
• 期：2
• 页码：397-404
• 全文大小：
• 刊物类别：Biomedical and Life Sciences
• 刊物主题：Human Genetics; Proteomics; Molecular Medicine;
• 出版者：Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• ISSN：1432-0878
• 卷排序：367

文摘

In this study, our aim was to determine whether caspase 3 plays a role, during previtellogenesis, in the ovarian follicular epithelium of the lizard Podarcis sicula. We investigated the presence and localization of proform and active caspase 3 by enzyme assay, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. In parallel, a fragment of caspase 3 was cloned for the first time in this species, sequenced and used for in situ hybridization to localize messengers and analysed by a phylogenetic survey to shed light on its homology with reptilian caspases. Results demonstrated that: (1) the follicle cells expressed a caspase of the 3/7 group and the mRNA for caspase 3 was transcribed in the stem phase and was completely translated during cell differentiation; (2) the proform protein was stored during the differentiated (nurse) stage and activated at the end of previtellogenesis provoking the degeneration of cells; (3) the predicted protein sequence, although partial, had a strong similarity with the known reptilian caspases 3. The epithelial cells of the ovarian follicle, therefore, do not employ caspase 3 during the nurse stage but, instead, prepare for apoptosis long before the process actually begins. The relevance of this strategy is discussed.