Distributional and Developmental Variations of Multiple Forms of Calpastatin in Mouse Brain

Abstract

DEAE-cellulose chromatography of mouse brain extract demonstrated the occurrence of two calpastatin fractions, CS-0.1 and CS-0.2, with distinctly higher content of the latter. CS-0.1 emerged from the column at 0.1 M NaCl, inhibited calpain II more strongly than calpain I, and identified also immunologically with hitherto known calpastatin. CS-0.2 emerged at 0.2 M NaCl, inhibited calpain I more strongly than calpain II, and did not crossreact with anti-calpastatin antibody used. Fairly consistent amounts of CS-0.2 and calpain II were found in the brain of mice from 10 days to 10 weeks after birth, while CS-0.1 became measurable only after 4-week growth. In adult mice, CS-0.1 was highest in specific activity in brainstem, lower in cerebellum, and not detectable in cerebral hemisphere. Physiological significance of multiple forms of calpastatin and their variations found is not known.

Key Words: :

• Brain development
• calpain
• calpastatin
• mouse brain
• multiple forms.