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A comparative study of the distribution of α‐ and γ‐enolase subunits in cultured rat neural cells and fibroblasts
Author(s) -
Deloulme J.C.,
Helies A.,
Ledig M.,
Lucas M.,
Sensenbrenner M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-5748(96)00090-1
Subject(s) - enolase , gamma subunit , astrocyte , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , gene isoform , neuroglia , cell culture , protein subunit , biochemistry , immunohistochemistry , central nervous system , immunology , endocrinology , gene , genetics
we report the presence and distribution of α (ubiquitous) and γ (neuron‐specific) subunits of the dimeric glycolytic enzyme enolase (2‐phospho‐D‐glycerate hydrolase) in cultured neural cells. The γγ enolase is found in vivo at high levels only in neurons and neuroendocrine cells. Neuronal cells in culture also contain relatively high levels of αγ and γγ enolase. Here we show, by enzymatic and immunological techniques, that the γ subunit also is expressed in cultured rat astrocytes and meningeal fibroblasts and, as we previously reported, in oligodendrocytes. Both neuron‐specific isoforms αγ and γγ are expressed in all these cells, but the αα isoform accounts for the major part of total enolase activity. The sum of αγ and γγ enolase activities increases with time in culture, i.e. maturation processes, reaching the highest level in oligodendrocytes (40% of total enolase activity) and 15 and 10% of total enzymatic activity in astrocytes and fibroblasts, respectively. The γ enolase transcripts were found not only in cultured neuronal cells but also in cultured oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and meningeal fibroblasts. Our data indicate that neuron‐specific enolase should be used with caution as a specific marker for neuronal cell differentiation.