ALL-TRANS-RETINOIC ACID INCREASES PEPTIDYLARGININE DEIMINASES IN A NEWBORN RAT KERATINOCYTE CELL-LINE

We studied the expression of peptidylarginine deiminases (EC 3.5.3.15) in an immortalized newborn rat keratinocyte cell line. No measurable enzyme activities were noted in either growing or confluent cultures. The enzyme activity was increased by all-trans retinoic acid in dose- and time-dependent manners. The enzyme activity was resolved into two peaks by anion exchange chromatography. The minor peak resembled enzym e preparations obtained from the epidermis in earlier studies. The maj or peak was indistinguishable from rat muscle peptidylarginine deimina se in the chromatographic and Western blotting profiles. Northern blot hybridization showed a major band in retinoic acid-treated cells migr ating slightly behind muscle peptidylarginine deiminase mRNA. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.