SPC4, SPC6, AND THE NOVEL PROTEASE SPC7 ARE COEXPRESSED WITH BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEINS AT DISTINCT SITES DURING EMBRYOGENESIS

In the present study, we screened for subtilisin-like proprotein conve rtases (SPCs) that potentially regulate the activation of known growth factors during embryonic development. We isolated a novel protease, S PC7, as well as several known SPCs. SPC7, like SPC1, is expressed ubiq uitously throughout development. In contrast, SPC4 and SPC6 exhibit dy namic expression patterns. SPC4 transcripts were initially detected in the granulosa cells of secondary follicles, Shortly after implantatio n, SPC4 transcripts are localized to extraembryonic cell populations, and at later stages are detected in discrete tissues including the pri mitive gut, heart, neural tube, and limb buds. Within the limb buds, S PC4 mRNA is most abundant in the apical ectodermal, ridge (AER). At la ter stages of limb development, SPC4 mRNA is strongly expressed in car tilage and in the interdigital mesenchyme. In contrast, high SPC6 mRNA levels are detected in somites, the dorsal surface ectoderm, and in v ertebral cartilage primordia, In limb buds, SPC6 is strongly expressed in the AER, and at later stages in dorsal mesenchyme. A comparison of these expression patterns with those of several bone morphogenetic pr oteins (BMPs) indicates that processing of these growth factors may be limited by the local availability of SPCs.