APPEARANCE AND FATE OF A BETA-GALACTANASE, ALPHA,BETA-GALACTOSIDASES,HEPARAN-SULFATE AND CHONDROITIN SULFATE DEGRADING ENZYMES DURING DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOLLUSK POMACEA SP
Fw. Oliveira et al., APPEARANCE AND FATE OF A BETA-GALACTANASE, ALPHA,BETA-GALACTOSIDASES,HEPARAN-SULFATE AND CHONDROITIN SULFATE DEGRADING ENZYMES DURING DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOLLUSK POMACEA SP, Biochimica et biophysica acta (G). General subjects, 1200(3), 1994, pp. 241-248
The characterization and properties of a beta-galactanase and alpha- a
nd beta-galactosidases as well as heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulf
ate degrading enzymes which appear during the 15 days of the embryonic
development of the mollusc Pomacea sp. is reported. The beta-galactan
ase, which appears around day 7 of development, was separated from alp
ha- and beta-galactosidase which emerge at day 1 and 4 after ovipositi
on, respectively. The galactanase seems to be responsible for the degr
adation of an acidic beta-galactan (which is also synthesized by the e
ggs around day 5) to galactose and di- and tri-galactosides. Heparan s
ulfate appears around day 10 of development together with a heparan su
lfate endoglucuronidase responsible for the degradation of its N-acety
lated region. An alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase and a beta-glucuronidas
e which act upon the N-acetylated fragments formed from heparan sulfat
e emerge around day 4 of development. Chondroitin sulfate and a chondr
oitin sulfate sulfatase emerge around day 9 of development whereas a b
eta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase and the beta beta-galactan, heparan and
chondroitin sulfate, respectively. The possible role of these elements
in the migration of mesenchymal cells, in the processes of cell-cell
recognition and control of cell growth is discussed.