CYSTEINE DIOXYGENASE - REGIONAL EXPRESSION OF ACTIVITY IN RAT-BRAIN

The levels of expression of cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) protein and act ivity were investigated in nine functionally distinct regions of the r at brain before and after induction with methionine by Western analysi s and an activity assay. Activity expression ranged from no activity i n the brain-stem to high activity expression in the olfactory bulb and basal ganglia. Upon exposure to 400 mg/l methionine for 5 days, signi ficant induction of expression was observed in the basal ganglia, brai n-stem, cerebellum, hippocampus, midbrain and olfactory bulb. Protein expression appeared to correlate with activity expression when levels before and after induction were compared. This non-uniformity of expre ssion may reflect different physiological functions of CDO in these ar eas. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.