Abstract
The earliest endocrine cells in the developing pancreas make glucagon and are described as alpha cells. We show here that these cells express islet amyloid polypeptide and prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3), proteins that are not expressed by mature alpha cells, but are found in beta cells. PC1/3 converts proglucagon to the functionally distinct hormones glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 rather than glucagon. Despite these differences, the early proglucagon-positive cells express, as do mature alpha cells, the POU domain transcription factor Brn-4, and do not express the beta cell factor pdx-1. The early production of atypical peptide hormones by these cells suggests that they could play an important role locally or systemically in the development of the embryo.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amyloid / genetics*
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Animals
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Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / genetics*
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DNA-Binding Proteins*
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Embryonic and Fetal Development
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Gene Expression*
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Glucagon / metabolism
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Homeodomain Proteins*
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Insulin / metabolism
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Islet Amyloid Polypeptide
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Mice
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Nerve Tissue Proteins*
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POU Domain Factors
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Pancreas / cytology
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Pancreas / embryology
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Pancreas / enzymology*
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Proprotein Convertase 1*
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Proprotein Convertases
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Transcription Factors / genetics
Substances
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Amyloid
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Insulin
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Islet Amyloid Polypeptide
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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POU Domain Factors
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Trans-Activators
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Transcription Factors
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pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein
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Pou3f4 protein, mouse
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Glucagon
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Proprotein Convertases
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Pcsk1 protein, mouse
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Proprotein Convertase 1
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Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases