Distribution Patterns of Ornithine Decarboxylase in Cells and Tissues: Facts, Problems, and PostulatesRaymond G. Schippera and Albert A.J. Verhofstadaa Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands Correspondence to: Albert A.J. Verhofstad, Dept. of Pathology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail: A.Verhofstad@pathol.azn.nl Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis. Increased polyamine levels are required for growth, differentiation, and transformation of cells. In situ detection of ODC in cells and tissues has been performed with biochemical, enzyme cytochemical, immunocytochemical, and in situ hybridization techniques. Different localization patterns at the cellular level have been described, depending on the type of cells or tissues studied. These patterns varied from exclusively cytoplasmic to both cytoplasmic and nuclear. These discrepancies can be partially explained by the (lack of) sensitivity and/or specificity of the methods used, but it is more likely that (sub)cellular localization of ODC is cell type-specific and/or depends on the physiological status (growth, differentiation, malignant transformation, apoptosis) of cells. Intracellular translocation of ODC may be a prerequisite for its regulation and function. (J Histochem Cytochem 50:11431160, 2002) Key Words: ornithine decarboxylase, polyamines, localization, enzyme cytochemistry, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, green fluorescent protein
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||