Purification, characterization and comparison with mammalian SCP2 of a chicken SCP2-like protein

The presence and subcellular distribution of sterol carrier protein 2 in embryonic-chick tissues

“…Western-blotting analysis of homogenates of these tissues taken from embryos at various stages of development revealed the presence of the 12 kDa form of SCP2 and higher-molecularmass immunocross-reactive proteins (Figure 1). The presence of these higher-molecular-mass species has been demonstrated previously in chicken tissues [11] and also in mammalian tissues [9,15,16]. Moreover, only the low-molecular-mass form was observed, although some microheterogeneity was evident (12-16 kDa).…”

“…This pattern is also visible for another immunocross-reactive form at 44 kDa. This highermolecular-mass form, which has been reported in adult chicken liver [11], is present as a doublet, but the nature of the doublet is not yet understood. A minor immunoreactive protein was observed at 64 kDa which exhibited the same time course of appearance/disappearance.…”

“…been described [14]. Recently we demonstrated the presence of SCP2 (a protein implicated in sterol biosynthesis, bile acid synthesis, cholesterol esterification and lipoprotein assembly in mammalian systems [9]) in homogenates of adult chicken livers [11]. Since the quantity of SCP2 in specific mammalian tissues correlates well with the rate of lipid metabolism or flux in that tissue [9], we wanted to determine whether chicken SCP2 is present in chicken tissues which are important in lipid transport and metabolism.…”