The role of epithelium and mesenchyme in the production of a collagenolytic enzyme and a hyaluronidase in the anuran tadpole☆

[摘要] Remodelingofconnectivetissue,occurringduringamphibianmetamorphosisinvolvesthedegradationofbothcollagenfibersandinterfibrillargroundsubstance.Theformationofacollagenolyticenzymebytheepithelialcellsandthereleaseofahyaluronidasebythemesenchymehavebeendemonstratedinculturesoftheseparatedtissuecomponents.Puromycin(whichhasnodirecteffectoncollagenase)aswellasfreeze-thawingblocktheappearanceofcollagenolyticactivity,suggestingeitherdenovosynthesisofcollagenaseor,alternatively,itsactivationbysomemechanismrequiringproteinsynthesis.Hyaluronidaseactivity,however,isnotinhibitedbypuromycinandisenhancedbyfreeze-thawing,indicatingthatthisenzymeisstoredinthemesenchymalcellsandprobablyreleasedwhenneeded.Amechanismforconnectivetissueresorptionisproposedinwhichtwodifferentcelltypescooperate,eachprovidingadifferentenzymecapableofattackingextracellularstructuresinaspecificmanner.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）