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Title: OVOINHIBITOR IN THE CHICKEN BURSA OF FABRICIUS: IDENTIFICATION, ISOLATION, AND LOCALIZATION

Author
item Moore, Randle
item BERGHMAN, LUC - TEXAS A & M UNIV, TEXAS
item PORTER, TOM - TEXAS A & M UNIV, TEXAS
item CALDWELL, DENISE - TEXAS A & M UNIV, TEXAS
item OUBRE, CHERIE - TEXAS A & M UNIV, TEXAS
item VANDESANDE, FRANS - UNIV OF LEUVEN, BELGIUM
item HARGIS, BILLY - TEXAS A & M UNIV, TEXAS

Submitted to: Cell and Tissue Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2004
Publication Date: 9/11/2004
Citation: Moore, R.W., Berghman, L.R., Porter, T.E., Caldwell, D.Y., Oubre, C.M., Vandesande, F., Hargis, B.M. 2004. Ovoinhibitor in the chicken bursa of fabricius: identification, isolation, and localization. Cell and Tissue Research. V. 317:Number 3: p.247-251.

Interpretive Summary: An antibody developed against a protein extract was found to specifically bind a single cell type, bursal secretory dendritic cells, in the chicken bursa of Fabricius, the organ responsible for production of the cells which produce antibodies. These cells were previously described as hormone producing cells, although no know hormone has been identified from these cells. The antibody was also used to purify a protein from these cells. Protein sequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identified the protein as ovoinhibitor, a protein which inhibits the breakdown of other proteins. These data suggest that the bursal secretory dendritic cell may be a previously unreported source of ovoinhibitor, and that ovoinhibitor may be used in the development of antibody producing cells. By obtaining a better understanding of the function of ovoinhibitor in the bursa of Fabricius, we may gain a better understand of the development of antibody producing cells in birds.

Technical Abstract: A monoclonal antibody developed against a partially purified bursal protein extract was found to specifically bind a single cell type in the cortico-medullary border region of the bursa of Fabricius. These cells were microscopically similar to the bursal secretory dendritic cell. A product with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 56 kDa on SDS PAGE was immunopurified from bursal extracts utilizing the monoclonal antibody. This product was subjected to peptide digestion and molecule sequencing. The two resulting sequences perfectly matched the known sequence of chicken ovoinhibitor. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were synthesized for ovoinhibitor, RNA was purified from chick bursae, and reverse transcription-PCR was performed. Two products of similar in size for that expected for ovoinhibitor mRNA were obtained. These data suggest that the gene for ovoinhibitor is expressed in the bursa of Fabricius and that the bursal secretory dendritic cell may be a previously unreported source of ovoinhibitor.