Changes in Proteasome Activity and Subunit Composition during Postnatal Development of Rat

The dynamics of the activities of 26S and 20S proteasomes in the rat liver and spleen have been studied during postnatal development from 1 to 90 days. The activities of proteasome forms both in spleen and in liver increased in adult animals as compared to one day rats. The activities of both proteasome forms in the liver did not differ significantly from those in the spleen at all stages of postnatal development. Using Western blot with monoclonal antibodies to Rpt6 subunit, we confirmed the presence of 26S proteasome in both organs at all stages of postnatal development. Studies with polyclonal antibodies to β1i (LMP2) subunit showed the appearance of the immune subunit in the spleen by day 9 and in the liver only by day 23 of postnatal development. This result suggests the earlier formation of the spleen as an organ with immune functions.__________Translated from Ontogenez, Vol. 36, No. 3, 2005, pp. 205–210.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Abramova, Astakhova, Sharova.