Creatine kinase in Xenopus laevis development : changes in enzyme activity and isozyme patterns

• Main Author: Haswell, Polly
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/20315

The early developmental changes of creatine kinase have been described in Xenopus laevis, the South African clawed frog. The specific activity was low during early development and increased about 5-fold between stages 4-2 and 48. Isozyme I is present from the unfertilized egg to stage 42 (free-swimming larva), when isozyme II is first detected. Isozyme III first appeared in post-metamorphic frogs. Isozymes II and III have been localized in the muscle tissue, but isozyme II is absent in adult muscle tissue suggesting it may be a transient, embryonic form of CK. An attempt was made to induce the precocious appearance of isozyme III by treating premetamorphic tadpoles with triiodothyronine. === Science, Faculty of === Zoology, Department of === Graduate