IDENTIFICATION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEASES (MMPS) IN THE LAMA GLAMA OVIDUCT

RENATO ZAMPINI; MARTIN EDUARDO ARGAÑARAZ; SILVANA ANDREA APICHELA; SANDRA ROMERO; DORA CRISTINA MICELI

Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires

Jornada; XI Jornadas Anuales de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología; 2009

Sociedad Argentina de Biología

The MMPs are enzymes that hydrolyze components of the extracellular matrix. These proteins are involved in normal physiological processes and pathological events. Furthermore, MMPs are involved in reproductive function, regulating the structural changes in the uterus and ovary during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Although,the MMPs have been associated with oocyte maturation and fertilization its function in the oviduct is still unknown. The study of the oviductal environment would be beneficial for the development of reproductive biotechnologies, especially on South American Camelids. The aim of this work was to identify the nucleotide sequences of some MMPs that are expressed in oviduct of lama. mRNA known sequence of MMP1, MMP2 and MMP9 mRNA from other mammals (cow, pig, horse, rat and human) were used to design the primers. The texpected size products amplified, by oviductal RNA, were amplified, cloned and sequenced. The amplicon sequences showed a high identity percentage with their counterparts in other species, confirming that they corresponded to MMP1, MMP2 and MMP9. For the first time, we described and characterized MMP1, MMP2 and MMP9 mRNA fragments in llama. MMPs presence in the oviduct suggests that they might be involved in reproductive events that take place in this organ.