Role of Pur alpha in targeting mRNA to sites of translation in hippocampal neuronal dendrites

J Neurosci Res. 2006 May 1;83(6):929-43. doi: 10.1002/jnr.20806.

Abstract

Using genetic inactivation in the mouse, PURA, encoding Pur alpha, is demonstrated to be essential for developmentally-timed dendrite formation in the cerebellum and hippocampus. Comparison of RNA species bound by Pur alpha prompts the hypothesis that Pur alpha functions with non-coding RNA in transport of certain mRNA molecules to sites of translation in dendrites. Pur alpha binds to human BC200 RNA, implicated in dendritic targeting, and this has homologies to 7SL RNA, implicated in compartmentalized translation. Results using hippocampal rat neurons in situ show that Pur alpha binds to BC1 RNA, implicated in dendritic targeting as a mouse counterpart of BC200, and to mRNA molecules translated in dendrites; Pur alpha is specifically located in dendrites, where it is colocalized with Map2, but not in axons, where it fails to colocalize with Ankyrin G. Pur alpha and Staufen are colocalized at dendritic sites of mRNA translation. Microtubule disruptors inhibit Pur alpha dendritic targeting and allow its mislocalization to axons. Using mouse brain, double-RNA immunoprecipitation places Pur alpha together with Staufen or FMRP on BC1 RNA and specific mRNA species in vivo. These results help define a mechanism by which Pur alpha targets specific mRNA molecules to sites of dendritic translation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Ankyrins / genetics
  • Ankyrins / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebellum / growth & development
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / deficiency
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Dendrites / physiology*
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay / methods
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / cytology*
  • Hippocampus / growth & development
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Immunoprecipitation / methods
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / deficiency
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Nocodazole / pharmacology
  • Protein Biosynthesis / drug effects
  • Protein Biosynthesis / physiology*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Untranslated
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Cytoplasmic / genetics
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Cytoplasmic / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*

Substances

  • Ank3 protein, rat
  • Ankyrins
  • Bc1 long-non-coding RNA, rat
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • MAP2 protein, rat
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • PurA protein, rat
  • Pura protein, mouse
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Untranslated
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Cytoplasmic
  • Stau1 protein, rat
  • Transcription Factors
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • Nocodazole