The transcriptome of mouse central nervous system myelin

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 25828
• Main Authors: Thakurela, Sudhir, Garding, Angela, Jung, Ramona B., Müller, Christina, Goebbels, Sandra, White, Robin, Werner, Hauke B., Tiwari, Vijay K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 13.05.2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/114/116; 631/378/2571; Animals; Biomarkers - metabolism; Central Nervous System - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Humanities and Social Sciences; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; multidisciplinary; Myelin Sheath - metabolism; Principal Component Analysis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Transcriptome - genetics
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep25828

Rapid nerve conduction in the CNS is facilitated by insulation of axons with myelin, a specialized oligodendroglial compartment distant from the cell body. Myelin is turned over and adapted throughout life; however, the molecular and cellular basis of myelin dynamics remains elusive. Here we performed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq) of myelin biochemically purified from mouse brains at various ages and find a surprisingly large pool of transcripts enriched in myelin. Further computational analysis showed that the myelin transcriptome is closely related to the myelin proteome but clearly distinct from the transcriptomes of oligodendrocytes and brain tissues, suggesting a highly selective incorporation of mRNAs into the myelin compartment. The mRNA-pool in myelin displays maturation-dependent dynamic changes of composition, abundance, and functional associations; however ageing-dependent changes after 6 months were minor. We suggest that this transcript pool enables myelin turnover and the local adaptation of individual pre-existing myelin sheaths.