Distinct spatiotemporal expression of SAPAP transcripts in the developing rat brain: a novel dendritically localized mRNA

• Published in: Brain research. Molecular brain research. Vol. 126; no. 1; pp. 14 - 21
• Main Authors: Kindler, Stefan, Rehbein, Monika, Classen, Bernhard, Richter, Dietmar, Böckers, Tobias M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 05.07.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative splicing; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - anatomy & histology; Brain - metabolism; Brain development; Dendrites - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation; In Situ Hybridization; mRNA transport; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Postsynaptic density; Protein Isoforms - genetics; Protein Isoforms - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins; Synapses - chemistry; Synapses - metabolism; Time Factors; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; PSD; Alternative splicing; SAPAP; Brain development; mRNA transport; Development and regeneration; MAP2; S-SCAM; RT-PCR; NMDA; Postsynaptic density; In situ hybridization; αCaMKII; Molecular hybridization; Rat; Biological transport; Rodentia; Central nervous system; mRNA transport: Alternative splicing; Encephalon; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Development
• ISSN: 0169-328X; 1872-6941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molbrainres.2004.03.014

The four members of the family of synapse- associated protein 90/ postsynaptic density-95- associated proteins (SAPAP1–4) are adapter proteins of postsynaptic density (PSD). They interact with different synaptic scaffolding proteins, cytoskeletal components, and signalling components, and are therefore considered to assemble functional multiprotein units at synapses. Here, we analyzed the spatiotemporal expression of SAPAP1– SAPAP4 genes in postnatal rat brain by in situ hybridization. All four genes are expressed in many brain areas, leading to overlapping yet distinct mRNA distribution patterns. Moreover, two mRNAs encoding distinct SAPAP3 isoforms exhibit basically identical postnatal expression patterns. In the hippocampus, SAPAP1, SAPAP2, and SAPAP4 transcripts are restricted to cell body zones, whereas SAPAP3 mRNAs are also detected in molecular layers. Thus, SAPAP3 is one of the few PSD components whose local synthesis in dendrites may contribute to an input-specific adaptation of dendritic spine function.