Dendritic mRNAs encode diversified functionalities in hippocampal pyramidal neur

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http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/7/17/abstract

Dendritic mRNAs encode diversified functionalities in hippocampal

pyramidal neurons

Jun Zhong , Theresa Zhang and M Bloch

BMC Neuroscience 2006, 7:17 Published 17 February 2006

Background

Targeted transport of messenger RNA and local protein synthesis near

the synapse are important for synaptic plasticity. In order to gain

an overview of the composition of the dendritic mRNA pool, we

dissected out stratum radiatum (dendritic lamina) from rat

hippocampal CA1 region and compared its mRNA content with that of

stratum pyramidale (cell body layer) using a set of cDNA microarrays.

RNAs that have over-representation in the dendritic fraction were

annotated and sorted into function groups.

Results

We have identified 154 dendritic mRNA candidates, which can be

arranged into the categories of receptors and channels, signaling

molecules, cytoskeleton and adhesion molecules, and factors that are

involved in membrane trafficking, in protein synthesis, in

posttranslational protein modification, and in protein degradation.

Previously known dendritic mRNAs such as MAP2, calmodulin, and G

protein gamma subunit were identified from our screening, as were

mRNAs that encode proteins known to be important for synaptic

plasticity and memory, such as spinophilin, Pumilio, eEF1A, and MHC

class I molecules. Furthermore, mRNAs coding for ribosomal proteins

were also found in dendrites.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that neurons transport a variety of mRNAs to

dendrites, not only those directly involved in modulating synaptic

plasticity, but also others that play more common roles in cellular

metabolism.