title: Sodium channel expression and assembly during development of retinal ganglion cells.
abstract: Acquisition of functional Na+ channels is a critical event in the development of a neuron because it allows the generation of conducted action potentials. alpha subunit mRNA is first detected in developing rat retina at 1% of its maximum level on embryonic day 15, 4 days after the first ganglion cells are formed. alpha subunit protein is detected in the axons of the ganglion cells at this time, but beta 1 subunits, beta 2 subunits, and high affinity saxitoxin binding sites are not detected until after birth. There is an approximately coordinate increase in alpha subunit mRNA, alpha, beta 1, and beta 2 subunit protein, assembled complexes of alpha, beta 1, and beta 2 subunits, and high affinity saxitoxin binding sites between postnatal days 7 and 21. Expression of alpha subunit genes is an early event in ganglion cell differentiation, and both gene transcription and posttranslational assembly are separate, rate-limiting steps in development of Na+ channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wollner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scheinman
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Catterall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015222:Sodium Channels