Growth-associated protein GAP-43 is expressed selectively in associative regions of the adult human brain.
GAP-43 is a neuron-specific phosphoprotein that has been linked with the development and functional modulation of synaptic relationships. cDNAs for the human GAP-43 gene were used to reveal high overall levels of GAP-43 mRNA in a number of integrative areas of the neocortex, but low levels in cortical areas involved in the initial processing of sensory information, in several brainstem structures, and in caudate-putamen. Neurons expressing highest levels of GAP-43 mRNA were found by in situ hybridization to be concentrated in layer 2 of association cortex and in hippocampal pyramidal cells. Control studies showed that several other RNAs had regional distributions that were different from GAP-43, although the mRNA encoding the precursor of the Alzheimer amyloid beta protein followed a similar pattern of expression. These results suggest that a restricted subset of cortical and hippocampal neurons may be specialized for synaptic remodeling and might play a role in information storage in the human brain.
Neve
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RL
Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Finch
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EA
Bird
E D
ED
Benowitz
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LI
D001245:Association Learning; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D006133:Growth Substances; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA