The expression pattern of a novel gene encoding brain-fatty acid binding protein correlates with neuronal and glial cell development.
Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are a multigene family of small intracellular proteins that bind hydrophobic ligands. In this report we describe the cloning and expression pattern of a novel member of this gene family that is specifically expressed in the developing and adult nervous system and thus was designated brain (B)-FABP. B-FABP is closely related to heart (H)-FABP with 67% amino acid identity. B-FABP expression was first detected at mouse embryonic day 10 in neuroepithelial cells and its pattern correlates with early neuronal differentiation. Upon further development, B-FABP was confined to radial glial cells and immature astrocytes. B-FABP mRNA and protein were found in glial cells of the peripheral nervous system such as satellite cells of spinal and cranial ganglia and ensheathing cells of the olfactory nerve layer from as early as embryonic day 11 until adulthood. In the adult mouse brain, B-FABP was found in the glia limitans, in radial glial cells of the hippocampal dentate gyrus and Bergman glial cells. These findings suggest a function of B-FABP during neurogenesis or neuronal migration in the developing nervous system. The partially overlapping expression pattern with that of cellular retinoid binding proteins suggests that B-FABP is involved in the metabolism of a so far unknown hydrophobic ligand with potential morphogenic activity during CNS development.
Unit on Developmental Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
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Kurtz
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Zimmer
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Schnütgen
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Brüning
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Spener
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Müller
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C082667:Fabp5 protein, mouse; C086936:Fabp7 protein, mouse; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins