mRNA at the synapse: analysis of a synaptosomal preparation enriched in hippocampal dendritic spines.
Previous studies have demonstrated that the branched spines of the mossy fiber-CA3 hippocampal synapse contain a particularly large number of polyribosomes (Chicurel and Harris, 1989, 1992). We analyzed a preparation of synaptosomes isolated from this region and have found it to contain a restricted RNA population: certain mRNAs, presumably derived from the dendritic spines and the fine astrocytic processes surrounding the pre- and postsynaptic elements of the synapse, are enriched in the synaptosome preparation as compared to the total hippocampus; other mRNAs are less prevalent or altogether absent. In addition, neural BC1, a small noncoding RNA thought to be involved in pre- or posttranslational regulatory processes in dendrites, is a major RNA component of the dendritic spine. These results support the hypothesis that local translational regulation of gene expression may be important in establishing and modulating synaptic function.
Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
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Chicurel
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Terrian
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Potter
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000378:metabolism; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D016708:Synaptophysin; D014404:Tubulin; D016875:tau Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase