Tubulin isoforms are differently expressed in developing and mature neurons: a study on the cerebral cortex of newborn and adult rats.
Tubulin heterogeneity was observed in the rat brain, where these proteins can vary in different neurons suggesting multiple functions. In this paper, the different expression of tubulins in cerebral cortex between newborn and adult rats was analyzed by Western blot and immunocytochemical methods, using anti-tubulin antibodies. Our results showed that tubulins were present at higher levels in the newborn than in the adult cerebral cortex. In newborn rats, a marked staining of the perikarya and basal dendrites of pyramidal cells was noted. This significant expression of tubulins in the newborn cerebral cortex could be related to the major needs of tubulins in developing neurons. The higher amount in tyrosine-tubulin and class III beta-tubulin could be consistent with the state of "dynamic instability", typical of the microtubular network of neurons during brain development.
Farina
V
V
Dipartimento di Biologia animale, Università di Sassari. vfarina@ssmain.uniss.it
Zedda
M
M
Bianchi
M
M
Marongiu
P
P
De Riu
P L
PL
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014404:Tubulin