Homer1a and 1bc levels in the rat somatosensory cortex vary with the time of day and sleep loss.
Homer protein expression is dependent in part on neuronal activity and sleep. Homer1a differs in function from Homer1bc although both are involved in synaptic scaffolding. The effects of sleep loss, time of day and afferent activity on these molecules were investigated. Rats were sacrificed at the midpoint of either their activity or sleep phases and RNA was prepared from somatosensory cortex samples. Homer1a and 1bc mRNA levels were determined by real time PCR. There were greater amounts of both Homer1a and 1bc in night time samples. In controls, there was more Homer1bc than 1a both day and night. Sleep loss upregulated Homer1a in the morning but not at night. Homer1bc was much less affected by manipulations of sleep. Thus, Homer1a may be a state- and activity-dependent synaptic scaling factor.
Neuroscience Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, WA, USA.
Scott E
SE
Nelson
Deborah L
DL
Duricka
Kenneth
K
Campbell
Lynn
L
Churchill
James M
JM
Krueger
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000378:metabolism*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger