The molluscan RING-finger protein L-TRIM is essential for neuronal outgrowth.
The tripartite motif proteins TRIM-2 and TRIM-3 have been put forward as putative organizers of neuronal outgrowth and structural plasticity. Here, we identified a molluscan orthologue of TRIM-2/3, named L-TRIM, which is up-regulated during in vitro neurite outgrowth of central neurons. In adult animals, L-Trim mRNA is ubiquitously expressed at low levels in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues. Central nervous system expression of L-Trim mRNA is increased during postnatal brain development and during in vitro and in vivo neuronal regeneration. In vitro double-stranded RNA knock-down of L-Trim mRNA resulted in a >70% inhibition of neurite outgrowth. Together, our data establish a crucial role for L-TRIM in developmental neurite outgrowth and functional neuronal regeneration and indicate that TRIM-2/3 family members may have evolutionary conserved functions in neuronal differentiation.
van Diepen
M T
MT
Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Spencer
G E
GE
van Minnen
J
J
Gouwenberg
Y
Y
Bouwman
J
J
Smit
A B
AB
van Kesteren
R E
RE
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D049108:Cell Enlargement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C426543:TRIM3 protein, human