A transcriptional repressor MeCP2 causing Rett syndrome is expressed in embryonic non-neuronal cells and controls their growth.
An epigenetic key protein MeCP2 is thought to be expressed exclusively in mature neurons. Here, we show that MeCP2 is expressed in embryonic non-neuronal cells by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting, and that knockdown of MeCP2 levels using RNA interference reduces their proliferation. These findings suggest that MeCP2 is essential to non-neuronal cell growth during brain development, which may be associated with microcephaly of Rett syndrome patients with MeCP2 mutations.
Nagai
Kaoru
K
Department of Epigenetic Medicine, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Tamaho, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan. kaoru@yamanashi.ac.jp
Miyake
Kunio
K
Kubota
Takeo
T
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D002458:Cell Fractionation / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C497393:Mecp2 protein, mouse; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C079240:Mtap2 protein, mouse; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine