title: Spatial segregation of BDNF transcripts enables BDNF to differentially shape distinct dendritic compartments.
abstract: BDNF is produced from many transcripts that display distinct subcellular localization, suggesting that spatially restricted effects occur as a function of genetic and physiological regulation. Different BDNF 5' splice variants give a restricted localization in the cell body or the proximal and distal compartments of dendrites; however, the functional consequences are not known. Silencing individual endogenous transcripts or overexpressing BDNF-GFP transcripts in cultured neurons demonstrated that whereas some transcripts (1 and 4) selectively affected proximal dendrites, others (2C and 6) affected distal dendrites. Moreover, segregation of BDNF transcripts resulted in a highly selective activation of the BDNF TrkB receptor. These studies indicate that spatial segregation of BDNF transcripts enables BDNF to differentially shape distinct dendritic compartments.
authors.affiliation: BRAIN Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Life Sciences,  University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste,  Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baj
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Moses V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tongiorgi
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D005453:Fluorescence; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017931:DNA Primers; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins