title: Identification and cytoprotective function of a novel nestin isoform, Nes-S, in dorsal root ganglia neurons.
abstract: In this study, the first nestin isoform, Nes-S, was identified in neurons of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of adult rats. Nes-S cannot form filaments by itself in cytoplasmic intermediate filament-free SW13 cells. Instead, it co-assembles into filaments with vimentin when transfected into vimentin(+) SW13 cells, and with peripherin and neurofilament proteins when transfected into N2a cells. In primary DRG neurons, endogenous Nes-S co-assembles with peripherin and neurofilament proteins. The expression of Nes-S first appears in DRG at postnatal day 5 and persists to adulthood. Among the adult tissues we examined, the expression of Nes-S is restricted to the sensory and motor neurons. Finally, exogenous Nes-S enhances viability when transfected into N2a cells, and knockdown of endogenous Nes-S impairs the survival of DRG neurons in primary cultures. Taken together, Nes-S is a new neuronal intermediate filament protein that exerts a cytoprotective function in mature sensory and motor neurons.
authors: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors: Peng-Han
authors: PH
authors: Su
authors: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
authors: Chih-Cheng
authors: CC
authors: Chen
authors: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors: Ya-Fan
authors: YF
authors: Chang
authors: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors: Zong-Ruei
authors: ZR
authors: Wong
authors: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors: Kai-Wei
authors: KW
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors: Bu-Miin
authors: BM
authors: Huang
authors: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan. Electronic address: hyhy@ntu.edu.tw.
authors: Hsi-Yuan
authors: HY
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019610:Cytoprotection; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014746:Vimentin