title: Identification of a rod domain-truncated isoform of nestin, Nes-SΔ₁₀₇₋₂₅₄, in rat dorsal root ganglia.
abstract: Nestin, a type VI intermediate filament (IF) protein, is predominantly expressed in neurogenic and myogenic stem cells. We previously identified the first isoform of nestin, Nes-S, in rat DRG neurons. In this study, we report a previously unidentified nestin isoform, Nes-SΔ₁₀₇₋₂₅₄, that is expressed in lower levels in DRG neurons of adult rats. The 29-kD Nes-SΔ₁₀₇₋₂₅₄ is identical to Nes-S, except that an additional region is removed in its rod domain. Nes-SΔ₁₀₇₋₂₅₄ is assembly compromised and forms aggregates. Unlike nestin and Nes-S, Nes-SΔ₁₀₇₋₂₅₄ does not exert cytoprotective effect. Furthermore, elevated caspase-3 activation was observed in HEK293T cells expressing the EGFP-Nes-SΔ₁₀₇₋₂₅₄ protein. Taken together, Nes-SΔ₁₀₇₋₂₅₄ is a rod domain-truncated isoform of nestin that is susceptible to form cytotoxic aggregates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Zong-Ruei
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Peng-Han
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Kai-Wei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Bu-Miin
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hsinyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hsi-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D064231:Nestin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D064231:Nestin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; ALS; Alternative spliced isoform; Cdk5; DRG; Dorsal root ganglia neuron; GFP; IF; Intermediate filament; MTT; NFH; Nes-S; Nestin; RT-PCR; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; cyclin-dependent kinase 5; dorsal root ganglia; green fluorescent protein; intermediate filament; neurofilament heavy polypeptide; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction