title: Asymmetric localization of natural antisense RNA of neuropeptide sensorin in Aplysia sensory neurons during aging and activity.
abstract: Despite the advances in our understanding of transcriptome, regulation and function of its non-coding components continue to be poorly understood. Here we searched for natural antisense transcript for sensorin (NAT-SRN), a neuropeptide expressed in the presynaptic sensory neurons of gill-withdrawal reflex of the marine snail Aplysia californica. Sensorin (SRN) has a key role in learning and long-term memory storage in Aplysia. We have now identified NAT-SRN in the central nervous system (CNS) and have confirmed its expression by northern blotting and fluorescent RNA in situ hybridization. Quantitative analysis of NAT-SRN in micro-dissected cell bodies and processes of sensory neurons suggest that NAT-SRN is present in the distal neuronal processes along with sense transcripts. Importantly, aging is associated with reduction in levels of NAT-SRN in sensory neuron processes. Furthermore, we find that forskolin, an activator of CREB signaling, differentially alters the distribution of SRN and NAT-SRN. These studies reveal novel insights into physiological regulation of natural antisense RNAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Beena M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kadakkuzha
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Xin-An
authors.initials: XA
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narvaez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Komolitdin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akhmedov
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Sathyanarayanan V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Puthanveettil
keywords: Aplysia; aging; antisense RNA; memory; neural circuitry; nocoding RNA