• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.841-846
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• 2016

Local protein synthesis mediates precise spatio-temporal regulation of gene expression for neuronal functions such as long-term plasticity, axon guidance and regeneration. To reveal the underlying mechanisms of local translation, it is crucial to understand mRNA transport, localization and translation in live neurons. Among various techniques for mRNA analysis, fluorescence microscopy has been widely used as the most direct method to study localization of mRNA. Live-cell imaging of single RNA molecules is particularly advantageous to dissect the highly heterogeneous and dynamic nature of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes in neurons. Here, we review recent advances in the study of mRNA localization and translation in live neurons using novel techniques for single-RNA imaging.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.677-682
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• 2010

Kv4.2, a pore-forming $\alpha$-subunit of voltage-gated A-type potassium channels, is expressed abundantly in the soma and dendrites of hippocampal neurons, and is responsible for somatodendritic $I_A$ current. Recent studies have suggested that changes in the surface levels of Kv4.2 potassium channels might be relevant to synaptic plasticity. Although the function and expression of Kv4.2 protein have been extensively studied, the dendritic localization of Kv4.2 mRNA is not well described. In this study, Kv4.2 mRNAs were shown to be localized in the dendrites near postsynaptic regions. The dendritic transport of Kv4.2 mRNAs were mediated by microtubule-based movement. The 500 nucleotides of specific regions within the 3'-untranslated region of Kv4.2 mRNA were found to be necessary and sufficient for its dendritic localization. Collectively, these results suggest that the dendritic localization of Kv4.2 mRNAs might regulate the dendritic surface level of Kv4.2 channels and synaptic plasticity.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 1994

Using in situ hybridization, we have mapped the anatomical localization of perikarya containing myNA that codes for sonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in the brains of female frogs, R. dybowskii. DNA olisomers, with sequences complementary to the GnRH portion of pro-GnRH myNA sequence, were synthesized and hybridized to paraformaldehvde-fixed, sagittal sections of the whole brain stem. The distribution of the GnRH mRNA containing cell bodies was similar to that described for GnRH peptide by immunohistochemistrv. That is, cells containing GnRH mRNA were observed in the medial septal area, anterior preoptic area, ventromedial hvpothalamus and infundibular regions. However, another cell groups which contains GnRH mRNAs were also detected by in situ hybridization in the bed nucleus of hippocampal commissure, preoptic area, nucleus infundibularis dorsalis, mesencephalic nuclei and intermediolateral cell column of spinal cord areas. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using in situ hybridization as a strategy to study the distribution of GnRH neurons and the detection of GnRH gene expression in the vertebrates.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2008

We studied on the function and localization of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe Nup97p, which is homologous to nucleoporin Nic96p in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. There was no effect on growth and $poly(A)^{+}$ RNA distribution of cells when nup97 gene was overexpressed. However, the haploid ${\Delta}nup97::kan^{r}$ null mutants confirmed extensive $poly(A)^{+}$ RNA accumulation in the nucleus, abnormal DNA distribution, and cessation of growth when nup97 expression was repressed. We determined the subcellular localization of Nup97 tagged at the N terminus or the C terminus with GFP. Both fusions complemented growth defect of ${\Delta}nup97::kan^{r}$ null mutants. An integrated version of the nup97-GFP fusion was constructed at the nup97 locus. Nup97-GFP fusions expressed from its own promoter was localized at the nuclear periphery with a punctate appearance. These results suggest that Nup97p in fission yeast is also nucleoporin, which is involved in mRNA export.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1116-1126
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and localization of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and its mRNA in the heart, liver, and kidney of acutely heat-stressed broilers at various stressing times. Male AA broilers (n = 100) were randomly divided into 5 groups of 20 birds per group. After 30 d of adaptive feeding at ambient temperature, 80 experimental broilers were suddenly heat stressed by increasing the environmental temperature from $22{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ to $37{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. The 4 groups were heat stressed for 2, 3, 5, and 10 h, respectively. The localizations of Hsp70 protein and mRNA, determined by immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization, respectively, were demonstrated to be tissue dependent, implying that different tissues have differential sensibilities to heat stress. Intense Hsp70 staining was identified in the vascular endothelial cell of heart, liver and kidney, suggesting an association between expression of Hsp70 in vascular endothelial cell and functional recovery of blood vessels after heat shock treatment. Ante-mortem heat stress had a significant effect on the expression of Hsp70 protein and mRNA. The quantitation of Hsp70 protein and mRNA were both time and tissue dependent. During the exposure to heat stress, the heart, liver and kidney of broiler chickens exhibited increased amounts of Hsp70 protein and mRNA. The expression of hsp70 mRNA in the heart, liver and kidney of heat-stressed broilers increased significantly and attained the highest level after a 2-h exposure to elevated temperatures. However, significant elevations in Hsp70 protein occurred after 2, 5, and 3 h of heat stressing, respectively, indicating that the stress-induced responses vary among different tissues.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2023

Genomic information stored in the DNA is transcribed to the mRNA and translated to proteins. The 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of the mRNA serve pivotal roles in post-transcriptional gene expression, regulating mRNA stability, translation, and localization. Similar to DNA mutations producing aberrant proteins, RNA alterations expand the transcriptome landscape and change the cellular proteome. Recent global analyses reveal that many genes express various forms of altered RNAs, including 3'UTR length variants. Alternative polyadenylation and alternative splicing are involved in diversifying 3'UTRs, which could act as a hidden layer of eukaryotic gene expression control. In this review, we summarize the functions and regulations of 3'UTRs and elaborate on the generation and functional consequences of 3'UTR diversity. Given that dynamic 3'UTR length control contributes to phenotypic complexity, dysregulated 3'UTR diversity might be relevant to disease development, including cancers. Thus, 3'UTR diversity in cancer could open exciting new research areas and provide avenues for novel cancer theragnostics.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.263-266
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• 2001

Metallothionein (MT) is induced in the regenerating rat liver. We have investigated expression of MT gene by RT PCR as well as specific localization of MT by immunocytochemistry in regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy (PH). MT mRNA level started to increase from 1 h and reached the peak at 8 h after PH. The level decreased gradually by 24 h, and became similar to that of control group. In the immunocytochemical study, in all groups treated with primary antibody, immunogold particles indicating the presence of MT were evenly distributed throughout both cytoplasm and nucleus of the rat hepatocytes. Within the nucleus, the gold particles appeared to be intensely localized in the areas of euchromatin and nucleolus. Within the cytoplasm, gold particles did not seem to adhere to mitochondria or Iysosomes, but were freely distributed. However, rough endoplasmic reticulum was the obvious compartment on which the gold particles were localized. Time course of MT immunoreactivity revealed that distribution of gold particles in hepatocytes increased gradually by 24 h, and decreased at 48 h after PH. Briefly, PH resulted in the sharpest increase in the expression of MT mRNA at 8 h and in the immunoreactivity of MT at 24 h, respectively. It is suggested that the increase of MT mRNA expression, the intensity of immunoreactivity and the specific localization of MT may be associated with the compensatory cell proliferation followed by PH.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2004

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system, we examined the expression and localization of STAT1, STAT3, STAT4 and STAT6 molecules during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by competitive PCR. In the present study, we quantitated IL-4 and IL-12 p40 mRNA by competitive PCR in the CNS during EAE. IL-4 mRNA was found at early and peak stages. On the other hand, the IL-12 p40 mRNA level reached maximal levels at the peak stage and still found at the recovery stage of the disease. We examined the kinetics of STAT mRNA in the CNS during EAE and demonstrated that STAT1 and STAT4 mRNA reached a maximal level at the peak stage of EAE, whereas STAT3 mRNA level increased gradually to the recovery stage. STAT6 mRNA increased rapidly at the early stage followed by gradual decrease till the recovery stage. Taken together, these findings suggest that STAT4 which was probably activated by IL-12 plays a pro-inflammatory role and that STAT3 which was activated throughout the disease course seems to serve as a transducer of anti-inflammatory signals.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.300-307
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• 1989

Expression of transferrin gene in various organs of rat was studied using rat transferrin cDNA. The hybridization method of $[^{35}S]-labeled$ transferrin cDNA with transferrin mRNA in cytoplasmic preparations was used to measure the level of transferrin mRNA. The rat from 15-day old fetus to 21-day old postnatal were employed as an animal model. In the liver, the level of transferrin mRNA increased with increasing age. However, the level of transferrin mRNA in brain was significantly lower than that in liver and the level did not increase with age.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.344-348
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• 2010

Messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) are used to transport mRNAs along neuronal dendrites to their site of translation. Staufen2 is an mRNA-binding protein expressed in the cell bodies and cellular processes of different brain cells. It is notably involved in the transport of dendritic mRNAs along microtubules. Its knockdown expression was shown to change spine morphology and impair synaptic functions. However, the identity of Staufen2-bound mRNAs in brain cells is still completely unknown. As a mean to identify these mRNAs, we immunoprecipitated Staufen2-containing mRNPs from embryonic rat brains and used a genome wide approach to identify Staufen2-associated mRNAs. The genome wide approach identified 1780 mRNAs in Staufen2-containing mRNPs that code for proteins involved in cellular processes such as post-translational protein modifications, RNA metabolism, intracellular transport and translation. These results represent an additional and important step in the characterization of Staufen2- mediated neuronal functions in rat brains.