Multipotent stem cell factor UGS148 is a marker for tanycytes in the adult hypothalamus

Ming-San Ma; Nieske Brouwer; Evelyn Wesseling; Divya Raj; Johannes van der Want; Erik Boddeke; Veerakumar Balasubramaniyan; Sjef Copray

doi:10.1016/j.mcn.2015.02.002

Multipotent stem cell factor UGS148 is a marker for tanycytes in the adult hypothalamus

Mol Cell Neurosci. 2015 Mar:65:21-30. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2015.02.002. Epub 2015 Feb 7.

Authors

Ming-San Ma¹, Nieske Brouwer¹, Evelyn Wesseling¹, Divya Raj¹, Johannes van der Want², Erik Boddeke¹, Veerakumar Balasubramaniyan¹, Sjef Copray³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuroscience, Section Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
² Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Neuroscience, Section Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.c.v.m.copray@umcg.nl.

PMID: 25662290
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2015.02.002

Abstract

The present study describes for the first time the neural expression and distribution of UGS148, a protein encoded by the RIKEN cDNA63330403K07 gene that has been shown to be prominently and characteristically expressed in neural stem cells (NSCs). Based on its molecular structure, UGS148 is an intracellular protein expected to be involved in intracellular sorting, trafficking, exocytosis and membrane insertion of proteins. We demonstrate that UGS148 is highly expressed in embryonic NSCs as well as, albeit at low level, in the adult neurogenic niches, the subventricular zone and the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Interestingly, the highest expression level of UGS148 in the adult mouse brain was observed specifically in the neurogenic cells lining the third ventricle, the tanycytes. Our in vitro studies show the involvement of UGS148 in the regulation of the proliferation of NSCs.

Keywords: Hypothalamus; Nestin; Neural stem cells; Neurogenesis; Tanycytes; Third ventricle.

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cells, Cultured
Dentate Gyrus / cytology
Dentate Gyrus / growth & development
Dentate Gyrus / metabolism*
Ependymoglial Cells / metabolism*
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Molecular Sequence Data
Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
Neural Stem Cells / metabolism*
Protein Transport

Substances

Nerve Tissue Proteins
UGS148 protein, mouse