Novel Kidins220/ARMS Splice Isoforms: Potential Specific Regulators of Neuronal and Cardiovascular Development

PLoS One. 2015 Jun 17;10(6):e0129944. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129944. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Kidins220/ARMS is a transmembrane protein playing a crucial role in neuronal and cardiovascular development. Kidins220/ARMS is a downstream target of neurotrophin receptors and interacts with several signalling and trafficking factors. Through computational modelling, we found two potential sites for alternative splicing of Kidins220/ARMS. The first is located between exon 24 and exon 29, while the second site replaces exon 32 by a short alternative terminal exon 33. Here we describe the conserved occurrence of several Kidins220/ARMS splice isoforms at RNA and protein levels. Kidins220/ARMS splice isoforms display spatio-temporal regulation during development with distinct patterns in different neuronal populations. Neurotrophin receptor stimulation in cortical and hippocampal neurons and neuroendocrine cells induces specific Kidins220/ARMS splice isoforms and alters the appearance kinetics of the full-length transcript. Remarkably, alternative terminal exon splicing generates Kidins220/ARMS variants with distinct cellular localisation: Kidins220/ARMS containing exon 32 is targeted to the plasma membrane and neurite tips, whereas Kidins220/ARMS without exon 33 mainly clusters the full-length protein in a perinuclear intracellular compartment in PC12 cells and primary neurons, leading to a change in neurotrophin receptor expression. Overall, this study demonstrates the existence of novel Kidins220/ARMS splice isoforms with unique properties, revealing additional complexity in the functional regulation of neurotrophin receptors, and potentially other signalling pathways involved in neuronal and cardiovascular development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing
  • Animals
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / growth & development
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / pharmacology
  • Cardiovascular System / growth & development*
  • Exons / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Nerve Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • PC12 Cells
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Receptor, trkA / metabolism
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Kidins220 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
  • Nerve Growth Factor
  • Receptor, trkA