Tissue specificity and regulation of the N-terminal diversity of reticulon 3

Biochem J. 2005 Jan 1;385(Pt 1):125-34. doi: 10.1042/BJ20040458.

Abstract

Over the last few years, the widely distributed family of reticulons (RTNs) is receiving renewed interest because of the implication of RTN4/Nogo in neurite regeneration. Four genes were identified in mammals and are referred to as RTN1, 2, 3 and the neurite outgrowth inhibitor RTN4/Nogo. In the present paper, we describe the existence of five new isoforms of RTN3 that differ in their N-termini, and analysed their tissue distribution and expression in neurons. We redefined the structure of human and murine rtn3 genes, and identified two supplementary exons that may generate up to seven putative isoforms arising by alternative splicing or differential promoter usage. We confirmed the presence of five of these isoforms at the mRNA and protein levels, and showed their preferential expression in the central nervous system. We analysed rtn3 expression in the cerebellum further, and observed increased levels of several of the RTN3 isoforms during cerebellum development and during in vitro maturation of cerebellar granule cells. This pattern of expression paralleled that shown by RTN4/Nogo isoforms. Specifically, RTN3A1 expression was down-regulated upon cell death of cerebellar granule neurons triggered by potassium deprivation. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the rtn3 gene generates multiple isoforms varying in their N-termini, and that their expression is tightly regulated in neurons. These findings suggest that RTN3 isoforms may contribute, by as yet unknown mechanisms, to neuronal survival and plasticity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Base Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebellum / cytology
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Computational Biology
  • Exons / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Introns / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Myelin Proteins / genetics
  • Myelin Proteins / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Organ Specificity
  • Protein Isoforms / chemistry
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA Splice Sites / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA Splice Sites
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RTN3 protein, human
  • RTN4 protein, human
  • Rtn3 protein, mouse
  • Rtn4 protein, mouse

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY507126
  • GENBANK/AY507127