Activity-regulated RNA editing in select neuronal subfields in hippocampus

Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 Jan;41(2):1124-34. doi: 10.1093/nar/gks1045. Epub 2012 Nov 20.

Abstract

RNA editing by adensosine deaminases is a widespread mechanism to alter genetic information in metazoa. In addition to modifications in non-coding regions, editing contributes to diversification of protein function, in analogy to alternative splicing. However, although splicing programs respond to external signals, facilitating fine tuning and homeostasis of cellular functions, a similar regulation has not been described for RNA editing. Here, we show that the AMPA receptor R/G editing site is dynamically regulated in the hippocampus in response to activity. These changes are bi-directional, reversible and correlate with levels of the editase Adar2. This regulation is observed in the CA1 hippocampal subfield but not in CA3 and is thus subfield/celltype-specific. Moreover, alternative splicing of the flip/flop cassette downstream of the R/G site is closely linked to the editing state, which is regulated by Ca(2+). Our data show that A-to-I RNA editing has the capacity to tune protein function in response to external stimuli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Deaminase / metabolism
  • Alternative Splicing
  • Animals
  • CA1 Region, Hippocampal / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism*
  • Hippocampus / physiology
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • RNA Editing*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, AMPA / genetics
  • Receptors, AMPA / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • ADARB1 protein, human
  • Adenosine Deaminase
  • glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2