 |
 Previous Article | Next Article 
Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 14, 1141-1152, Copyright © 1994 by Society for Neuroscience
Localization and alternative splicing of agrin mRNA in adult rat brain: transcripts encoding isoforms that aggregate acetylcholine receptors are not restricted to cholinergic regions
LT O'Connor, JC Lauterborn, CM Gall and MA Smith
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine 92717.
Agrin is a protein implicated in the formation and maintenance of the
neuromuscular junction. In addition to motor neurons, agrin mRNA has been
detected in the brains of embryonic rat and chick and adult marine ray,
suggesting that this molecule may also be involved in the formation of
synapses between neurons. As a step toward understanding agrin's role in
the CNS, we utilized Northern blot and in situ hybridization techniques to
analyze the regional distribution and cellular localization of agrin mRNA
in the spinal cord and brain of adult rats. The results of these studies
indicate that the agrin mRNA is expressed predominantly by neurons broadly
distributed throughout the adult CNS. Moreover, expression of agrin mRNA is
not restricted to cholinergic structures or regions of the brain receiving
cholinergic input. Recently, RNA isolated from rat embryonic spinal cord
was shown to contain four alternatively spliced agrin mRNAs, referred to as
agrin0, agrin8, agrin11, and agrin19, each of which encodes agrin proteins
that are active in acetylcholine receptor aggregating assays (Ferns et al.,
1992). Using the polymerase chain reaction we demonstrate that all four of
these agrin transcripts are expressed within the adult CNS. Agrin0, agrin8,
and agrin19 were present in all regions analyzed. In contrast, agrin11 was
detected only in forebrain. Results of these studies indicate that both the
level of expression and pattern of alternative splicing of agrin mRNA are
differentially regulated in the brain. The broad and predominantly neuronal
distribution of agrin mRNA in the adult brain suggests that, in addition to
its role at the neuromuscular junction, agrin may play a role in formation
and maintenance of synapses between neurons in the CNS.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
I. Ksiazek, C. Burkhardt, S. Lin, R. Seddik, M. Maj, G. Bezakova, M. Jucker, S. Arber, P. Caroni, J. R. Sanes, et al.
Synapse Loss in Cortex of Agrin-Deficient Mice after Genetic Rescue of Perinatal Death
J. Neurosci.,
July 4, 2007;
27(27):
7183 - 7195.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X. Xu, A. K. Y. Fu, F. C. F. Ip, C.-p. Wu, S. Duan, M.-m. Poo, X.-b. Yuan, and N. Y. Ip
Agrin regulates growth cone turning of Xenopus spinal motoneurons
Development,
October 1, 2005;
132(19):
4309 - 4316.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. O. Martin, G. Alonso, and N. C. Guerineau
Agrin mediates a rapid switch from electrical coupling to chemical neurotransmission during synaptogenesis
J. Cell Biol.,
May 9, 2005;
169(3):
503 - 514.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. M. Bose, D. Qiu, A. Bergamaschi, B. Gravante, M. Bossi, A. Villa, F. Rupp, and A. Malgaroli
Agrin Controls Synaptic Differentiation in Hippocampal Neurons
J. Neurosci.,
December 15, 2000;
20(24):
9086 - 9095.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. W. Burgess, W. C. Skarnes, and J. R. Sanes
Agrin Isoforms with Distinct Amino Termini: Differential Expression, Localization, and Function
J. Cell Biol.,
October 2, 2000;
151(1):
41 - 52.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. E. Bandtlow and D. R. Zimmermann
Proteoglycans in the Developing Brain: New Conceptual Insights for Old Proteins
Physiol Rev,
October 1, 2000;
80(4):
1267 - 1290.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. M. Verbeek, I. Otte-Holler, J. van den Born, L. P. W. J. van den Heuvel, G. David, P. Wesseling, and R. M. W. de Waal
Agrin Is a Major Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Accumulating in Alzheimer’s Disease Brain
Am. J. Pathol.,
December 1, 1999;
155(6):
2115 - 2125.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. G. W. Hilgenberg, C. L. Hoover, and M. A. Smith
Evidence of an Agrin Receptor in Cortical Neurons
J. Neurosci.,
September 1, 1999;
19(17):
7384 - 7393.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E. Donahue, T. M. Berzin, M. S. Rafii, D. J. Glass, G. D. Yancopoulos, J. R. Fallon, and E. G. Stopa
Agrin in Alzheimer's disease: Altered solubility and abnormal distribution within microvasculature and brain parenchyma
PNAS,
May 25, 1999;
96(11):
6468 - 6472.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Ferreira
Abnormal synapse formation in agrin-depleted hippocampal neurons
J. Cell Sci.,
January 12, 1999;
112(24):
4729 - 4738.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Smith, G. R. Fanger, L. T. O'Connor, P. Bridle, and R. A. Maue
Selective Regulation of Agrin mRNA Induction and Alternative Splicing in PC12 Cells by Ras-dependent Actions of Nerve Growth Factor
J. Biol. Chem.,
June 20, 1997;
272(25):
15675 - 15681.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Kirsch and S. Kroger
{blacksquare} REVIEW : Postsynaptic Anchoring of Receptors: A Cellular Approach to Neuronal and Muscular Sensitivity
Neuroscientist,
March 1, 1996;
2(2):
100 - 108.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Hopf and W. Hoch
Agrin Binding to alpha-Dystroglycan
J. Biol. Chem.,
March 1, 1996;
271(9):
5231 - 5236.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G Escher, C Bechade, S Levi, and A Triller
Axonal targeting of agrin in cultured rat dorsal horn neurons
J. Cell Sci.,
January 12, 1996;
109(13):
2959 - 2966.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Tsen, W. Halfter, S. Kröger, and G. J. Cole
Agrin Is a Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan
J. Biol. Chem.,
February 17, 1995;
270(7):
3392 - 3399.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
