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Distribution of protein kinase Mζ and the complete protein kinase C isoform family in rat brain
Author(s) -
Naik Meghna U.,
Benedikz Eirikur,
Hernandez Ivan,
Libien Jenny,
Hrabe Jan,
Valsamis Marius,
DowEdwards Diana,
Osman Mohammed,
Sacktor Todd Charlton
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/1096-9861(20001016)426:2<243::aid-cne6>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - biology , long term potentiation , gene isoform , protein kinase c , hippocampus , synaptic plasticity , neuroscience , protein kinase a , isozyme , microbiology and biotechnology , kinase , biochemistry , receptor , enzyme , gene
Protein kinase C (PKC) is a multigene family of at least ten isoforms, nine of which are expressed in brain (α, βI, βII, γ, δ, ϵ, η, ζ, ι/λ). Our previous studies have shown that many of these PKCs participate in synaptic plasticity in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Multiple isoforms are transiently activated in the induction phase of long‐term potentiation (LTP). In contrast, a single species, ζ, is persistently activated during the maintenance phase of LTP through the formation of an independent, constitutively active catalytic domain, protein kinase Mζ (PKMζ). In this study, we used immunoblot and immunocytochemical techniques with isoform‐specific antisera to examine the distribution of the complete family of PKC isozymes and PKMζ in rat brain. Each form of PKC showed a widespread distribution in the brain with a distinct regional pattern of high and low levels of expression. PKMζ, the predominant form of PKM in brain, had high levels in hippocampus, frontal and occipital cortex, striatum, and hypothalamus. In the hippocampus, each isoform was expressed in a characteristic pattern, with ζ prominent in the CA1 stratum radiatum. These results suggest that the compartmentalization of PKC isoforms in neurons may contribute to their function, with the location of PKMζ prominent in areas notable for long‐term synaptic plasticity. J. Comp. Neurol. 426:243–258, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.