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Subcellular organization of UBE3A in neurons
Author(s) -
Burette Alain C.,
Judson Matthew C.,
Burette Susan,
Phend Kristen D.,
Philpot Benjamin D.,
Weinberg Richard J.
Publication year - 2017
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/cne.24063
Subject(s) - ube3a , biology , ubiquitin ligase , angelman syndrome , ubiquitin , neuroscience , axon , microbiology and biotechnology , immunocytochemistry , genetics , gene , endocrinology
Ubiquitination regulates a broad array of cellular processes, and defective ubiquitination is implicated in several neurological disorders. Loss of the E3 ubiquitin–protein ligase UBE3A causes Angelman syndrome. Despite its clinical importance, the normal role of UBE3A in neurons is still unclear. As a step toward deciphering its possible functions, we performed high‐resolution light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. We report a broad distribution of UBE3A in neurons, highlighted by concentrations in axon terminals and euchromatin‐rich nuclear domains. Our findings suggest that UBE3A may act locally to regulate individual synapses while also mediating global, neuronwide influences through the regulation of gene transcription. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:233–251, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.