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Novel role for aspartoacylase in regulation of BDNF and timing of postnatal oligodendrogenesis
Author(s) -
Francis Jeremy S.,
Olariu Ana,
McPhee Scott W.,
Leone Paola
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.20866
Subject(s) - oligodendrocyte , neuroscience , neurotrophic factors , brain derived neurotrophic factor , biology , neurotrophin , stimulus (psychology) , cellular differentiation , myelin , psychology , central nervous system , gene , receptor , genetics , psychotherapist
Neuronal growth factors are thought to exert a significant degree of control over postnatal oligodendrogenesis, but mechanisms by which these factors coordinateoligodendrocyte development with the maturation of neural networks are poorly characterized. We present here a developmental analysis of aspartoacylase ( Aspa )‐null tremor rats and show a potential role for this hydrolytic enzyme in the regulation of a postnatal neurotrophic stimulus that impacts on early stages of oligodendrocyte differentiation. Abnormally high levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the Aspa ‐null Tremor brain are associated with dysregulated oligodendrogenesis at a stage in development normally characterized by high levels of Aspa expression. BDNF promotes the survival of proliferating cells during the early stages of oligodendrocyte maturation in vitro, but seems to compromise the ability of these cells to populate the cortex in vivo. Aspartoacylase activity in oligodendrocytes is shown to provide for the negative regulation of BDNF in neurons, thereby determining the availability of a developmental stimulus via a mechanism that links oligodendroglial differentiation with neuronal maturation. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.