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Region‐specific and epileptogenic‐dependent expression of six subtypes of α2,3‐sialyltransferase in the adult mouse brain
Author(s) -
Matsuhashi Hitomi,
Horii Yoichiro,
Kato Keiko
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01257.x
Subject(s) - neuroscience , biology , thalamus , epileptogenesis , neuroplasticity , glycoconjugate , zona incerta , sialyltransferase , in situ hybridization , neurite , western blot , microbiology and biotechnology , messenger rna , hippocampus , biochemistry , sialic acid , gene , in vitro
Sialylated glycoconjugates play important roles in various biological functions. The structures are also observed in brains and it has been proposed that sialylation may affect neural plasticity. To clarify the effects of sialylation in the brain, particular neurons that exhibit sialylation should first be determined. Using in situ hybridization, we performed systematic surveys of the localization of mRNAs encoding the six α2,3‐sialyltransferases (ST3Gal I–VI) in the adult mouse brain with or without physiological stimulation. First, striking region‐specific patterns of expression were observed: While ST3Gal II, III, and V mRNAs were in neuronal cells throughout the brain, ST3Gal I, IV, and VI mRNAs were in restricted brain regions. Next, to assess whether the expression of the six mRNAs can be regulated, we examined the effect of kindling epileptogenesis on the six mRNA levels. Of the six subtypes, upregulation in the ST3Gal IV level in the thalamus was most pronounced; the number of ST3Gal IV‐expressing neurons in the anterior thalamic nuclei increased from 2% to 21% in a time‐dependent manner during epileptogenesis. Western blot analysis evaluated the increase of the end‐products in the thalamus. These findings provide a molecular basis to clarify when and where sialylated glycoconjugates function accompanied by neural plasticity.