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Brain Distribution of the Na + /Ca 2+ Exchanger‐Encoding Genes NCX1, NCX2, and NCX3 and Their Related Proteins in the Central Nervous System
Author(s) -
CANITANO ADRIANA,
PAPA MICHELE,
BOSCIA FRANCESCA,
CASTALDO PASQUALINA,
SELLITTI STEFANIA,
TAGLIALATELA MAURIZIO,
ANNUNZIATO LUCIO
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04766.x
Subject(s) - gene isoform , sodium calcium exchanger , in situ hybridization , endoplasmic reticulum , microbiology and biotechnology , immunoelectron microscopy , cerebellum , gene expression , central nervous system , biology , cerebral cortex , calbindin , chemistry , gene , biochemistry , intracellular , endocrinology , immunohistochemistry , immunology
A bstract : In the central nervous system, the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger plays a fundamental role in controlling changes in the intracellular concentrations of Na + and Ca 2+ ions that occur in physiologic conditions such as neurotransmitter release, cell migration and differentiation, gene expression, as well as neuro‐degenerative processes. Three genes, NCX1, NCX2, and NCX3, encoding for Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger isoforms have been cloned. In this review, by using non‐radioactive in situ hybridization and light immunohistochemistry with NCX isoform‐specific riboprobes and antibodies, respectively, a systematic brain mapping for both transcripts and proteins encoded by all three NCX genes is described. Intense expression of NCX transcripts and proteins was detected in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, metathalamus, hypothalamus, brainstem, spinal cord, and cerebellum. In these areas, NCX transcripts and proteins were often found with an overlapping distribution pattern, although specific brain areas displaying a peculiar expression of each exchanger isoform were also found. Furthermore, immunoelectron and confocal microscopy revealed the expression of the NCX1 isoform of the exchanger at both pre‐ and postsynaptic sites as well as in association with membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. Collectively, these data suggest that the different isoforms of the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger appear to be selectively expressed in several CNS regions where they might underlie different functional roles.