Data on central nervous system disorders published by researchers at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
2008 JAN 14 -- According to recent research from the United States, "The mRNA encoding the Drosophila Zn-finger transcription factor Nerfin-1, required for CNS axon pathfinding events, is Subject to post-transcriptional silencing. Although neifin-1 mRNA is expressed in many neural precursor cells including all early delaminating CNS neuroblasts, the encoded Nerfin-1 protein is detected only in the nuclei of neural precursors that divide just once to generate neurons and then only transiently in nascent neurons." "Using a nerfin-1 promoter-controlled reporter transgene, replacement of the nerfin-1 3' UTR with the viral SV-40 3' UTR releases the neuroblast translational block and prolongs reporter protein expression in neurons. Comparative genomics analysis reveals that the neifin-1 mRNA 3' UTR contains multiple highly conserved sequence blocks that either harbor and/or overlap 21 predicted binding sites for 18 different microRNAs. To determine the functional significance of these micro RNA-binding sites and less conserved microRNA target sites, we have studied their ability to block or limit the expression ofreporter protein in nerfin-1-expressing cells during embryonic development. Our results indicate that no single microRNA is sufficient to fully inhibit protein expression but rather multiple microRNAs that target different binding sites are required to block ectopic protein expression in neural precursor cells and temporally restrict expression in neurons. Taken together, these results suggest that multiple microRNAs play a cooperative role in the post-transcriptional regulation of neifin-1 mRNA, and the high degree of microRNA-binding site evolutionary conservation indicates that all members of the Drosophila genus employ a similar strategy to regulate the onset and extinction dynamics of Nerfin-1 expression," wrote A. Kuzin and colleagues, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The researchers concluded: "Published by Elsevier Inc." Kuzin and colleagues published their study in Developmental Biology (The Drosophila nerfin-1 mRNA requires multiple microRNAs to regulate its spatial and temporal translation dynamics in the developing nervous system. Developmental Biology, 2007;310(1):35-43). For additional information, contact A. Kuzin, National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke, Neural Cell Fate Determinants Sect, National Institutes of Health, Bldg 36, Rm 4D04, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Developmental Biology is: Academic Press Inc. Elsevier Science, 525 B St., Ste. 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA. Keywords: United States, Bethesda, Central Nervous System Disorders, Biotechnology, Central Nervous System Tumors, Developmental Biology, Gene Therapy, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Protein Expression, Proteins, Proteomics, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
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