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Developmental and age-related changes in apolipoprotein B mRNA editing in mice

K Higuchi1, K Kitagawa, K Kogishi

  • 1Department of Senescence Biology, Kyoto University, Japan.

Journal of Lipid Research
|December 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA editing decreases with age in mouse liver, impacting serum protein levels. This RNA editing process is crucial for lipoprotein biogenesis, especially in aging mammals.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA undergoes post-transcriptional editing (C to U), converting glutamine to a stop codon and producing apoB-48.
  • This editing occurs in mammalian liver and intestine, influencing apoB protein isoforms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate developmental and age-related changes in apoB mRNA editing.
  • To compare editing patterns in mouse strains with normal (SAM-R/1) and accelerated (SAM-P/1) aging.

Main Methods:

  • Studied apoB mRNA editing in liver and small intestine of two mouse strains during development and aging.
  • Analyzed serum apoB-100 and apoB-48 protein levels.
  • Utilized reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect apoB expression in other tissues.

Main Results:

  • Hepatic apoB mRNA editing decreased during development (80% to 30%) in both strains.
  • Age-associated increases in unedited apoB-100 mRNA were observed in the liver of older mice (from 18 months in SAM-R/1, from 10 months in SAM-P/1).
  • Serum apoB protein profiles mirrored hepatic mRNA editing changes; no significant age-related changes were found in the small intestine.

Conclusions:

  • Hepatic apoB mRNA editing decreases with age, particularly in senescent mice.
  • Age-related changes in apoB mRNA editing correlate with alterations in serum apoB protein levels.
  • RNA editing is a potential regulatory mechanism for lipoprotein biogenesis during development and aging.

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