Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Methods to Study Mrp4-containing Macromolecular Complexes in the Regulation of Fibroblast Migration
10:43

Methods to Study Mrp4-containing Macromolecular Complexes in the Regulation of Fibroblast Migration

Published on: May 19, 2016

Identification of a cis-acting element required for dendritic targeting of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated

Hiroaki Kobayashi1, Sachiya Yamamoto, Tomohiko Maruo

  • 1Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 1-3, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. hirokob@fbs.osaka-u.ac.jp

The European Journal of Neuroscience
|December 22, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified a specific RNA sequence in rat Arc mRNA responsible for its targeting to dendrites. This dendritic targeting element (DTE) is crucial for synaptic plasticity and neuronal function.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) mRNA is localized to dendritic regions with strong synaptic inputs.
  • The specific RNA elements controlling Arc mRNA's dendritic targeting remain unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the dendritic targeting element (DTE) within rat Arc mRNA.
  • To characterize the function of identified DTEs in neuronal targeting.

Main Methods:

  • Expression of reporter mRNAs containing different regions of rat Arc mRNA in primary hippocampal neurons.
  • Analysis of subcellular distribution of reporter mRNAs using in situ hybridization.

Main Results:

  • A 350-nucleotide sequence in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of rat Arc mRNA functions as a potent DTE.
  • An additional 370-nucleotide sequence in the 3'-UTR exhibits weaker dendritic targeting activity.
  • The identified 350-nucleotide DTE shows no significant sequence similarity to known DTEs.

Conclusions:

  • The 3'-UTR of rat Arc mRNA contains essential cis-acting elements for dendritic targeting.
  • These findings reveal novel mechanisms for mRNA localization in neurons.
  • The identified DTE is critical for regulating local protein synthesis at synapses.

More Related Videos

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development09:32

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development

Published on: June 15, 2017

Identification of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 1 Specific Phosphorylation Sites by an In Vitro Kinase Assay12:26

Identification of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 1 Specific Phosphorylation Sites by an In Vitro Kinase Assay

Published on: May 3, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Regulated mRNA Transport02:22

Regulated mRNA Transport

In eukaryotes, transcription and translation are compartmentalized; an mRNA is first synthesized in the nucleus and then selectively transported to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis. Before transport, a pre-mRNA undergoes several steps of post-transcriptional modifications including splicing, 5' capping, and the addition of a poly-adenine tail. Various proteins bind to the pre-mRNA during these modifications. The mRNA transport takes place with the help of multiple proteins playing specific...
Cis-regulatory Sequences02:02

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting01:45

Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting

Nuclear protein sorting regulates nucleus composition and gene expression, crucial for determining the fate of a eukaryotic cell. Hence, the entry and exit of molecules across the nuclear envelope is a tightly controlled process. Nuclear protein sorting can be inhibited by one of the following ways: 1) masking cargo signal sequences, 2) modifying the nuclear receptor's affinity for cargo, 3) controlling the nuclear pore size, 4) retaining the cargo during its transit to the cytosol or the...
Assembly of Signaling Complexes01:30

Assembly of Signaling Complexes

Multiprotein signaling complexes are formed in a dynamic process involving protein-protein interactions at the cytoplasmic domain of transmembrane receptors or enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins associated with the receptor. These complexes ensure the activation and propagation of intracellular signals that regulate cell functions.
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...
Directing Proteins to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum01:34

Directing Proteins to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

The organelle-specific signaling sequences direct proteins synthesized in the cytosol to their final destination like ER, mitochondria, peroxisomes, etc. Some of the proteins directed to ER are then trafficked via vesicles to other organelles within the cell or the extracellular environment through the Golgi complex. For example, the rough ER synthesizes soluble proteins for transportation to the lysosomes or secretion out of the cell. It can also synthesize transmembrane proteins that can...