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Evidence that the V+ fibronectin mRNA is increased in the hippocampus of aged rats
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Karlsruhe, Germany.
Abstract:
In this study we investigated the splicing pattern of fibronectin (FN) mRNA during development and aging by using Northern blot hybridization with probes that either recognize all forms of FN mRNA or that are specific for the different spliced forms (FN-EIIIA, FN-EIIIB, and FN-V). We find that (1) the FNmRNA in the hippocampus of some but not all old rats showed a pattern of splicing similar to that found in the forebrain of 21 day old rats and (2) the hybridization signal for the alternatively spliced FN mRNA containing the EIIIA, EIIIB, and V95 segments was relatively abundant at early postnatal stages but very few transcripts were detected in adult and old rats. However, the hybridization signal for the juvenile FN-V mRNA was markedly increased in some but not all two-year-old rats suggesting that aging is an individual process.
Insights
Fibronectin (FN) mRNA splicing patterns change with age. Some older rats showed developmental splicing patterns, while others had increased juvenile FN-V mRNA, indicating aging is individual.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Fibronectin (FN) is a crucial extracellular matrix protein involved in cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation.
- FN mRNA undergoes alternative splicing, producing various isoforms with distinct functions.
- Changes in FN splicing patterns have been implicated in development, aging, and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental and age-related changes in fibronectin (FN) mRNA splicing patterns.
- To compare FN mRNA splicing in the hippocampus and forebrain of developing and aging rats.
- To identify specific alternatively spliced FN mRNA segments (FN-EIIIA, FN-EIIIB, FN-V) that change with age.
Main Methods:
- Northern blot hybridization was employed to analyze FN mRNA.
- Probes were designed to detect all FN mRNA forms and specific alternatively spliced variants (FN-EIIIA, FN-EIIIB, FN-V).
- Samples were analyzed from rats at different developmental and aging stages, including early postnatal, adult, and old (two-year-old) rats.
Main Results:
- Some old rats exhibited FN mRNA splicing patterns in the hippocampus similar to those in 21-day-old rat forebrain.
- Alternatively spliced FN mRNA containing EIIIA, EIIIB, and V95 segments were abundant in early postnatal stages but scarce in adults and old rats.
- A notable increase in juvenile FN-V mRNA was observed in some two-year-old rats, but not all.
Conclusions:
- Fibronectin mRNA splicing patterns exhibit significant alterations during development and aging.
- Aging is characterized by individual variations in fibronectin splicing, particularly concerning the FN-V isoform.
- These findings suggest a complex interplay between aging, gene expression, and individual variability in the central nervous system.