Localization and cellular distribution of CPNE5 in embryonic mouse brain

CPNE5 is one of the ubiquitous Ca(2+)-dependent, phospholipid-binding proteins that are highly conserved in animals. It was cloned in the fetal human brain with no exact functions identified yet. We have examined the distribution pattern of CPNE5 mRNA and protein in the developing murine brain by using in situ hybridization, western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Expression of CPNE5 mRNA remains high from embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) to E15.5 in the developing murine brain. Whole-mount in situ hybridization with the E11.5 and E12.5 embryos showed the strong positive signals in the central nervous system. Western-blot analysis showed that CPNE5 protein is expressed in the developing but not in the adult murine brain. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry analysis on the embryonic brain sections indicated that both at RNA and protein levels CPNE5 is mainly expressed in frontal cortex, medial nasal prominence, ganglionic eminence and medulla, particularly in the ventricular zones. Further investigation revealed the co-localization of CPNE5 with Tuj1 and Nestin on embryonic brain sections. In addition to the slight expression in primary cultured neural progenitor cells, CPNE5 is found in soma and neurite projections of primary cultured neurons where Tuj1 is co-localized. Our results demonstrate that CPNE5 is expressed in both neural progenitor cells and the differentiated neurons during the neural development, which suggests that CPNE5 might play an important role in the development of murine central nervous system.