Alternative splicing and expression of human and mouse NFAT genes

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Neuroscience
• Immunology

Background:

• Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) proteins are crucial Ca(2+)-regulated transcription factors involved in immune, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and nervous system functions.
• NFAT proteins play significant roles in neuronal gene transcription, particularly in response to electrical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the structures and alternative splicing of human and mouse NFAT genes.
• To investigate the differential expression of NFAT mRNA variants in various tissues and brain regions.
• To explore the specific expression patterns of NFAT isoforms in the adult mouse brain and human hippocampus.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of gene structures and alternative splicing of human and mouse NFAT genes.
• Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect NFAT mRNA expression in diverse tissues and brain regions.
• In situ hybridization to determine the precise localization of NFAT mRNA expression in neurons of the adult mouse brain and human hippocampus.

Main Results:

• Identification of novel splice variants for all four NFAT members (NFATC1, NFATC2, NFATC3, and NFATC4).
• Differential expression of alternatively spliced NFAT mRNAs observed across various mouse and human tissues and brain regions.
• All NFAT mRNAs (NFATC1, NFATC2, NFATC3, and NFATC4) are expressed in adult mouse brain neurons, exhibiting distinct spatial patterns for each NFAT member.

Conclusions:

• The identified alternatively spliced NFAT mRNAs contribute to the functional diversity of NFAT proteins.
• Specific expression patterns of NFAT isoforms in the brain suggest specialized roles in neuronal function and gene regulation.
• NFAT signaling pathways are dynamically regulated by alternative splicing and differential expression, impacting various physiological processes.