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Updated: Mar 18, 2026
11:24
Detection of Axonally Localized mRNAs in Brain Sections Using High-Resolution In Situ Hybridization
Published on: June 17, 2015
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IMP2 axonal localization, RNA interactome, and function in the development of axon trajectories
Nicolas Preitner1, Jie Quan1, Xinmin Li1
1Department of Cell Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|July 8, 2016
Summary
The RNA-binding protein IMP2 is crucial for guiding developing axons. This study identifies IMP2 targets and shows its necessity for proper axon pathfinding in the vertebrate nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- RNA-based regulation is vital for neural circuit development and neurological disease.
- Developing axons utilize locally translated mRNAs for pathfinding, but involved RNA-binding proteins remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify RNA-binding proteins involved in axon pathfinding.
- To investigate the role of Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IMP2) in neural development.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide identification of RNA targets using HITS-CLIP (High-Throughput Sequencing of RNA after Crosslinking Immunoprecipitation).
- Analysis of IMP2 enrichment in developing mouse brain axon tracts.
- Functional assessment of IMP2 using knockdown experiments in developing spinal cord.
Main Results:
- IMP2 (Igf2bp2) is significantly enriched in developing axon tracts, including spinal commissural axons.
- The IMP2 interactome is enriched for mRNAs involved in axon guidance.
- IMP2 knockdown causes severe defects in commissural axon pathfinding at the midline.
Conclusions:
- IMP2 exhibits distinct axonal localization and binds to a network of axon guidance mRNAs.
- IMP2 is essential for normal axon pathfinding during vertebrate development.
- This study reveals a novel role for IMP2 in neural circuit formation.
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