Related Experiment Videos
Developmental regulation of prion protein mRNA in brain
M P McKinley1, V R Lingappa, S B Prusiner
1Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Abstract:
During development of the hamster brain, synthesis of the cellular isoform of the scrapie prion protein (PrPC) was found to be regulated. Low levels of PrP poly(A)+ mRNA were detectable one day after birth. PrP poly(A)+ mRNA reached maximal levels between 10 and 20 days post-partum; thereafter, no change in its level could be detected at ages up to 13 months. In contrast, myelin basic protein poly(A)+ mRNA was shown to reach maximal levels by 30 days of age and thereafter steadily declined in adult brain. Using monospecific PrP antisera, immunoprecipitable cell-free translation products were detected at low levels two days after birth and progressively increased up to 10 days of age. How the PrP mRNA participates in brain development and its function in scrapie prion infection are being investigated.
Insights
Prion protein (PrP) synthesis in the developing hamster brain is regulated, with mRNA and protein levels peaking during early development. This study tracks PrP expression from birth to adulthood, providing insights into its role in brain maturation and prion diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The cellular isoform of the prion protein (PrPC) plays a role in brain development and is implicated in prion infections.
- Understanding the regulation of PrPC synthesis is crucial for comprehending its function and the pathogenesis of prion diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental regulation of prion protein (PrPC) synthesis in the hamster brain.
- To compare the expression patterns of PrP mRNA and protein with myelin basic protein during brain development.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of PrP and myelin basic protein poly(A)+ mRNA levels at various postnatal ages using Northern blotting.
- Detection and quantification of PrP protein synthesis using immunoprecipitation with monospecific PrP antisera and cell-free translation assays.
Main Results:
- PrP poly(A)+ mRNA was detectable one day after birth, peaking between 10-20 days postpartum and remaining stable thereafter.
- PrP protein synthesis increased progressively from two days to 10 days of age.
- Myelin basic protein mRNA levels peaked by 30 days and then declined, contrasting with the stable PrP mRNA levels in adult brain.
Conclusions:
- Prion protein (PrPC) synthesis is developmentally regulated in the hamster brain, with distinct temporal expression patterns compared to myelin basic protein.
- The findings highlight the dynamic role of PrPC during brain development and provide a basis for further investigation into its function in normal and pathological conditions, including scrapie prion infection.