Increased Expression of the Multimerin-1 Gene in α-Synuclein Knokout Mice

Multimerin-1 (Mmrn-1) is a soluble protein, also known as elastin microfibril interfacer 4 (EMILIN-4), found in platelets and in the endothelium of blood vessels. Its function and role in pathology are still not fully understood. Genetic modifications in alpha-synuclein gene (Snca) locus that mapped 160 Kb apart from Mmrn-1 in mouse genome, could weigh with regulatory elements of Mmrn-1 gene. We have studied the Mmrn-1 expression in brain cortex of three mouse lines with Snca knock-out: B6(Cg)-Snca^tm1.2Vlb/J, B6;129-Snca^tm1Sud/J, and B6;129X1-Snca^tm1Rosl/J. The 35-fold increase for Mmrn-1 mRNA level have been found in B6;129X1-Snca^tm1Rosl/J mice that carry in their genome foreign sequences including bacterial gene neo and a strong promoter of a mouse phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk1) oriented towards Mmrn-1 gene. This effect on regulatory elements of Mmrn-1 gene as a result of modifications in Snca locus should be taken into consideration when using B6;129X1-Snca^tm1Rosl/J line, that is widely applied for study of neurodegeneration mechanisms.