Expression of NPAS3 in the human cortex and evidence of its posttranscriptional regulation by miR-17 during development, with implications for schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT: NPAS3 is a developmentally important transcription factor that has been associated with psychiatric illness. Our aim is to better define the regulation of NPAS3 mRNA (messenger RNA) levels during normal human prefrontal cortical development and in schizophrenia. Utilizing postmortem tissue from 134 human brains, we assessed: 60 normal brains ranging in age from birth to adulthood, 37 chronic individuals with schizophrenia, and 37 matched controls. mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expressions were measured by microarray and quantitative real-time PCR. Protein expression was measured by Western blotting. During human postnatal cortical development (neonate to adult), we found decreased NPAS3 mRNA yet increased NPAS3 protein expression, suggesting the involvement of posttranscriptional regulation. T

SUBMITTER: Wong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3576160 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature