Alternative polyadenylation and differential expression of Shank mRNAs in the synaptic neuropil.

ABSTRACT: The stability and dynamics of synapses rely on tight regulation of the synaptic proteome. Shank proteins, encoded by the three genes Shank1, Shank2 and Shank3 are scaffold molecules in the postsynaptic density of excitatory neurons that contribute to activity-dependent neuronal signalling. Mutations in the Shank genes are associated with neurological diseases. Using state-of-the-art technologies, we investigated the levels of expression of the Shank family messenger RNAs (mRNAs) within the synaptic neuropil of the rat hippocampus. We detected all three Shank transcripts in the neuropil of CA1 pyramidal neurons. We found Shank1 to be the most abundantly expressed among the three Shank mRNA homologues. We also examined the turnover of Shank mRNAs and predict the half-lives of Shank1, Shank2

SUBMITTER: Epstein I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3843870 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature