Agrin gene expression in mouse somatosensory cortical neurons during development in vivo and in cell culture

Neuroscience
Z LiM A Smith

Abstract

Agrin is an extracellular matrix protein involved in the formation of the postsynaptic apparatus of the neuromuscular junction. In addition to spinal motor neurons, agrin is expressed by many other neuronal populations throughout the nervous system. Agrin's role outside of the neuromuscular junction, however, is poorly understood. Here we use the polymerase chain reaction to examine expression and alternative splicing of agrin in mouse somatosensory cortex during early postnatal development in vivo and in dissociated cell culture. Peak levels of agrin gene expression in developing cortex coincide with ingrowth of thalamic afferent fibres and formation of thalamocortical and intracortical synapses. Analysis of alternatively spliced agrin messenger RNA variants shows that greater than 95% of all agrin in developing and adult somatosensory cortex originates in neurons, including isoforms that have little or no activity in acetylcholine receptor aggregation assays. The levels of expression of "active" and "inactive" isoforms, however, are regulated during development. A similar pattern of agrin gene expression is also observed during a period when new synapses are being formed between somatosensory neurons growing in dissociated ce...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 24, 2001·Journal of Neurobiology·J Gingras, M Ferns
Sep 23, 2008·Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology·Mihaela JurdanaMarina Sciancalepore
Sep 23, 2000·Brain Research. Molecular Brain Research·C LesuisseF Rupp
Sep 10, 2002·Neuroreport·Martin A Smith, Lutz G W Hilgenberg
Nov 21, 2000·Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences·F C IpN Y Ip
Jan 31, 2002·Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences·Lutz G W HilgenbergMartin A Smith
Jan 12, 1999·Developmental Biology·A S SerpinskayaA M Craig
Apr 25, 2006·Cell·Lutz G W HilgenbergMartin A Smith
Jun 14, 2016·Differentiation; Research in Biological Diversity·Lauren C ButchartMiranda D Grounds
Dec 8, 2004·Neurobiology of Aging·Jing ZhangThomas J Montine
Nov 3, 2006·Hearing Research·Wei Chun Chen, Robin L Davis
May 11, 2005·The Journal of Cell Biology·Agnès O MartinNathalie C Guérineau
Jun 11, 2003·The Journal of Cell Biology·Cameron L HooverMartin A Smith
Jul 5, 2008·Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences·Motomichi Doi, Kouichi Iwasaki
Jan 31, 2008·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Alexander StephanPeter Sonderegger

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